Written Answers Nos. 572-591
572. Deputy John Connolly asked the Minister for Health the plans to bring forth legislation to broaden the regulatory role of CORU to the full spectrum of health and social care disciplines included for, in the Health and Social Care Professionals Act 2005; and other appropriate health and social care professionals; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [67186/25]
Amharc ar fhreagraAs the Deputy may be 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).
There are currently registers open for twelve professions, representing the regulation of over 35,000 health and social care professionals.
CORU is continuing the substantial work required to open the registers for the remaining designated professions with particular focus on psychologists, counsellors and psychotherapists at the moment.
Regulating a new profession is a complex and lengthy process, requiring careful consideration and preparatory work to ensure that it is effective in protecting the public. Each Registration Board must develop codes of ethics and conduct, standards of proficiency, and education and training standards for a profession in advance of statutory regulation.
With regard to designating additional health and social care professions for regulation, it is important in this context to point out the issues to be considered regarding the proportionate degree of regulatory force required to protect the public are complex.
In light of this, and in line with ongoing work in the Department of Health, the Health Research Board was requested to carry out research on behalf of the Department to assist in policy development in this area.
The report, “National Approaches to Regulating Health and Social Care Professions”, examines the approaches to the regulation of health and social care professionals internationally and is publicly available on the Department’s website (www.gov.ie/en/publication/ea62b-national-approaches-to-regulating-health-and-social-care-professions).
My officials are in the process of drawing from this report and other relevant sources to develop a framework to guide policy on the regulation of health and social care professionals into the future. This framework will also be informed by an evidence and risk-based approach to regulation in line with requirements set out in the EU Proportionality Test Directive, which was transposed into Irish law on 19 August 2022 (S.I. No. 413/2022). Further information on the Proportionality Test Directive can be found here: single-market-economy.ec.europa.eu/news/services-directive-handbookproportionality-test-directive-guidance-2022-12-22_en.
There are no plans in place to progress regulation of individual professions until appropriate risk-assessment and evaluation tools are in place in compliance with best practice, international evidence, and the Proportionality Test Directive.
573. Deputy John Connolly asked the Minister for Health the consideration given by the HSE as part of their Strategic Workforce Planning to employing athletic therapists to deliver the best possible care and services to the people; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [67194/25]
Amharc ar fhreagraAs this is a service matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond to the deputy directly.
574. Deputy Seán Crowe asked the Minister for Health the date by which spinal muscular atrophy will be included in the newborn heel prick test, given that her predecessor made a commitment to that effect two years ago. [67215/25]
Amharc ar fhreagra575. Deputy Sinéad Gibney asked the Minister for Health when newborn screening for spinal muscular atrophy will be rolled out; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [67223/25]
Amharc ar fhreagraI propose to take Questions Nos. 574 and 575 together.
As Minister for Health, I am determined to support our screening programmes, which are a valuable part of our health service, enabling early treatment and care for many people, and improving the overall health of our population.
Currently, all babies (between 3 and 5 days old) are offered newborn bloodspot screening (generally known as the ‘heel prick’ test), which tests for nine rare but serious conditions that are treatable if detected early in life. The Programme for Government commits to continually reviewing the number of conditions babies are screened for.
Incremental progress continues to be made on the expansion of the National Newborn Bloodspot Screening Programme (NNBSP). In 2023, two recommendations from the National Screening Advisory Committee (NSAC) on the addition of Severe Combined Immunodeficiency (SCID) and Spinal Muscular Atrophy (SMA) to the NNBSP were approved.
In Budget 2024, an additional €1.4 million of new development funding was provided to support the SMA/SCID implementation process. Once both conditions have been fully implemented, the number of conditions screened for in Ireland will increase to 11.
In terms of the current implementation status, the HSE has advised that the equipment needed to enable the roll-out testing for SMA and SCID has been purchased, delivered and successfully installed at the newborn screening laboratory and significant progress continues with regards to the laboratory verification process. The recruitment process to hire the additional staff required to support the expansion of the NNBSP has been completed and work continues on developing screening pathways for both conditions.
In relation to concerns raised around the length of the implementation process, it should be emphasised that Ireland is not taking longer than other comparable countries to assess and implement additions to the NNBSP.
The Health Council of the Netherlands first recommended screening for SMA in 2019 and implementation was completed three years later in October 2022. In the United States of America, it took six years to fully implement SMA screening after it was added to the Recommended Uniform Screening Panel (RUSP) in 2018. In the United Kingdom, screening for SCID and SMA have been under consideration by the UK National Screening Committee since 2017 and 2018 respectively.
Nevertheless, I am acutely aware of how difficult it is for parents, families and children who have received a diagnosis of a rare disease, and how challenging daily life can be for them. This is why I remain committed to the further expansion of screening in Ireland in accordance with internationally accepted criteria and best practice.
576. Deputy Cathal Crowe asked the Minister for Health further to Parliamentary Question No. 1820 of 4 November 2025, the timeframe for the strategic assessment report and preliminary business case which is required in line with infrastructure guidelines for the PET scan at UHL; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [67232/25]
Amharc ar fhreagraAs the Health Service Executive is responsible for the management of the public healthcare estate, I have asked the HSE to respond to you directly in relation to this matter.
577. Deputy Brian Stanley asked the Minister for Health if she will extend the temporary scheme of paid leave for public health service employees unfit for work post Covid-19 beyond 31 December 2025, in recognition of the exceptional service and sacrifices made by frontline staff during the pandemic; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [67234/25]
Amharc ar fhreagraAfter a hearing in the Labor 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.
578. Deputy Michael Healy-Rae asked the Minister for Health if food replacement drinks will be restored to a person (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [67238/25]
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.
579. Deputy Niamh Smyth asked the Minister for Health if she will review matters raised in correspondence (details supplied) regarding the fair deal scheme; if she will address the concerns raised; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [67239/25]
Amharc ar fhreagraAs this is an operational matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond directly to the Deputy as soon as possible.
580. Deputy Grace Boland asked the Minister for Health her plans to introduce a free, organised national prostate-specific antigen (PSA) screening programme for men from age 40; the estimated number of men aged 40 to 69 in Ireland; the scale and costs involved; whether the National Screening Advisory Committee has completed its health technology assessment; and when a decision can be expected; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [67240/25]
Amharc ar fhreagra581. Deputy Grace Boland asked the Minister for Health the date on which the National Screening Advisory Committee and Health Information and Quality Authority will finalise their health technology assessment on a prostate cancer screening programme; if there are plans to offer interim free PSA tests; if men aged 40 to 69 in the current pilot will be allowed to continue screening beyond the pilot sites; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [67241/25]
Amharc ar fhreagra582. Deputy Grace Boland asked the Minister for Health for an update on evaluation timelines for Ireland's PRAISE U/ProstateCheck pilot involving 5,000 men in Dublin and Waterford; whether preliminary results have been shared; when these results will be published; if there are plans to extend opt-in PSA screening to all men aged 40 to 69 nationally, particularly those at high-risk; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [67242/25]
Amharc ar fhreagra583. Deputy Grace Boland asked the Minister for Health the cost-effectiveness modelling that has been carried out for organised PSA plus digital rectal examination screening starting at age 40 to 69; whether Irish cost-benefit analyses indicate net savings across this age group; the assumptions on uptake, overdiagnosis, potential harms, and subsequent treatments that were made; the monetary and health outcomes that can be expected from full implementation; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [67243/25]
Amharc ar fhreagra584. Deputy Grace Boland asked the Minister for Health the national public-awareness and behaviour change campaigns planned to encourage men aged 40 to 69 to take part in prostate-cancer screening; whether a dedicated campaign will be developed; the way in which regional inequities in incidence and survival will be addressed; the supports that will be made available to men hesitant to seek PSA testing due to cost or stigma; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [67244/25]
Amharc ar fhreagraI propose to take Questions Nos. 580 to 584, inclusive, together.
As Minister for Health, I am committed to supporting our population screening programmes, which are a valuable part of our health service, enabling early treatment and care for many people, and improving the overall health of our population.
The Programme for Government commits to advancing men’s health in tandem with the investment and progress seen in women’s healthcare. It also commits to research, implement and evaluate cancer prevention and early detection initiatives, including prostate cancer.
I would note that any proposed changes to Ireland’s screening programmes, including the potential introduction of a prostate cancer screening programme, will be facilitated through established evidence-driven protocols.
The National Screening Advisory Committee (NSAC) is the independent expert group that considers proposed changes to Ireland’s screening programmes. NSAC assesses the evidence in a robust and transparent manner and against internationally accepted criteria, before making recommendations to myself as Minister.
NSAC continues to progress work to consider the further expansion of our cancer screening programmes and has submitted several requests to the Health Information and Quality Authority (HIQA).
HIQA is currently focused on concluding a Health Technology Assessment (HTA) to examine a proposed extension of the BowelScreen programme to those aged 50-54 years. Work on this is at an advanced stage, with a report expected to be submitted to NSAC for consideration in December 2025.
Additionally, and at the request of NSAC, HIQA have also commenced a separate HTA to consider the proposals for the expansion of the BreastCheck programme. This review will comprise two elements; the proposed extension of the age range eligibility to those aged 45-49 and 70-74, and also the potential introduction of a standardised breast density notification.
HTAs facilitate the assessment of relevant evidence and knowledge on the effects and consequences of healthcare technologies to guide decisions regarding the appropriate use of technology and efficient allocation of resources. They involve a multi-disciplinary assessment of the clinical, economic, ethical, legal and societal perspectives that may be impacted by the introduction of a new technology. They are time intensive and rigorous processes.
I have been informed that proposals for a prostate cancer screening programme have not yet been referred by NSAC to HIQA to undergo a HTA, pending the results of a number of ongoing European research initiatives. NSAC’s current priority in terms of cancer screening is to conclude the BowelScreen and BreastCheck HTAs.
In this regard, it is worth noting that in late-2024, NSAC established a Cancer Screening Subgroup to provide additional expertise to support the Committee’s decision-making processes. The subgroup has developed a prioritisation framework, to provide an evidence-based approach to identifying which of the cancer screening proposals on the NSAC work programme should be next referred to HIQA for evidence review. The subgroup will use its framework to make recommendations to NSAC in early 2026.
In terms of the international evidence with regards to prostate cancer screening, under Europe’s Beating Cancer Plan, an updated European Council (EC) Recommendation on Cancer Screening, was published in December 2022. The Recommendation calls, amongst other things, for member states to explore the feasibility and effectiveness of a screening programme using PSA testing for men, in combination with MRI scanning as a follow-up test.
My Department is coordinating Irish inputs into a four-year EU4Health-funded Joint Action project, titled EUCanScreen (2024-2028), which is aimed at coordinating research activities associated with the EC Recommendation across Europe.
Additionally, I welcome the involvement of Irish-based researchers in another EU4Health funded project, titled PRAISE-U, which is exploring the feasibility of risk-stratified screening for prostate cancer to help reduce morbidity and mortality caused by the disease, while avoiding overdiagnosis and unnecessary treatment. For further information on the PRAISE-U project, can be found on its dedicated website (www.uroweb.org/praise-u).
The findings from the aforementioned EU studies will contribute to the overall evidence base for future consideration by NSAC.
Finally, I would emphasise that screening programmes are for people without symptoms. If anyone becomes aware of symptoms, or if they have concerns or worries, they should contact a medical professional immediately.
585. Deputy Grace Boland asked the Minister for Health the steps the National Cancer Control Programme and HSE will take to reduce overdiagnosis and overtreatment resulting from PSA testing, to ensure adherence to updated clinical guidelines on follow-up biopsies and imaging; whether HIQA has guidelines and clinical safety protocols in place; the way in which patient quality-of-life outcomes will be monitored following positive results and subsequent treatment; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [67245/25]
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.
586. Deputy Cathal Crowe asked the Minister for Health when she expects the Public Health (Single Use Vapes) Bill 2025 to be introduced.; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [67248/25]
Amharc ar fhreagraI intend to introduce the Public Health (Single-Use Vapes Bill) within the current legislative session.
587. Deputy Gillian Toole asked the Minister for Health the retrospective cost-benefit analyses of State vaccination programmes carried out in order to determine each annual campaign; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [67252/25]
Amharc ar fhreagraIn Ireland, the Health Information and Quality Authority (HIQA) carries out Health Technology Assessments (HTAs), as requested by the Minister for Health, which are used to help decide what health technologies (such as drugs, medical tests, medical devices, surgeries, healthcare re-organisation) should be used and funded in our public healthcare system.
A HTA looks at the clinical effectiveness, safety and cost of different health technologies. An economic evaluation is often undertaken as part of a HTA and it compares the costs and benefits of different choices to see which one is the best use of resources.
The information considered can also include organisational and social aspects, and ethical and legal issues. The information is collected and presented in a systematic, unbiased and transparent manner. These HTAs are a fundamental part of the decision making process when deciding to add a vaccine to the national vaccination programme.
HIQA has developed national guidelines explaining how economic evaluations in HTAs should be undertaken in Ireland. I understand from these guidelines that economic evaluations fall into two major categories: the first is a cost-effectiveness analysis (including cost-utility analysis) and the second is a cost-benefit analysis. The guidelines note that in practice, cost-benefit analysis is rarely used in healthcare because of the difficulties of expressing health benefits directly in monetary terms.
588. Deputy Gillian Toole asked the Minister for Health when a review of the rate of value added tax on oral vitamin and mineral supplements, currently 13.5% rate, will be carried out; and the reason there is a disparity in VAT classification between oral pharmaceuticals, and oral supplements for health promotion; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [67255/25]
Amharc ar fhreagraThis is a matter for Department of Finance.
589. Deputy Shónagh Ní Raghallaigh asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science the progress his Department has made in developing a comprehensive Irish-language strategy to support the implementation of the Gaeltacht Act 2012 and the Official Languages Act 2003, with particular reference to the provision and expansion of further education and training opportunities in Gaeltacht service towns; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [66783/25]
Amharc ar fhreagraMy Department recognises the critical importance of promoting and expanding the teaching and use of Irish at tertiary level in support of the Gaeltacht Act 2012 and the Official Languages Act 2003, including the need to build capacity for services in Gaeltacht service towns.
Under the Higher Education Authority Act 2022, the HEA has a statutory obligation to support higher education institutions to teach, promote and use the Irish language. Through the HEA, my Department provides both core funding and specific funding streams for Irish language initiatives which form key pillars of our developing Irish-language strategy at tertiary level.
This includes almost €1.8 million annually for Acadamh na hOllscolaíochta Gaeilge at the University of Galway and €900,000 for broader Irish-language initiatives across the higher education system. These funds support, among other things, the Gníomhaí Gaeilge mentoring and awards scheme for students, the forthcoming Mo Thráchtas i mbeagán focal postgraduate research competition, and research by the University of Galway into the demand for Irish-medium courses across the sector. This research will inform the future expansion of Irish-medium provision, including provision that can serve learners and employers in Gaeltacht service towns.
In addition, my Department supports flexible and accredited Irish-language learning opportunities through initiatives such as the Human Capital Initiative (HCI) Micro-Credentials Learner Fee Subsidy, which currently offers 17 subsidised Irish-language courses providing 158 places. Beyond the higher education sector, Irish is also being advanced through Skillnet Ireland networks, apprenticeships and FET programmes, contributing to the broader policy goal of supporting Irish for professional use, in particular in the context of the 20% public service recruitment target under the National Plan for Irish Language Public Services.
In the FET sector, in particular, Mayo, Sligo, and Leitrim ETB (MSLETB) have partnered with Gaelchultúr to offer a Certificate in Professional Irish course at NFQ Levels 3,4,5 and 6. The Breacadh Scheme supports ETBs that service Gaeltacht regions to develop language materials. While through Adult Literacy for Life (ALL), an online tutor training course in the three main dialects and plain Irish was developed by GRETB and Údarás na Gaeltachta to support Gaeltacht learners. These measures are directly relevant to the provision and expansion of further education and training opportunities through Irish, including for Gaeltacht service towns.
However, we can and should do more to support the teaching and learning of Irish at tertiary level. I have therefore instructed my officials to undertake a programme of work aligned with the objectives of the National Plan for Irish Language Public Services, which will underpin a more comprehensive Irish-language strategy for the tertiary sector. This work includes: establishing a sectoral working group with relevant Government Departments to look at practical ways in which the higher and further education sectors can respond to this skill need; examining the transitions of students from Irish-language post-primary education into tertiary provision; undertaking research into existing and future demand; considering the inclusion of Irish-medium courses in future expressions of interest processes for areas of skills need; and having due regard to Irish in the forthcoming national tertiary strategy.
Any further policy interventions from my Department, including targeted measures to enhance further education and training opportunities through Irish in Gaeltacht service towns, will be based on the outcomes of this work. The Government is committed to working on a cross-Departmental basis to strengthen Irish-medium education from early years through to tertiary level, ensuring a joined-up and sustainable approach to promoting the Irish language and supporting the implementation of the relevant legislation.
590. Deputy Shónagh Ní Raghallaigh asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science in view of the commitments under the Gaeltacht Act 2012 and the Official Languages Act 2003, whether his Department has identified specific funding streams or partnerships with SOLAS and ETBs to ensure that further education and training programmes in Gaeltacht service towns are delivered through Irish; the timeline envisaged for the roll out of these initiatives; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [66784/25]
Amharc ar fhreagraThank you, Deputy, for raising this important issue.
The statutory basis for the Education and Training Boards (ETBs) is laid out in the Education and Training Boards Act, 2013 and this legalisation does not set an explicit requirement for the provision of services in Irish.
In relation to your question, SOLAS has advised my officials that there is no dedicated funding stream available to deliver classes through the medium of Irish. ETBs, however, assess the specific needs of local communities to determine the demand for FET programmes to be delivered through Irish. Where such demand exists, ETBs will plan and provide programmes as far as practicable taking account of budget provision. Under the Official Languages Act 2003, ETBs must prepare and implement a Language Scheme that details services currently being provided in English only, Irish only or bilingually. These are available on individual ETB websites.
Several ETBs, particularly those servicing Gaeltacht areas, participate in the Breacadh Scheme. This scheme aims to develop high-quality teaching and learning resources in Irish to support FET services in Gaeltacht areas. Breacadh assists the ETBs by producing books, adult learning materials, and other resources through Irish, and by providing support with tutor training and curriculum development.
Irish language classes are offered across a variety of levels on a sessional, part time and evening class basis. As apt to the needs of the learner, some provision can lead toward preparation for accredited QQI modules from NFQ Level 3 upwards.
I’m sure the Deputy will welcome this pioneering collaboration, whereby Mayo, Sligo, and Leitrim Education and Training Board (MSLETB) have joined forces with Gaelchultúr to offer a Certificate in Professional Irish course. This innovative part-time programme, delivered through the Skills to Advance initiative, caters to professionals aspiring to attain an official language qualification for career progression. The goal of this programme is to give the participants confidence and language skills that will enable them to communicate through Irish in the context of work and socially.
591. Deputy Darren O'Rourke asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science the number of apprenticeships there are in Ireland in each of the years 2021 to 2025, in tabular form. [66799/25]
Amharc ar fhreagra592. Deputy Darren O'Rourke asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science the number of apprenticeships that have been available in County Meath in each of the years 2021 to 2025, in tabular form. [66800/25]
Amharc ar fhreagraI propose to take Questions Nos. 591 and 592 together.
My department and I are committed to providing the best possible opportunities for apprentices in county Meath and across the country as a whole. To support this, government has invested significantly in developing and growing the apprenticeship system. In Budget 2026, I secured a further €79 million investment in apprenticeship delivery, raising the total budget to over €410 million - more than double what it was five years ago.
Apprentices are employees and are registered by their employers in the Education and Training Board (ETB) region in which the employer is located, not on a county basis. This means the apprentice may not necessarily reside in or be originally from that region. In the case of employers based in Meath, the apprentices they employ are registered to Louth and Meath ETB (LMETB). Given the above, it is not possible to provide the number of apprenticeships registered in Meath from 2021 to date in 2025.
The total number of apprentices registered with employers - both in craft and consortia - located in the LMETB region for each of the years 2021 to 2025 is detailed in the table below.
|
Year |
Number of apprentice registrations at LMETB |
|
2021 |
708 |
|
2022 |
648 |
|
2023 |
698 |
|
2024 |
690 |
|
2025 (to end-October) |
574 |
The table below presents annual nationwide total figures for apprentices registered by employers in programmes from 2021 to 2025 (to end-October).
|
Year |
Number of apprentice registrations |
|
2021 |
8,607 |
|
2022 |
6,717 |
|
2023 |
8,712 |
|
2024 |
9,352 |
|
2025 (to end-October) |
7,853 |
Government investment has supported a 26% increase in available apprenticeship programmes since 2021, expanding the offering from 62 to 78. The below table shows the number of national apprenticeship programmes available in Ireland in each of the years 2021 to 2025.
|
Year |
Number of apprenticeships |
|
2021 |
62 |
|
2022 |
66 |
|
2023 |
73 |
|
2024 |
77 |
|
2025 |
78 |
The attached table lists the 78 national apprenticeship programmes currently available. Programmes with (c) next to their names are craft programmes. The rest are consortia-led programmes. Where the programmes were launched in the period of 2021 to 2025, this is indicated in the table.
Apprenticeship programmes are offered nationally. This means that a person may be registered for any of the available programmes, irrespective of where in the state they reside.
