Claire Kerrane
Ceist:255. Deputy Claire Kerrane asked the Minister for Health her views on the creation of a non-means tested audiology entitlement for persons born deaf; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [68281/25]
Amharc ar fhreagraHealth Services
Ceisteanna (255)
Freagraí scríofa
The Health Service Executive (HSE) provides hearing aids and associated maintenance free of charge to children under the age of 18 (non-means tested) and to adults with a medical card. Further information regarding the HSE's audiology service can be found at: www2.hse.ie/services/audiology/.
In accordance with the provisions of the Health Act 1970 (as amended), eligibility for a medical card is determined by the HSE. In certain circumstances, the HSE may exercise discretion and grant a medical card, even though an applicant exceeds the income guidelines, where he or she faces difficult financial circumstances, such as extra costs arising from illness. Further information can be found at: www2.hse.ie/services/schemes-allowances/medical-cards/.
The Treatment Benefit Scheme, operated by the Department of Social Protection, provides for healthcare services to qualified people who have the required number of PRSI contributions. This includes up to €1,000 for a pair of hearing aids, and up to €100 toward repairs, within a 4-year calendar period. Further information can be found at: www.gov.ie/en/service/1fb655-treatment-benefit-scheme/. Any changes to these grants would need to be considered in an overall policy and budgetary context.
Individuals who do not possess a medical card or who are not eligible for the Treatment Benefit Scheme would have to purchase hearing aids privately from a commercial provider. If the individual has private health insurance, it may cover hearing aid costs. Hearing aids are exempt from VAT. People may also be entitled to claim tax relief at the standard rate of tax (20%) on the purchase of hearing aids where prescribed.
The Minister for Health established the National Hearing Care Plan Working Group in August 2024. The Group is jointly chaired by the Department of Health and the Health Service Executive (HSE).
Membership of the Working Group is drawn from relevant stakeholders, including HSE clinicians and management, the Irish Society of Hearing Aid Audiologists (ISHAA), the Irish Academy of Audiology (IAA), and the Department of Social Protection.
The Hearing Care Plan Working Group has been tasked with developing recommendations for a holistic model of hearing care in Ireland. To support this, a structured workstream has been developed, including subgroups focused on progressing priority issues. Significant progress has been made to date. There have been 16 meetings of the Working Group and associated subgroups since formation.
The Group is examining:
• The existing level of hearing care provision in Ireland.
• Capacity constraints and opportunities within the HSE.
• Workforce planning, including improved recruitment and retention in the public system.
• The appropriate level of regulation of the audiology profession.
• Improving referral pathways and the integration between acute and community care.
• The effective linkage between public and private care to improve patient outcomes, including reductions in waiting times.
This is wide-ranging work, and it is the intention of the Group to ensure that the final report is comprehensive in its treatment of these matters.
A public consultation will be launched soon. This will further inform the Group’s final recommendations.
Departmental Correspondence
Ceisteanna (256)
Cathy Bennett
Ceist:256. Deputy Cathy Bennett asked the Minister for Health the manner in which a person may engage with her Department regarding a scoping exercise (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [68313/25]
Amharc ar fhreagraFreagraí scríofa
On Wednesday 26th November 2025, the Government agreed that a timebound scoping exercise be undertaken by an independent person in response to requests from Dignity4Patients on behalf of victims and survivors of Michael Shine.
The draft terms of reference for a scoping exercise will be finalised following engagement with Dignity4Patients and other relevant Government Departments. The Department of Health will consult closely with the Office of the Attorney General on progressing this exercise following this decision of Government.
The independent person will report to Government with their recommendations for an appropriate and bespoke response to the issues raised and the needs identified by Dignity4Patients on behalf of the victims and survivors of Michael Shine. The report may include recommendations on the most appropriate approach for engaging with survivors.
My Department and the independent person, once appointed, will engage with Dignity4Patients to finalise the terms of reference of the scoping exercise. This will include consideration of how best to engage with survivors as part of the scoping exercise. More information will be made available in the next short while when the terms of reference have been finalised. In the meantime, survivors may wish to consider contacting the Dignity4Patients victim support group at: www.dignity4patients.org/.
Care Services
Ceisteanna (257)
Pádraig Rice
Ceist:257. Deputy Pádraig Rice asked the Minister for Health further to Parliamentary Question No. 343 of 26 November 2025, the date on which she expects the outputs from the National Survey of the Experience of Home Support Workers and Nursing Home Healthcare Assistants to be collated; the timeline for completion of the final review of the Strategic Workforce Advisory Group on Home Carers and Nursing Home Health Care Assistants recommendations; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [68316/25]
Amharc ar fhreagraFreagraí scríofa
The cross departmental Strategic Workforce Advisory Group was established in March 2022. The Group was charged with examining strategic workforce challenges in publicly and privately provided front line carer roles in home support and nursing homes and with making recommendations to address these.
The Report of the Strategic Workforce Advisory Group on Home Carers and Nursing Home Health Care Assistants was published in October 2022. It presented a suite of 16 recommendations, to be overseen by an implementation group, chaired by the Department of Health.
Significant reform has been delivered. A new HSE home support tender has been in place since August 2023. This delivers on commitments for sectoral reform such as payment for travel time for home support providers and paying carers the National Living Wage at a minimum. Additionally, each year since the establishment of the SWAG record number of hours of home support have been achieved.
There has been a range of developments since the establishment of the SWAG. These include the publication of the ESRI’s report on national future capacity requirements in older people’s care in June together with regional projections published in November, the Department of Enterprise, Tourism and Employment’s recent public consultation on the review of occupations lists for employment permits, and Quality and Qualifications Ireland’s recent public consultation to inform new draft Awards Standards for Healthcare at NFQ Level 5. The QQI public consultation has been extended and it will remain open to the end of December.
In light of these developments, a National Survey of the Experience of Home Support Workers and Nursing Home Healthcare Assistants is expected to launch after the QQI public consultation has closed, in Q1 of next year. In collaboration with the Institute of Public Health, the Department of Health has developed this National Survey. The survey seeks to gain insights into the experiences of frontline carers in home support and residential care across public, private and not-for-profit organisations. This will inform both the Department's understanding of how SWAG’s recommendations have impacted the carer workforce and future developments in addressing workforce challenges. Once the survey outputs have been collated, my Department will work with the SWAG to produce a final report. It is envisaged that this report will include further, updated recommendations regarding the carer workforce in the context of progress already achieved, survey findings and ongoing developments.
Departmental Reviews
Ceisteanna (258)
Pádraig Rice
Ceist:258. Deputy Pádraig Rice asked the Minister for Health the status of the planned review into baby and maternal deaths; if this review has begun; if not, if it will begin before the end of 2025; the timeline for competition of the review; the role that experts in the area and parent groups will have in this review; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [68317/25]
Amharc ar fhreagraFreagraí scríofa
As the National Women and Infants Health Programme leads on the management, organisation and delivery of maternity, gynaecological and neonatal services, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond to the Deputy directly, as soon as possible.
Departmental Reviews
Ceisteanna (259)
Pádraig Rice
Ceist:259. Deputy Pádraig Rice asked the Minister for Health the status of the 52 recommendations from the seven completed reviews into the care provided to women and their infants in Portiuncula Maternity Service; the timeline being worked towards for implementing these recommendations in full; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [68318/25]
Amharc ar fhreagraFreagraí scríofa
Portiuncula University Hospital (PUH) and their EMT have developed detailed quality improvement plans (QIPs) in response to recommendations made so far, with 230 individual actions against the 52 recommendations to date, of which 89% of the actions are now complete. Work to complete the outstanding actions will continue into 2026.
Departmental Reviews
Ceisteanna (260)
Pádraig Rice
Ceist:260. Deputy Pádraig Rice asked the Minister for Health the status of all five ongoing reviews into the care provided to women and their infants in Portiuncula Maternity Service; if any have been completed; the timeline for completion of each review; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [68319/25]
Amharc ar fhreagraFreagraí scríofa
External reviews have been underway into the delivery of twelve babies at Portiuncula University Hospital from late 2023 to late 2024. Seven (of the 12) external reviews have been completed and shared with families in July 2025. There are fifty-two recommendations arising from these seven reviews.
There are five active incident reviews still currently underway. The incident reviews are being carried out by independent clinical reviewers external to the region and are progressing at different stages of completion. The indicative timeline for the completion of these incident reviews is the first Quarter 2026.
Question No. 261 answered with Question No. 237.
Departmental Projects
Ceisteanna (262)
Michael Cahill
Ceist:262. Deputy Michael Cahill asked the Minister for Health the plans there are to reduce the number of quangos and strip out the amassed red tape and bureaucracy that exists, in order to allow the delivery of projects under her Department’s remit in a more timely, efficient and customer-friendly manner; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [68369/25]
Amharc ar fhreagraFreagraí scríofa
As the Deputy is aware many of our agencies operate to high standards of professionalism and efficiency. Nevertheless, it is prudent that periodic checks are conducted to ensure that agencies remain fit for purpose. The Code of Practice for the Governance of State Bodies requires that Periodic Critical Reviews (PCRs) are conducted every five years on aegis bodies. My Department has nineteen (19) bodies that will be subject to a PCR with the review for one body completed and nine further bodies covering professional registration and regulatory functions are to be advanced for reviews over 2026 and 2027.
The focus of these reviews will be to assess:
• The performance of the agency against its original mandate and legal basis (including subsequent extensions as appropriate) and the relevance of that mandate today.
• The remit of the agency in the context of other agencies in the sector.
• The organisational performance of the agency in the last 3 years as evidenced by results, outputs, benchmarks, etc.
• The opportunities, if any, for streamlining of agencies or functions.
• The opportunities for cost savings through co-location and/or potential shared services initiatives.
• The external operating environment that the agency operates in.
• The organisational capacity of the agency to deliver on its full mandate.
As results of reviews become available the opportunities for further efficiencies and cost savings will be examined.
Line Units with aegis body responsibilities present to the Departmental Corporate Governance Committee on a two year cycle. This ensures that aegis bodies are reviewed regularly and that my Department holds all aegis bodies accountable to high standards.
Health Service Executive
Ceisteanna (263)
Eoin Ó Broin
Ceist:263. Deputy Eoin Ó Broin asked the Minister for Health the reason a reply has not been provided to a HSE representation submitted in June 2025 (details supplied); and if she will assist in obtaining a response from the HSE at the earliest opportunity. [68381/25]
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. 264 answered with Question No. 237.
Question No. 265 answered with Question No. 237.
Mortality Rates
Ceisteanna (266)
Gillian Toole
Ceist:266. Deputy Gillian Toole asked the Minister for Health the examination and evaluation of the recently published Central Statistics Office figures for medical mortality that are taking place or scheduled to take place. [68408/25]
Amharc ar fhreagraFreagraí scríofa
The Central Statistics Office (CSO) publishes official statistics on deaths in Ireland through Vital Statistics publications. Vital Statistics reports are prepared by the CSO for the Minister for Social Protection in accordance with the provisions of Section 2 of the Vital Statistics and Births, Deaths and Marriages Registration Act, 1952 and Government Order SI 831 of 2007.
The CSO publishes quarterly Vital Statistics on all registered deaths. The latest data available is for deaths registered in the second quarter of 2025 (www.cso.ie/en/releasesandpublications/ep/p-vs/vitalstatisticssecondquarter2025/published in November 2025). The CSO also publish a Yearly Summary of registered deaths. The latest Yearly Summary 2024 (www.cso.ie/en/releasesandpublications/ep/p-vsys/vitalstatisticsyearlysummary2024/) was published in May 2025. These reports record the number of deaths registered in that quarter or year. Information on deaths is only available for deaths which have been registered with the General Registers Office (GRO).
Data on deaths by date of occurrence is published by the CSO in the Vital Statistics Annual Report where all figures are classified by year of occurrence i.e. the year in which the death occurred. The latest Annual Report with data on deaths by date of occurrence is for deaths occurring in 2023 (www.cso.ie/en/releasesandpublications/ep/p-vsar/vitalstatisticsannualreport2023/). Deaths not registered with the GRO during the year of occurrence or the subsequent 22 months are not available for the Vital Statistics Annual Report and not included.
All deaths attributable to external causes are referred to the Coroner. Investigations can take a protracted length of time to complete. As such, these deaths are registered after the standard three-month time period, and can be later than the 22-month deadline for CSO annual Vital Statistics publications. To account for late registered deaths, the CSO also publishes ‘Revised Deaths Occurring’ data. The CSO will continue to revise these figures over time to take account of further late registrations.
The CSO are also responsible for submitting deaths data for Ireland to Eurostat to allow international comparison of mortality trends in Ireland.
In addition to the data on deaths published by the CSO directly, the Department of Health undertakes further analysis of CSO deaths data and publishes a series of Tables of data on age-standardised mortality rates by sex, county of residence, age group and cause of death for years up to 2024. The Department also publishes data on the Potential Years of Life Lost by sex, county, cause of death and age group. This data is made publicly available https://data.cso.ie/product/MORT.
The Department reviews and monitors data on mortality published by the CSO, as well as analysis undertaken by other organisations e.g. the National Cancer Registry of Ireland, the National Office of Clinical Audit, the Health Protection Surveillance Centre, on mortality trends in particular areas. The Department also examines data published by OECD, Eurostat, WHO and other international organisations comparing Ireland’s mortality trends with international comparators.
Traveller Community
Ceisteanna (267)
Sorca Clarke
Ceist:267. Deputy Sorca Clarke asked the Minister for Health the last time the All-Ireland Traveller Health Study was completed; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [68421/25]
Amharc ar fhreagraFreagraí scríofa
The All-Ireland Traveller Health Study (AITHS) (www.gov.ie/en/department-of-health/publications/all-ireland-traveller-health-study/) was published in 2010.
The National Traveller Health Action Plan 2022-2027 (NTHAP) (www.hse.ie/eng/services/publications/socialinclusion/national-traveller-health-action-plan-2022-2027.pdf) was launched in November 2022 and seeks to address inequalities in Traveller health. The plan has 4 goals, 9 strategic objectives and 45 actions. This plan was developed to respond to the findings from the AITHS, to address the specific health needs of Travellers using a social determinants approach. The action plan is supported by an annual expenditure of €14m by the HSE.
The Department of Health has funded two additional initiatives to improve Traveller health. The Social Determinants of Traveller Health and the Brighter Beginnings projects are initiatives designed to directly support the implementation of the NTHAP. They provide targeted resources to tackle structural inequalities (like housing, education, and poverty) and to improve child health outcomes.
1. Social Determinants of Health Project (€710,000, 2025).
Five local projects received funding from the Dormant Accounts Fund to address the social determinants of Traveller health. Projects are aligned with the Sláintecare Healthy Communities programme, ensuring Traveller health initiatives are embedded in mainstream government efforts to reduce health inequalities.
2. Traveller Brighter Beginnings (€500,000, 2025).
Provides recurring funding for Traveller child health project in two HSE health regions. This initiative focuses on early childhood health and wellbeing. It ties into the government’s Child Poverty and Wellbeing Programme, ensuring Traveller children benefit from national health priorities. A funding call for two additional Brighter Beginnings projects was recently issued by the HSE.
I am committed to improving the health experience and outcomes for Travellers, informed by the findings of the AITHS.
Medical Cards
Ceisteanna (268)
Brian Stanley
Ceist:268. Deputy Brian Stanley asked the Minister for Health if she will establish a pathway to ensure that individuals diagnosed with congenital deafness may qualify for a medical card on the basis of their diagnosis rather than solely through means assessment; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [68429/25]
Amharc ar fhreagraFreagraí scríofa
Medical card provision is primarily based on financial assessment. In accordance with the Health Act 1970 (as amended), eligibility for a medical card is determined by the HSE, which assesses each application on a qualifying financial threshold. This is the amount of money that an individual can earn per week and still qualify for a card. It is specific to the individual’s own financial circumstances.
People under 70 are assessed under the general means tested medical card thresholds which are based on an applicant’s household income after deduction of tax, PRSI and Universal Social Charge. Certain expenses are also taken into account. People aged 70 or older are assessed under medical card income thresholds which are based on gross income. However, those aged over 70 can also be assessed under the general means tested scheme where there are particularly high medical costs. Detailed guidelines are available at: www2.hse.ie/services/schemes-allowances/medical-cards/applying/assessment/.
The issue of granting medical cards on the basis of illness or a disability was previously examined in 2014 by the HSE Expert Panel on Medical Need and Medical Card Eligibility. The Group concluded that it was not feasible, desirable, nor ethically justifiable to list medical conditions in priority order for medical card eligibility. In following the Expert Group’s advice, a person’s means remains the main qualifier for a medical card.
Every effort is made by the HSE, within the framework of the legislation, to support applicants in applying for a medical card and, in particular, to take full account of the difficult circumstances in the case of applicants who may be in excess of the income guidelines. The HSE may exercise discretion and grant a medical card, even though an applicant exceeds the income threshold where they face difficult financial circumstances, such as extra costs arising from an illness. Social and medical issues are also considered when determining whether undue hardship exists for an individual accessing general practitioner or other medical services.
I can assure the Deputy that, to ensure the medical card system is responsive and sensitive to people's needs, my Department keeps medical card issues under review and any changes are considered in the context of Government policy and other issues which may be relevant.
Health Services
Ceisteanna (269)
Sorca Clarke
Ceist:269. Deputy Sorca Clarke asked the Minister for Health the extent to which the community connect programme will include ethnic minority identifiers and the status of the system configuration phase. [68444/25]
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 Reports
Ceisteanna (270)
Albert Dolan
Ceist:270. Deputy Albert Dolan asked the Minister for Health further to Parliamentary Question No. 2148 of 4 November 2025 to the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science in which he confirmed that, although not required by statute, her Department voluntarily publishes its annual consultancy spending online in the interest of transparency and accessibility, if her Department operates a similar practice; if not, whether consideration will be given to adopting this approach as a transparency measure consistent with the Code of Practice for the Governance of State Bodies and wider open-government principles; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [68460/25]
Amharc ar fhreagraFreagraí scríofa
Consultancy expenditure costs are reported in the Department’s audited Appropriation Account, which is publicly available on the Comptroller and Auditor General’s website, in accordance with the Code of Practice for the Governance of State Bodies.
The Department will consider measures to make this information more accessible as part of its ongoing commitment to transparency.
Artificial Intelligence
Ceisteanna (271)
James Geoghegan
Ceist:271. Deputy James Geoghegan asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science if he will provide an update on the establishment of Ireland’s first AI factory antenna; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [68264/25]
Amharc ar fhreagraFreagraí scríofa
AI Factories are European centres of excellence in Artificial Intelligence, where startups, SMEs, and researchers can access high-performance computing (HPC) resources to build, test, and scale advanced AI systems. AI Factory Antennas connect to established AI Factories, leveraging their dedicated AI supercomputing resources and support services. Ireland's participation in this initiative is expected to significantly enhance national uptake of AI, enabling and accelerating adoption in an inclusive and affordable way for researchers, public bodies, and industry.
Following a competitive process, run by the EuroHPC Joint Undertaking, Ireland secured an AI Factory Antenna, to link primarily to France's AI Factory with a secondary link to the AI Factory in Luxembourg. The total cost of €10M will be evenly shared by my Department and the European Commission.
With DFHERIS support and co-financing for the project, the AIF IRL-Antenna will be implemented by a national consortium, which includes ICHEC, the Irish Centre for High-End Computing and CeADAR, the National Technology Centre for Applied AI. My Department has been advised that work is currently underway to set up the AIF IRL-Antenna and its services in the coming year. That includes completion of all administrative steps, recruitment and appointment of key leadership positions and development of dissemination materials about the AI Factory's resources and services. The preparation of the Grant Agreement is being finalised and expected to be signed in early 2026 with the program formally commencing shortly thereafter.
Departmental Correspondence
Ceisteanna (272)
Niall Collins
Ceist:272. Deputy Niall Collins asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science to consider the suggestions made in correspondence (detail supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [68351/25]
Amharc ar fhreagraFreagraí scríofa
I appreciate the commitment and dedication shown by the many volunteers and Emergency Medical Technicians who serve communities across the country.
The pre-hospital emergency care sector continues to evolve in scale and complexity, and education pathways are adapting in line with developments in the sector. The Pre-Hospital Emergency Care Council (PHECC) is the competent regulatory authority responsible for setting standards of education and practice. PHECC approves course content, assesses the suitability of programmes delivered by education providers, and determines the theoretical and practical standards required for qualifications in pre-hospital emergency care. While PHECC sets these standards, it is important to note that it does not deliver training directly and it is open to any education provider to develop programmes and apply to PHECC for approval to deliver them.
PHECC has advised my Department that it has recently been in discussion with two education providers regarding the potential development of a paramedic apprenticeship model, and my officials have been engaging in this process. PHECC has indicated that any such programme, if approved, would not be structured as part-time provision. Decisions on course formats, including whether part-time or distance-learning models are appropriate, must be taken in line with regulatory requirements and with patient safety as the foremost consideration. By legislation HEIs are autonomous bodies and my Department does not instruct these institutions to deliver particular programmes or to operate in a particular format; however, providers are free to bring forward proposals for alternative modes of delivery, subject to regulatory approval by PHECC.
Data from the Higher Education Authority shows that enrolments in paramedic education have increased in recent years. First-year enrolments in Paramedic Studies at University College Cork have increased from 150 in 2022 to 240 in 2024, while enrolments at the University of Limerick have grown from 40 in 2022 to 55 in 2024.
More broadly, the Department of Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science continues to work to expand and diversify higher education provision across the health and social care system.
The Government is committed to ensuring that every learner has a viable and accessible pathway to fulfilling their potential. While regulatory and patient-safety considerations must guide qualification pathways in pre-hospital emergency care, my Department will continue to work with the Department of Health, relevant regulatory bodies, the Higher Education Authority and education providers to support the ongoing development of flexible, high-quality training routes that meet learner needs and contribute to a strong, well-prepared emergency care workforce.
Departmental Projects
Ceisteanna (273)
Michael Cahill
Ceist:273. Deputy Michael Cahill asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science the plans there are to reduce the number of quangos and strip out the amassed red tape and bureaucracy that exists, in order to allow the delivery of projects under his Department’s remit in a more timely, efficient and customer-friendly manner; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [68371/25]
Amharc ar fhreagraFreagraí scríofa
There are 7 state bodies under the aegis of my Department. The table below sets out the statutory and legal basis for each agency.
The aegis bodies under my Department’s remit are subject to a comprehensive set of statutory and corporate governance obligations. These include adhering to the State Code of Practice (and its supporting appendices), the Public Spending Code, and additional requirements from the Department of Public Expenditure, NDP Delivery and Reform (D/PENDR). Further, they must comply with all relevant statutory obligations, policies, and processes.
The Department has a Performance Delivery Agreement (PDA) and Oversight Agreement (OA) in place with its aegis bodies. These arrangements uphold robust accountability, effective stewardship of resources, and timely project delivery.
Departmental Reports
Ceisteanna (274)
Albert Dolan
Ceist:274. Deputy Albert Dolan asked the Minister for Rural and Community Development and the Gaeltacht further to Parliamentary Question No. 2148 of 4 November 2025 to the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science in which he confirmed that, although not required by statute, his Department voluntarily publishes its annual consultancy spending online in the interest of transparency and accessibility, if his Department operates a similar practice; if not, whether consideration will be given to adopting this approach as a transparency measure consistent with the Code of Practice for the Governance of State Bodies and wider open-government principles; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [68464/25]
Amharc ar fhreagraFreagraí scríofa
My Department publishes details of consultancy payments made in a given year following the close of the financial year. The published information comprises details of the nature of the consultancy work undertaken and the costs incurred.
This information is available on the Department’s website at the following link:
www.gov.ie/en/department-of-rural-and-community-development-and-the-gaeltacht/organisation-information/financial-information/#consultancies.