Written Answers Nos. 141-160
141. Deputy Roderic O'Gorman asked the Minister for Children, Disability and Equality the number of children in care in each social work area on their third or more placement, broken down by local area office, in tabular form. [2759/26]
Amharc ar fhreagraAs this question relates to operational information held by Tusla, the Child and Family Agency, the question has been referred to the Agency to reply directly to the Deputy.
142. Deputy Roderic O'Gorman asked the Minister for Children, Disability and Equality the number of special emergency arrangement placements in use, by local area office, in tabular form. [2769/26]
Amharc ar fhreagraAs this question relates to operational information held by Tusla, the Child and Family Agency, the question has been referred to the Agency to reply directly to the Deputy.
143. Deputy Roderic O'Gorman asked the Minister for Children, Disability and Equality the inspection regime for special emergency arrangement placements; the regulations that apply to special emergency arrangement and the number of inspections carried out by TUSLA of special emergency arrangement placements, by local area office, in tabular form. [2770/26]
Amharc ar fhreagraAs this question relates to operational information held by Tusla, the Child and Family Agency, the question has been referred to the Agency to reply directly to the Deputy.
144. Deputy Roderic O'Gorman asked the Minister for Children, Disability and Equality the number of children in care, placed in special emergency arrangements, by local area office, in tabular form. [2771/26]
Amharc ar fhreagraAs this question relates to operational information held by Tusla, the Child and Family Agency, the question has been referred to the Agency to reply directly to the Deputy.
145. Deputy Roderic O'Gorman asked the Minister for Children, Disability and Equality the number of children in care nationally placed in special emergency arrangements, by age of the child, in tabular form. [2772/26]
Amharc ar fhreagraAs this question relates to operational information held by Tusla, the Child and Family Agency, the question has been referred to the Agency to reply directly to the Deputy.
146. Deputy Roderic O'Gorman asked the Minister for Children, Disability and Equality number of under 18’s in each social work area, by local area office, in tabular form. [2773/26]
Amharc ar fhreagraThank you Deputy, for your question. As this matter relates to an operational matter and procedure within Tusla I have referred your question to Tusla for a direct response.
147. Deputy Roderic O'Gorman asked the Minister for Children, Disability and Equality the number of children in care in each social work area, by local area office, in tabular form. [2774/26]
Amharc ar fhreagraAs this question relates to operational information held by Tusla, the Child and Family Agency, the question has been referred to the Agency to reply directly to the Deputy.
148. Deputy Roderic O'Gorman asked the Minister for Children, Disability and Equality the number of children in care in each social work area with an allocated social worker, by local area office, in tabular form. [2775/26]
Amharc ar fhreagraAs this question relates to operational information held by Tusla, the Child and Family Agency, the question has been referred to the Agency to reply directly to the Deputy.
149. Deputy Roderic O'Gorman asked the Minister for Children, Disability and Equality the number of children in care in each social work area awaiting an allocated social worker, by local area office, in tabular form. [2776/26]
Amharc ar fhreagraAs this question relates to operational information held by Tusla, the Child and Family Agency, the question has been referred to the Agency to reply directly to the Deputy.
150. Deputy Roderic O'Gorman asked the Minister for Children, Disability and Equality number of children in care under 12 years of-age in residential care by local area office, in tabular form. [2777/26]
Amharc ar fhreagraAs this question relates to operational information held by Tusla, the Child and Family Agency, the question has been referred to the Agency to reply directly to the Deputy.
151. Deputy Shay Brennan asked the Minister for Children, Disability and Equality if she has examined allowing parental leave entitlements to be transferred between parents who are employed by different employers; the considerations involved in such a policy change; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [2830/26]
Amharc ar fhreagraThere have been significant developments in entitlements for parents of working families in recent years
Under the Parental Leave Acts, 26 weeks unpaid leave can be taken by an employee who is a relevant parent to take care of a child. The upper age limit of the eligible child has been increased in 2019 to the age of 12 or of 16, where the child has a disability or long-term illness which allows a parent more time in which to avail of the extended leave entitlement. A relevant parent is a parent, an adoptive parent, or a person acting in ‘loco parentis’.
It should be noted that the legislation only sets out the minimum entitlement to parental leave. Depending on an individual’s contract of employment, they may have more extensive rights to parental leave, as employers have the option to offer more than the entitlement set out in the legislation.
Both parents have an equal, separate entitlement to parental leave. Where both parents work for the same employer and the employer agrees, one parent can transfer 14 weeks of their parental leave entitlement to the other parent.
The Work Life Balance and Miscellaneous Provisions Act 2023 was enacted on 4 April 2023, and also introduces important entitlements for workers, including leave for medical care purposes for parents of children under 12, and the right to request flexible working for parents and carers. It transposes the Work-Life Balance Directive which specifically prevents the transfer of paid leave between parents in the interests of gender equality and of encouraging fathers as well as mothers to take such leave. Otherwise, there is a risk that only mothers would take the leave, potentially creating labour market disadvantages for them and that fathers would not be encouraged to take a greater share of their caring responsibilities.
The Programme for Government - Securing Ireland's future commits to examining the extension of Parents Leave and Benefit and additional flexibilities. The new National Strategy for Women and Girls 2025-2030 was published on the 18th of November 2025, and sets out a broad range of objectives aimed at reducing inequalities between men and women, including the disparities in caring responsibilities. The first Action Plan under the new Strategy is currently being developed and will include actions to support working families in balancing the competing demands of family and work. The first Action Plan is due to be published early in 2026. Any further changes to supports and family leave entitlements will be considered within this context.
152. Deputy Liam Quaide asked the Minister for Health whether her Department has assessed the loss of income faced by healthcare workers with long-Covid following the cessation of special Covid leave with pay on 31 December 2025; what this is estimated to be on average over the next year; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [2527/26]
Amharc ar fhreagraFollowing the cessation of the Special Scheme for Long Covid, the full provisions of the Public Sector Sick Leave Scheme will apply to anyone who remains unfit to return to work.
• The Public Service Sick Scheme provides for payment of 92 calendar days on full pay in a rolling one-year period followed by 91 calendar days on half pay subject to an overall maximum of 183 calendar days paid sick leave in a rolling four-year period.
• Furthermore, there is potential for access to additional sick leave benefits under the sick leave scheme in certain circumstances in the form of extended sick pay under the Critical Illness Protocol (CIP) and/or Temporary Rehabilitation Remuneration (TRR).
• CIP can extend paid sick leave up to a maximum of double that available under ordinary sick leave (up to 12 months), subject to the normal CIP medical criteria and management approval on a case-by-case basis.
• An employee who exhausts sick pay may have access to TRR, which is an additional support payment that may be available to employees when sick leave at full and half-pay has been exhausted. Since 4 September 2023, TRR has been paid at the rate of 37.5% for all public servants for up to a maximum of 547 days, with the possibility of a higher rate for a period of five years under the pre-existing TRR rules for those who are entitled to same based on their duration of service.
• Under CIP, the TRR limit is extended, and this payment may apply for a total period of three years (1095 days) at the amended rate of 37.5%, subject to reviews at six monthly intervals. It is also a requirement of TRR approval that there is a reasonable expectation that the individual will return to work and will be able to give regular and effective service.
153. Deputy Colm Burke asked the Minister for Health if the necessary finance will be provided to Cork Dental Hospital to enable it to open a community-based outreach dental centre in Cork city in accordance with the proposals already submitted to the Department; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [2561/26]
Amharc ar fhreagraMy Department continues to engage with the Department of Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science (DFHERIS) and the Higher Education Authority (HEA) with regards to increasing the capacity of Irish/EU students at Cork University Dental School and Hospital in University College Cork (UCC).
As part of this engagement, the Department of Health has received a proposal from UCC requesting €4.7 million in capital funding to establish a new community based outreach dental centre in Cork city. This would enable the training of additional undergraduate students in the dentistry programme, in a primary care setting, benefiting both Irish and EU students.
To access funding for this project, UCC were advised by my Department that the next step was for them to formalise their proposal for capital funding with the relevant Integrated Health Area within the HSE Region (HSE South West) and submit same to the HSE Centre for evaluation of the capital project against criteria outlined in the Strategic Healthcare Investment Framework (SHIF). SHIF is an evidence-informed framework that ensures all capital proposals are evidence-based, outcome-focused, and aligned with strategic needs.
While the proposal is promising, it currently delivers limited increases in domestic student places. Discussions are currently ongoing between my Department and DFHERIS to try and progress this proposal with a view to maximising both Irish and EU places to enhance workforce capacity in Ireland, as well as increased service provision.
My Department remains committed to ensuring that our oral healthcare system is supported by a steady and sustainable pipeline of highly skilled graduates. Ensuring adequate capacity to train future dentists is part of the Government's commitment to workforce planning that supports the health and wellbeing of our population.
154. Deputy Michael Healy-Rae asked the Minister for Health if the case of a person (details supplied) who urgently requires a referral to an adolescent unit will be examined; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [2629/26]
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.
155. Deputy Pa Daly asked the Minister for Health the availability of emergency and out of hours public dental services by RHA; the number of patients that presented to EDs with dental pain or infection in the past five years; and the cost to the health system of treating preventable dental conditions in hospitals. [2808/26]
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.
156. Deputy Marie Sherlock asked the Minister for Health the number of children on CAMHS waiting lists, per region at the end of year 2025; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [2560/26]
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.
157. Deputy Colm Burke asked the Minister for Health if her Department has entered into discussions with the Department of Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science with a view to opening a new community based outpatient dental centre in Cork city, and that the necessary finance will be provided to establish such a facility; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [2565/26]
Amharc ar fhreagraMy Department continues to engage with the Department of Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science (DFHERIS) and the Higher Education Authority (HEA) with regards to increasing the capacity of Irish/EU students at Cork University Dental School and Hospital in University College Cork (UCC).
As part of this engagement, the Department of Health has received a proposal from UCC requesting €4.7 million in capital funding to establish a new community based outreach dental centre in Cork city. This would enable the training of additional undergraduate students in the dentistry programme, in a primary care setting, benefiting both Irish and EU students.
To access funding for this project, UCC were advised by my Department that the next step was for them to formalise their proposal for capital funding with the relevant Integrated Health Area within the HSE Region (HSE South West) and submit same to the HSE Centre for evaluation of the capital project against criteria outlined in the Strategic Healthcare Investment Framework (SHIF). SHIF is an evidence-informed framework that ensures all capital proposals are evidence-based, outcome-focused, and aligned with strategic needs.
While the proposal is promising, it currently delivers limited increases in domestic student places. Discussions are currently ongoing between my Department and DFHERIS to try and progress this proposal with a view to maximising both Irish and EU places to enhance workforce capacity in Ireland, as well as increased service provision.
My Department remains committed to ensuring that our oral healthcare system is supported by a steady and sustainable pipeline of highly skilled graduates. Ensuring adequate capacity to train future dentists is part of the Government's commitment to workforce planning that supports the health and wellbeing of our population.
158. Deputy Joe Cooney asked the Minister for Health the number of WTE dentists and dental nurse posts filled at each health centre in County Clare for 2024 and 2025, in tabular form; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [2567/26]
Amharc ar fhreagraAs this is a service matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond to the Deputy directly.
159. Deputy Joe Cooney asked the Minister for Health the number of MRI scans that took place in UHL, by day of the week, for each month between January 2024 and September 2024 inclusive; and the number of MRI scans that took place in UHL, by day of the week, for December 2025, in tabular form. [2568/26]
Amharc ar fhreagraAs this is a service matter, it has been referred to the Health Service Executive for attention and direct reply to the Deputy.
160. Deputy Joe Cooney asked the Minister for Health the number of persons on the waiting list for home help services within CHO3 on November 30th 2024; and the total number of hours allocated, and provided, for the month of November 2024, in tabular form. [2569/26]
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.
