Written Answers Nos. 982-1006
982. Deputy Martin Daly asked the Minister for Health the number of persons assessed for eligibility for the nursing homes support scheme during 2025; and the number approved in each CHO area, in tabular form. [5714/26]
Amharc ar fhreagraAs this is an operational matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond to the deputy directly, as soon as possible.
983. Deputy Martin Daly asked the Minister for Health the number of persons awaiting funding approval under the nursing homes support scheme as of 31 December 2025; and the length of time waiting, in tabular form. [5715/26]
Amharc ar fhreagraAs this is an operational matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond to the deputy directly, as soon as possible.
984. Deputy Martin Daly asked the Minister for Health the number of public health nurses employed in each CHO area as of 31 December 2025; and the number of sanctioned posts vacant, in tabular form. [5716/26]
Amharc ar fhreagraAs this is a service matter, I have asked the HSE to respond to the deputy as soon as possible.
985. Deputy Martin Daly asked the Minister for Health the number of funded health and social care professional posts in each CHO area as of 31 December 2025 broken down by discipline, in tabular form. [5717/26]
Amharc ar fhreagraAs this is a service matter, I have asked the HSE to respond to the deputy as soon as possible.
986. Deputy Martin Daly asked the Minister for Health the number of persons receiving specialist palliative care services in each CHO area during 2025, in tabular form. [5718/26]
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.
987. Deputy Martin Daly asked the Minister for Health the number of complaints received under Part 9 of the Health Act 2004 by each public hospital during 2025; and the number resolved within statutory timeframes in tabular form. [5719/26]
Amharc ar fhreagraAs this is a service matter, I have asked the HSE to respond to the deputy as soon as possible.
988. Deputy Malcolm Byrne asked the Minister for Health the total cost to the State for each year from 2016 to 2025 inclusive of cross-Border treatment and to specify separately expenditure on drugs obtained as a result of the cross border treatment scheme; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [5720/26]
Amharc ar fhreagraI understand the deputy may be seeking information on the EU Cross Border Directive (CBD). As this is a service matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond to the Deputy directly, as soon as possible.
989. Deputy Roderic O'Gorman asked the Minister for Health the number of vehicles that were clamped in the public carpark of Connolly Hospital Blanchardstown in the years of 2024 and 2025, in tabular form. [5746/26]
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.
990. Deputy Roderic O'Gorman asked the Minister for Health the estimated full year costs to recruit three additional WTE epidemiologists, and three additional principal epidemiologists to work in the public health services. [5747/26]
Amharc ar fhreagraThis PQ has been referred to the the HSE for response as it is an operational matter.
991. Deputy Roderic O'Gorman asked the Minister for Health the number of WTE principal dental surgeons employed by HSE based in CHO7 as of 16 January 2026; if she will provide same figures as of 31 December 2023, in tabular form. [5748/26]
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.
992. Deputy Roderic O'Gorman asked the Minister for Health the number of WTE consultants in critical care medicine based at Connolly Hospital, Blanchardstown as of 1 January 2026; if she will provide same figures as of 1 January 2023 in tabular form. [5749/26]
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.
993. Deputy Malcolm Byrne asked the Minister for Health the average length of time it takes CORU to process applications for recognition of overseas qualifications; to provide the data by profession; the number of applications by professional area where the period of processing has taken in excess of six months, and separately in excess of one year; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [5755/26]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe information requested by the Deputy has been provided by CORU and is outlined in the document attached below.
994. Deputy John Connolly asked the Minister for Health the number of children waiting for an initial appointment for speech and language therapy in County Galway; the expected waiting time for the first appointment; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [5761/26]
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.
995. Deputy John Connolly asked the Minister for Health the number of children waiting for an initial appointment at the primary care child and family psychology services in Galway and south Roscommon; the expected waiting time for the first appointment; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [5762/26]
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.
996. Deputy John Connolly asked the Minister for Health further to Parliamentary Question No. 573 of 27 November 2025, and the subsequent response from the HSE, if management within the six regions of the HSE are aware of the full scope of services and therapies that can be employed by certified athletic therapists, and the potential for such therapists to complement the work of physiotherapists within the HSE to provide better outcomes for patients and reduce waiting lists; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [5766/26]
Amharc ar fhreagraAs this is a service matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond to the deputy directly.
997. Deputy John Connolly asked the Minister for Health the number of people on HSE waiting lists to access physiotherapy treatment in Ireland, the lengthiest wait at this point in time of any patient awaiting physiotherapy treatment and whether consideration is being given by the HSE and its regional authorities to employ certified athletic therapists to assist in reducing wait times for services; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [5767/26]
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.
998. Deputy John Connolly asked the Minister for Health further to Parliamentary Question No. 573 of 27 November 2025, and the subsequent response from the HSE, the process employed by the HSE and its regional authorities to identify new grades and skills gaps within its structures; whether it engages with professions that are not currently employed by the HSE but have potential to address services shortcomings, as part of the identification of such skills gaps; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [5768/26]
Amharc ar fhreagraAs this is a service matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond to the deputy directly.
999. Deputy John Connolly asked the Minister for Health further to Parliamentary Question No. 573 of 27 November 2025, and the subsequent response from the HSE, the process by which the HSE and its regional authorities creates new grades or skills to fill gaps in service provision; if she can provide examples of areas in which new grades or skills gaps have been identified and solutions fully implemented; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [5769/26]
Amharc ar fhreagraAs this is a service matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond to the deputy directly.
1000. Deputy John Connolly asked the Minister for Health further to Parliamentary Question No. 573 of 27 November 2025, the way in which an organisation (details supplied) can engage with the six regional authorities of the HSE to ensure that each regional authority understands fully the role that members of the profession represented by this group can play in reducing waiting times for physical therapy services across Ireland; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [5770/26]
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.
1001. Deputy John Connolly asked the Minister for Health further to Parliamentary Question No. 573 of 27 November 2025, if she agrees that there is potential for certified athletic therapists to contribute to reduced waiting times and enhanced services for patients within the HSE's remit; if she is aware of developments within the UK's NHS, in which both certified athletic therapists and physiotherapists are employed by the NHS as part of a successful initiative to reduce waiting times for physical therapy services; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [5771/26]
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.
1002. Deputy Martin Kenny asked the Minister for Health the level of funding allocated to hospitals within the Saolta Hospital Group in the past five years. [5783/26]
Amharc ar fhreagraSee attached the Full Year Budgets for the Saolta Hospital Group over the past 5 years.
1003. Deputy Martin Kenny asked the Minister for Health the level of funding allocated to the Saolta Hospital Group included in the budget for 2026. [5784/26]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe Saolta University Health Care Group no longer exists as a budget-holding structure within the HSE. As part of the move to Regional Health Areas, all former Hospital Group budgets — including those associated with Saolta — have been fully integrated into the HSE West and North West Health Region.
For 2026, the HSE has adopted a regional, integrated-care budget model. The HSE CEO sets the overall budget and workforce limit for each Health Region, and the Regional Executive Officer has the authority to prioritise funding across hospital, community and other services, in line with national priorities and local population needs.
All services previously under Saolta are now funded through the integrated care budget for the HSE West and North West Health Region, and decisions on resource allocation within that budget are made at Regional level.
1004. Deputy Martin Kenny asked the Minister for Health whether retention packages for medical staff are under consideration for hospitals in the CHO1 and CHO2 areas. [5785/26]
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.
1005. Deputy Martin Kenny asked the Minister for Health the current acute bed occupancy rates in hospitals in the CHO1 area; and whether these meet international occupancy standards. [5786/26]
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.
1006. Deputy Martin Kenny asked the Minister for Health the measures that have been taken to address the significant patient waitlists, particularly in the Galway University Hospitals. [5787/26]
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.
