Written Answers Nos. 1104-1124
1104. Deputy Willie O'Dea asked the Minister for Health when the proposed vaccine damage scheme to deal with cases of people who have been injured as a result of taking vaccines including Covid vaccines will be established; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [12049/26]
Amharc ar fhreagraSignificant work has been completed by my Department to develop a model for a vaccine damage scheme, and officials are continuing to refine the proposed model. It is my intention to bring the model to Cabinet for discussion and consideration in due course. Until the model has been considered and approved by Government, it is not possible to provide any further information in relation to the scheme's implementation.
1105. Deputy George Lawlor asked the Minister for Health when she will sign the commencement Statutory Instrument for all sections of the Health (Assisted Human Reproduction) Act 2024; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [12051/26]
Amharc ar fhreagraAs the Deputy is aware, the Health (Assisted Human Reproduction) Act 2024 was signed into law by the President in July 2024, having passed all stages in both Houses of the Oireachtas.
The primary purpose of this complex and far-reaching legislation is to regulate fertility clinics providing treatment and ensure that assisted human reproduction (AHR) practices and related areas of research are conducted in a more consistent and standardised way and with the necessary oversight. The 2024 Act encompasses the regulation for the first time of a wide range of practices undertaken in Ireland, including: the use and donation of gametes and embryos for AHR and research; pre-implantation genetic testing of embryos; and embryo and stem cell research. The establishment of the Assisted Human Reproduction Regulatory Authority (AHRRA), as provided for in the legislation, is a vital component in the effective regulation of this sector.
The AHR Bill as initially published also included provisions in respect of domestic altruistic surrogacy. However, the final 2024 Act also includes substantive new provisions in respect of the regulation of future surrogacy arrangements undertaken by Irish residents in other jurisdictions and the recognition of parentage arising from certain past domestic and international surrogacy arrangements.
While the 2024 Act was progressing through the Houses of Oireachtas, issues were identified which required further consideration and consultation with the Office of the Attorney General. Formal drafting of the Health (Assisted Human Reproduction) (Amendment) Bill – which is largely concerned with outstanding issues of parentage and citizenship, but also seeks to make other necessary amendments to various sections of the 2024 Act itself – is at an advanced stage, led by the Office of Parliamentary Counsel, along with officials from my Department, the Department of Justice, Home Affairs and Migration, and the Department of Children, Disability and Equality.
Some administrative sections of the 2024 Act have been commenced, specifically to formally establish the AHRRA. In addition, work is underway with a view to commencing section 232 of the 2024 Act. This will result in the parentage of some donor-conceived children not covered by the Children and Family Relationships Act 2015 being recognised.
I am sure the Deputy will acknowledge that much progress has been made on our path to providing the necessary oversight and regulation of assisted human reproduction.
This is a very complex area and we need to get it right. For practical and legal reasons, the 2024 Act can only be fully commenced when the Regulatory Authority is fully operational and the Amendment Bill is enacted.
1106. Deputy Fionntán Ó Súilleabháin asked the Minister for Health the length of time the CAHMS vacancy for a psychologist for Gorey, County Wexford has been vacant for; the reason this position has not yet been filled; the number of patients currently waiting to be seen by a member of CAHMS in the vicinity; the breakdown of the length of time they have been waiting to receive care, by year;; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [12052/26]
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.
1107. Deputy Fionntán Ó Súilleabháin asked the Minister for Health the length of time the CAHMS vacancy for an occupational therapist for County Wexford has been vacant for; the reason this position has not yet been filled; the number of patients currently waiting to be seen by a member of CAHMS in the vicinity; the breakdown of the length of time they have been waiting to receive care, by year; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [12053/26]
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.
1108. Deputy Fionntán Ó Súilleabháin asked the Minister for Health the length of time the CAHMS vacancy for an assistant psychologist for County Wicklow has been vacant for; the reason this position has not yet been filled; the number of patients currently waiting to be seen by a member of CAHMS in the vicinity; the breakdown of the length of time they have been waiting to receive care, by year; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [12054/26]
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.
1109. Deputy Fionntán Ó Súilleabháin asked the Minister for Health the number of vacancies currently for CAHMS in counties Wicklow and Wexford; the length of time these roles have been vacant for ; the reason this position has not yet been filled; the number of patients currently waiting to be seen by a member of CAHMS in the vicinity; the breakdown of the length of time they have been waiting to receive care, by year; if there are plans to increase the number of posts allocated to both counties for CAHMS;; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [12055/26]
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.
1110. Deputy Fionntán Ó Súilleabháin asked the Minister for Health if plans have been completed and funded to develop a liaison service for CAHMS across the south-east, as stated in the service plan for 2025;; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [12056/26]
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.
1111. Deputy Sorca Clarke asked the Minister for Health the number of vacant WTE nurse vacancies currently at Mullingar Regional Hospital; the expected timeframe for filling each of those vacancies, in tabular form. [12057/26]
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.
1112. Deputy Sorca Clarke asked the Minister for Health the average waiting time to see a consultant paediatric neurologist at CHI Temple Street for a first appointment. [12058/26]
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.
1113. Deputy Sorca Clarke asked the Minister for Health the number of patients awaiting cardiology surgery at the cardiology department at the Mater Hospital; the types of surgeries being awaited; the current waiting times for patients to receive cardiology surgery. [12059/26]
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.
1114. Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Health if as of 1 January 2026, the HSE has identified any binding constraints on laboratory surge testing capacity in the event of a declared public health emergency; and if so, to specify each constraint by category (staffing, reagents, equipment, logistics). [12077/26]
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.
1115. Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Health the maximum daily PCR and sequencing surge capacity currently available within the public health laboratory system; the peak surge capacity achieved during Covid-19; and the variance between the two. [12078/26]
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.
1116. Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Health whether any tabletop exercises, stress tests, or simulations of laboratory surge capacity have been conducted since 2022; to provide the dates; and to summarise the findings. [12079/26]
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.
1117. Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Health the specific actions, funding approvals, or implementation milestones have been approved by her Department arising from the ESG report published in October 2024. [12080/26]
Amharc ar fhreagraProgress has been made to date on the recommendations of the Emerging Health Threats Steering Group (ESG) Report (https://assets.gov.ie/static/documents/report-of-the-emerging-health-threats-function-expert-steering-group.pdf).
Substantive Government investment in public health reform and pandemic preparedness has taken place in recent years to ensure Ireland is better prepared for future emerging health threats, following Government approval in September 2020 for significant, permanent additional public health resources to supplement the temporary resources provided to manage the pandemic.
Significant priorities and milestones to date include:
• A Health Threats Advisory Committee (HTAC) was established by the Department of Health in 2025 to provide public health advice to Government, and other key stakeholders, including the Office of Emergency Planning, to inform and support the implementation of response actions to a public health emergency.
• The cross-departmental One Health Oversight Committee was established in 2025 to facilitate collaboration that enhances public health intelligence and improve evidence for decision-making so that Ireland can prevent, predict, prepare for, and effectively manage health threats.
• Following funding approval at the end of 2025, a dedicated Evidence Synthesis Hub for Health Emergency Preparedness, including pandemic preparedness, is being established as an expansion of the existing Evidence Synthesis Ireland network. The Hub will operate as a hub and spoke model for rapid evidence synthesis in response to requests commissioned through the Department of Health.
• Preparations are underway for the Public Health Emergency Preparedness Assessment (PHEPA) of Ireland by the European Centre for Disease Control (ECDC) in June 2026. The PHEPA is a requirement under Article 8 of the Serious Cross-Border Threats to Health Regulation (2022) which aims to strengthen prevention, preparedness, and response planning across all EU Member States by providing evidence-based recommendations to each Member State following assessment of their preparedness across a number of capacities.
• A National Health Threats Preparedness Plan is being developed, to ensure clear lines of responsibility, governance, and management for future health threats. This Plan will also reflect the outcomes of the PHEPA assessment.
• A national strategy for the stockpiling of crisis medical countermeasures will be developed as part of overall preparedness planning.
• Several Pandemic Preparedness simulation exercises have, and continue, to take place at national, all-Island and EU level since 2022, building on the lessons learned from the COVID-19 pandemic.
Furthermore, international measures, such as the enhanced mandates for the European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control and European Medicines Agency, the establishment of the Health Emergency Preparedness and Response Authority (DG HERA), the adoption of the Serious Cross-Border Threats to Health Regulation (2022), and amendments to the International Health Regulations (2005), all support Ireland’s national preparedness an ensures alignment with both EU and international best practices.
Ireland also continues to be involved in the ongoing negotiations regarding the PABS Annex to the WHO Pandemic Agreement which was adopted by the World Health Assembly on 20 May 2025.
1118. Deputy Conor D. McGuinness asked the Minister for Health her views on whether it is appropriate that Dungarvan is still without a registrar of births, deaths and marriages; if her Department will work with the HSE to ensure a registrar is in position in the town without further delay; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [12090/26]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe role of the Minister for Health is primarily to deal with legislation, policy, overall budgetary allocation, and corporate governance. The HSE is a separate entity to the Department of Health and as such, the HSE has responsibility for matters relating to the staff within their employ or staff going through the process of recruitment with the HSE's National Recruitment Service.
The Department have asked the HSE to respond to the Deputy directly on this matter.
1119. Deputy Conor D. McGuinness asked the Minister for Health her views on whether it is efficient that documents are still stored in the registrar of births, deaths and marriages in Dungarvan which is currently closed, meaning those working in the office in Waterford city have to travel to Dungarvan to retrieve needed documents; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [12091/26]
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.
1120. Deputy David Cullinane asked the Minister for Health further to Parliamentary Question No. 1069 of 27 January 2026, if she collects data on the reason for each cancellation; if so, the number and the reason; if she collects data on the rescheduling time for each cancellation; if so, the average rescheduling time for appointment type, by hospital, in tabular form. [12099/26]
Amharc ar fhreagraIn relation to the particular query raised, as this is a service matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond to the Deputy directly, as soon as possible.
1121. Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Health further to Parliamentary Question No. 874 of 9 December 2026, the governance and data-collection arrangements in place to monitor the impact of the public only consultant contract since its introduction in March 2023 (details supplied). [12102/26]
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.
1122. Deputy Pádraig Mac Lochlainn asked the Minister for Health the number of requests that have been made, either directly or on behalf of security staff, in HSE hospitals and in voluntary hospitals, for stab vests or similar protective clothing in the past two years; and if any of these requests have been granted, in tabular form. [12104/26]
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.
1123. Deputy Pádraig Mac Lochlainn asked the Minister for Health the number of hospitals where surge capacity is in operation, that have had additional security personnel provided to them to help frontline staff dealing with patients in these additional spaces, in tabular form. [12105/26]
Amharc ar fhreagraAs this is a service matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond to the Deputy as soon as possible.
1124. Deputy Pádraig Mac Lochlainn asked the Minister for Health the number of cases hospitals are currently dealing with and have had to deal with in the past three years whereby either a staff member or a non-staff member was injured in an incident and a legal action has been triggered as a result, in tabular form. [12106/26]
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.
