Ivana Bacik
Ceist:1145. Deputy Ivana Bacik asked the Minister for Health the amount raised in respect of the partial sale of Baggot Street Hospital. [12192/26]
Amharc ar fhreagraHospital Facilities
Ceisteanna (1145)
Freagraí scríofa
As 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.
Home Help Service
Ceisteanna (1146)
Pearse Doherty
Ceist:1146. Deputy Pearse Doherty asked the Minister for Health the number of people waiting for home support in December from 2022 to 2025; the number of people receiving less than their allocated hours, broken down by county, in tabular form; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [12193/26]
Amharc ar fhreagraFreagraí scríofa
As this is an operational matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond directly to the Deputy as soon as possible.
Health Services
Ceisteanna (1147)
Ryan O'Meara
Ceist:1147. Deputy Ryan O'Meara asked the Minister for Health if there are plans to open a sexual assault treatment unit in the mid-west region; the consideration that has been given to this by her Department and the HSE; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [12196/26]
Amharc ar fhreagraFreagraí scríofa
There are six Sexual Assault Treatment Units (SATUs) nationally, located in Donegal, Galway, Cork, Waterford, Dublin, and Mullingar. These units provide responsive, patient-centred care for people of all genders and gender identities aged 14 years and over who have experienced rape or sexual assault. SATUs operate in accordance with a nationally agreed model of care, underpinned by defined multi-agency guidelines and referral pathways. People are offered a choice of care pathways according to their own preference and services are delivered in close partnership with key agencies, including the Rape Crisis Network Ireland, An Garda Síochána, and Tusla. All units within the SATU network respond in line with national guidelines developed through collaborative inter-agency engagement. SATUs offer a range of services, including health assessments, medication, and forensic examinations - including options for people to access care without the need to engage with An Garda Siochana. SATUs also provide opportunities for people to store evidence for up to one year, to give them time to consider their reporting intentions in more detail. Patients aged 16 years and over may access SATU services without the accompaniment or involvement of An Garda Síochána, although for patients under 18 years of age, statutory child protection obligations apply. Detailed information is available on hse.ie/satu.
The HSE has advised there is a service in Limerick which operates independently of the national SATU network and SATU governance structures. It provides a local out-of-hours Forensic Medical Examination (FME) service for individuals aged 14 years and over but does not currently provide health checks or options for storage of evidence. All patients must be accompanied by An Garda Síochána, who initiate access to the service. An Garda Síochána contact Shannon Doc, who in turn liaises with the on-call GP regarding provision of care.
Regarding the location and number of SATUs nationally, these were determined based on the sustainability of existing services, geographical accessibility, travel time to the nearest SATU, and historical reporting rates. Units are geographically distributed to ensure that patients can access services within a three hour travel window. This access timeframe is a national Key Performance Indicator (KPI) for the service, with a target of 90%, which has been consistently achieved since 2018.
SATUs are a key element of the support available in the health sector to victims of rape and sexual assault and while the demand for this service is unpredictable it is monitored closely HSE. This PQ has also been referred to the HSE for direct response to the Deputy on operational matters.
Hospital Waiting Lists
Ceisteanna (1148)
Pearse Doherty
Ceist:1148. Deputy Pearse Doherty asked the Minister for Health when a child (details supplied) in County Donegal will receive an appointment in Crumlin Hospital; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [12209/26]
Amharc ar fhreagraFreagraí scríofa
I fully acknowledge the distress and inconvenience for patients and their families when hospital appointments are cancelled, particularly in the case of clinically urgent procedures.
While every effort is made to avoid cancellation or postponement of planned procedures, the Health Service Executive (HSE) has advised that planned procedures and operations can be postponed or cancelled for a variety of reasons including capacity issues due to increased unscheduled care demand.
Patient safety remains at the centre of all hospital activity and elective care scheduling. To ensure services are provided in a safe, clinically aligned and prioritised way, hospitals follow HSE clinical guidelines and protocols.
Cancelled hospital procedures/appointments are, where appropriate, rescheduled as early as possible with priority given to patients requiring time-sensitive and urgent treatment. Patients that are cancelled are rescheduled with the next available appointment based on their clinical prioritisation, with urgent patients prioritised for access.
Under the Health Act 2004, the Health Service Executive (HSE) is required to manage and deliver, or arrange to be delivered on its behalf, health and personal social services. The Minister for Health is prohibited from directing the HSE to provide a treatment or a personal service to any individual or to confer eligibility on any individual.
In 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.
Hospital Waiting Lists
Ceisteanna (1149)
Pearse Doherty
Ceist:1149. Deputy Pearse Doherty asked the Minister for Health when a patient (details supplied) in County Donegal will transfer from Letterkenny University Hospital to the Mater Hospital, Dublin; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [12213/26]
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.
Health Services
Ceisteanna (1150)
Emer Currie
Ceist:1150. Deputy Emer Currie asked the Minister for Health for an update on funding (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [12214/26]
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.
Hospital Equipment
Ceisteanna (1151)
Cathy Bennett
Ceist:1151. Deputy Cathy Bennett asked the Minister for Health if she will provide the service history for all MRI machines here; how often they are serviced; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [12215/26]
Amharc ar fhreagraFreagraí scríofa
As this is a service matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond to the Deputy as soon as possible.
Hospital Equipment
Ceisteanna (1152)
Cathy Bennett
Ceist:1152. Deputy Cathy Bennett asked the Minister for Health if she will provide the service history for all radiation therapy equipment in Ireland; how often they are serviced; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [12216/26]
Amharc ar fhreagraFreagraí scríofa
As this is a service matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond to the Deputy as soon as possible.
Departmental Communications
Ceisteanna (1153)
Donna McGettigan
Ceist:1153. Deputy Donna McGettigan asked the Minister for Health to respond to the issues raised in correspondence (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [12217/26]
Amharc ar fhreagraFreagraí scríofa
This Government fully accepts and recognises the need to expand acute capacity in the Mid West, and we are working to address the challenges facing acute care in the region. This is in line with our Programme for Government commitments to increase capacity and open more beds across the Mid West, and to consider all of the HIQA recommendations.
In response to the queries raised in the correspondence submitted by the Deputy, I would like to highlight that a significant programme of work has been ongoing looking at the evidence base for the future configuration and capacity of services in the Mid West, part of which is entailing consideration of many of these queries.
In 2024, HIQA was asked to lead a review into urgent and emergency care capacity in the Mid West region. HIQA published their independent and expert review on September 30th 2025. The report includes extensive data considerations, including ESRI capacity projections, and associated advice. I briefed Government on this on September 30th.
HIQA’s review identifies three potential options for consideration and alongside these options, HIQA has presented an extensive number of additional considerations, including system-wide work that must be progressed in parallel.
All three options and the extensive findings and considerations presented by HIQA have been analysed in detail, and I presented proposed next steps to Government in December.
Once an appropriate site has been identified and secured to progress option B standard governance structures will be set up to support the delivery of this option and to explore additional opportunities to decant services away from the main Dooradoyle site.
To progress Option C, I and my Department will develop a strategic plan for the incremental reconfiguration and investment in healthcare services in the Mid West region.
We have listened to the advocacy of the people of the Mid West region and have engaged with representatives for their health services. Their input has been reflected in the consultations run by HIQA, and in their report.
On the matter of the list of specific data requests detailed within the attached correspondence, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond to the Deputy directly, as soon as possible.
Residential Institutions
Ceisteanna (1154)
Peadar Tóibín
Ceist:1154. Deputy Peadar Tóibín asked the Minister for Health the number of people in third party residential care in the State supplied through a HSE contract; and the cost, per person, per year. [12222/26]
Amharc ar fhreagraFreagraí scríofa
As this is a service matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond to the Deputy as soon as possible.
Mental Health Services
Ceisteanna (1155)
Peadar Tóibín
Ceist:1155. Deputy Peadar Tóibín asked the Minister for Health the number of psychologists and psychiatrists currently working with the adult disability services in each county; and if any of these are covering multiple areas. [12227/26]
Amharc ar fhreagraFreagraí scríofa
This PQ should be directed to my colleague in the Department of Children, Disability and Equality, as the topic raised falls with in their remit.
Home Help Service
Ceisteanna (1156)
Pearse Doherty
Ceist:1156. Deputy Pearse Doherty asked the Minister for Health when home help service positions will be filled in Donegal; the reason for additional staff not being able to take up positions given the long waiting lists; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [12229/26]
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.
Hospital Waiting Lists
Ceisteanna (1157)
Seán Canney
Ceist:1157. Deputy Seán Canney asked the Minister for Health when a person (details supplied) will receive an appointment for an operation in St. Vincent’s Hospital; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [12233/26]
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.
Mental Health Services
Ceisteanna (1158)
Johnny Guirke
Ceist:1158. Deputy Johnny Guirke asked the Minister for Health to provide an update on the current level of provision and staffing of acute mental health services for older adults (details supplied); the waiting times, broken down by health region and age range, for the counselling in primary care service, in tabular form; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [12234/26]
Amharc ar fhreagraFreagraí scríofa
In the community, HSE Mental Services provide a national network of 34 Psychiatry of Later Life (PoLL) teams to assess and treat mental health issues for adults over the age of 65. Teams are multidisciplinary, with over 400 staff nationwide. Over 85% of referrals are seen within 12 weeks.
Community based Psychiatry of Later Life services are also supported by Day Hospitals who work through activities and interventions matched to the needs of the patient, such as group therapies, skills training to maintain quality of life and independence, and individual therapy, including bereavement therapy.
The Model of Care for Specialist Mental Health Services for Older People was launched in June 2019. This Model of Care provides a framework for the provision of specialist mental health services for older people, and how they interact with and complement general and specialist medical services for older people in primary and secondary care in Ireland.
It is currently being rolled out on a phased basis, with the initial focus on the rollout of 4 pilot/demonstrator sites for development of a Psychiatry of Old Age Liaison Services for Acute Hospitals currently seeing patients and a further site in development. Under Budget 2026, posts have been funded to support the rollout of this Programme.
As your enquiry relates to an operational issue, it has been referred to the HSE for direct reply to you.
Health Services
Ceisteanna (1159)
Johnny Guirke
Ceist:1159. Deputy Johnny Guirke asked the Minister for Health to provide an update on the recruitment of interRAI care needs facilitators; the number currently in-post; the outstanding vacancies; the measures being taken to increase the number of interRAI assessments carried out for home support, in light of the lower than expected number of assessments completed in 2024 and 2025; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [12235/26]
Amharc ar fhreagraFreagraí scríofa
As this is an operational matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond directly to the Deputy as soon as possible.
Mental Health Services
Ceisteanna (1160)
Donna McGettigan
Ceist:1160. Deputy Donna McGettigan asked the Minister for Health the number of WTE consultant psychiatrists based at Ennis primary care centre as of 9 February 2026, in tabular form; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [12244/26]
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.
Health Services
Ceisteanna (1161)
Mattie McGrath
Ceist:1161. Deputy Mattie McGrath asked the Minister for Health the reason dietitian services for type 1 diabetes management are no longer available at Tipperary University Hospital, Clonmel; the contingency plans in place for high-risk diabetes patients; and when dietetic support and insulin pump access will be restored. [12256/26]
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.
Hospital Facilities
Ceisteanna (1162)
Ken O'Flynn
Ceist:1162. Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Health the number of operating theatres currently in use at Cork University Hospital, South Infirmary Victoria University Hospital and Mercy University Hospital; the hours each of those theatres are open in each of those hospitals, in tabular form. [12260/26]
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.
Dental Services
Ceisteanna (1163)
Ken O'Flynn
Ceist:1163. Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Health the number of WTE dentists, by grade, dental nurses, by grade and dental hygienists, by grade, post filled at each primary care centre and health centre within CHO4 as of 9 February 2026. [12261/26]
Amharc ar fhreagraFreagraí scríofa
As this is a service matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond to the Deputy as soon as possible.
Hospital Staff
Ceisteanna (1164)
Ken O'Flynn
Ceist:1164. Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Health the number of WTE consultant ophthalmologists and ophthalmologists registrars based at South Infirmary Victoria University Hospital as of 9 February 2026, in tabular form. [12262/26]
Amharc ar fhreagraFreagraí scríofa
As this is a service matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond to the Deputy as soon as possible.
Health Services
Ceisteanna (1165)
Carol Nolan
Ceist:1165. Deputy Carol Nolan asked the Minister for Health the number of incidents reported to the State Claims Agency which related to the Health (Regulation of Termination of Pregnancy) Act 2018, per year from 2019 to 2025, specifically incidents causing harm, broken down by severity, other reported incidents including near miss; the number of complaints by service users/patients; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [12269/26]
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.
Hospital Services
Ceisteanna (1166)
Carol Nolan
Ceist:1166. Deputy Carol Nolan asked the Minister for Health the number of claims settled by the State Claims Agency which related to the Health (Regulation of Termination of Pregnancy) Act 2018, per year, from 2019 to 2025; the number of ongoing claims, in tabular form; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [12270/26]
Amharc ar fhreagraFreagraí scríofa
The State Claims Agency (SCA) has a statutory remit to manage personal injury and third-party property damage claims on behalf of State authorities.
The SCA has provided me with the information set out below.
The information was extracted from NIMS, the National Incident Management System. This report is correct as of 12/02/26.
The SCA has two ongoing claims from persons alleging that their unborn baby was wrongfully diagnosed with a condition sufficient to bring them within the scope of the Health Regulation of Termination of Pregnancy Act 2018. It is inappropriate to provide the years of claims, as to do so could have the effect of identifying individual cases.