John Connolly
Ceist:296. Deputy John Connolly asked the Minister for Health the steps her Department is taking to tackle the issue of over-prescribing; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [13236/26]
Amharc ar fhreagraHealthcare Policy
Ceisteanna (296)
Freagraí scríofa
Under the Community Pharmacy Agreement (October 2025), an annual funding allowance of €4,500,00, has been agreed, to support medicine optimisation programmes delivered through community pharmacy. This yearly budgetary allocation is ring fenced for community pharmacy delivered optimisation programmes and any unallocated funding will be reinvested across the sector on an annual basis.
Ireland has high and rising levels of polypharmacy which impacts health, safety and quality of life and results in preventable hospital admissions with adverse drug reactions. Medicines optimisation is defined as 'a person-centred’ approach to safe and effective medicines use, to ensure people obtain the best possible outcomes from their medicines. It involves improving prescription efficiency, shared decision making, effective administration and monitoring to achieve desired health benefits while minimising risks and waste. Optimising a person's medicines is important to support the management of long-term conditions, multimorbidity, high-risk medicines and polypharmacy.
There is good evidence that community pharmacy-based schemes to support people with new, high risk or discharge medicines, and to support people to understand and use their medicines appropriately, improves adherences and delivers benefits. The dedicated Agreement fund allocated to progressing opportunities to improve or expand community pharmacy services in relation to medicines optimisation could consider:
• Diagnostic Testing to guide rational and appropriate prescribing.
• A New Medicines Service to help patients who have been newly prescribed medication for a long-term condition to understand how to use their medicines effectively and safely.
• A Discharge Medicines Review Service to ensure safe and effective use of medicines during the critical transition from secondary to primary care.
• Structured Medication Reviews to identify and resolve medication-related problems, improve adherence, and ensure that each medicine is clinically appropriate, safe, and aligned with the patient’s health goals.
The fund will be designed to test, refine, and scale up new approaches within community pharmacy in a structured and evidence-based manner, while creating a framework for ongoing collaboration between my Department, the HSE, the IPU, and other stakeholders, who are all involved in the delivery of safe medicines care to patients. Additionally, I am pleased that the HSE has included a Key Performance Indicator in relation to polypharmacy in the 2026 National Service Plan. An approach to improve identified issues is to be designed in 2026 for implementation in 2027.
Traveller Community
Ceisteanna (297)
Sorca Clarke
Ceist:297. Deputy Sorca Clarke asked the Minister for Health when the ethnic identifier under the national Traveller health action plan will be in place; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [13248/26]
Amharc ar fhreagraFreagraí scríofa
As this is a service matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond directly.
National Treatment Purchase Fund
Ceisteanna (298)
Pearse Doherty
Ceist:298. Deputy Pearse Doherty asked the Minister for Health the reason the HSE refused funding under the National Treatment Purchase Fund to complete treatment for a patient (details supplied) in County Donegal; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [13261/26]
Amharc ar fhreagraFreagraí scríofa
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.
Primary Care Services
Ceisteanna (299)
Robert Troy
Ceist:299. Deputy Robert Troy asked the Minister for Health the current capacity of child occupational services operating from the Longford primary care centre; if the post of child occupational therapist at Longford has been vacant since November 2025. and the way in which children waiting to attend this service are being dealt with in the interim. [13262/26]
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 Appointments Status
Ceisteanna (300)
Robert Troy
Ceist:300. Deputy Robert Troy asked the Minister for Health if she will expedite a child occupational health appointment for a person (details supplied). [13273/26]
Amharc ar fhreagraFreagraí scríofa
As this is a service matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond directly.
Mental Health Services
Ceisteanna (301)
Sean Fleming
Ceist:301. Deputy Sean Fleming asked the Minister for Health the number of people admitted in 2024 to the forensic child and adolescent mental health service in the Portrane facility; the number of persons discharged in 2024; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [13298/26]
Amharc ar fhreagraFreagraí scríofa
As this is a service matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond directly to the Deputy as soon as possible.
Hospital Admissions
Ceisteanna (302)
Sean Fleming
Ceist:302. Deputy Sean Fleming asked the Minister for Health the number of people admitted in 2024 to the Intensive Care and Rehabilitation Unit in the Portrane facility; the number of persons discharged in 2024; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [13308/26]
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.
Ambulance Service
Ceisteanna (303)
Brian Stanley
Ceist:303. Deputy Brian Stanley asked the Minister for Health the longest waiting times for ambulance crews to reach patients, for each county in 2025, in tabular form; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [13334/26]
Amharc ar fhreagraFreagraí scríofa
As this is a service matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive (HSE) to respond to the Deputy directly, as soon as possible.
Ambulance Service
Ceisteanna (304)
Brian Stanley
Ceist:304. Deputy Brian Stanley asked the Minister for Health the number of occasions that it took ambulance crews to access patients in excess of one hour, two hours and three hours, for each county in 2025; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [13335/26]
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 Staff
Ceisteanna (305)
Mark Wall
Ceist:305. Deputy Mark Wall asked the Minister for Health the total number of agency staff employed by CHI in 2025; the total cost of this; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [13354/26]
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 Service Executive
Ceisteanna (306)
Mark Wall
Ceist:306. Deputy Mark Wall asked the Minister for Health to provide a breakdown of the amount of money paid to each agency the HSE used in 2025 to hire agency staff across all public hospitals; the total number of agency staff used in 2025 by each public hospital, in tabular form; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [13355/26]
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 (307)
Eoghan Kenny
Ceist:307. Deputy Eoghan Kenny asked the Minister for Health the position regarding the staffing issues in HSE South West CAMHS-ID team (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [13394/26]
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 (308)
Eoghan Kenny
Ceist:308. Deputy Eoghan Kenny asked the Minister for Health to provide clarity on an issue (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [13395/26]
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.
Departmental Funding
Ceisteanna (309)
Sean Fleming
Ceist:309. Deputy Sean Fleming asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science the funding allocated to NGOs by his Department in 2025; the funding allocated to NGOs by agencies and bodies under the remit of his Department; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [13087/26]
Amharc ar fhreagraFreagraí scríofa
The Department of Further and Higher Education; Research; Innovation and Science provides funding to a range of non-government organisations (NGOs).
Below is a breakdown of funding to non-government organisations as per our Financial Management System for the years 2022-2025.
The table shows the amount of funding granted to NGOs by my Department in 2025.
*Please note that the figures for 2025 are provisional as my department is currently collating information for the 2025 Appropriation Accounts, which are due for submission to the Office of the Comptroller and Auditor General by 31st March 2026.
|
Organisation Name |
2025* € |
|
The Wheel |
1,940,000 |
|
Irish Traveller Movement |
450,000 |
|
Centre for Cross Border Studies |
240,000 |
|
Global Undergraduate Awards |
187,500 |
|
Washington Ireland Program |
165,151 |
|
Clondalkin Higher Education Access Project |
109,255 |
|
Limerick Community Based Education Initiative Ltd |
84,250 |
|
Accessing College Education Project - ACE |
82,055 |
|
EMPOWER |
71,255 |
|
BITE - Ballymun Initiative |
71,255 |
|
Transparency International Ireland |
45,000 |
|
Northside Partnership Limited |
31,255 |
|
Conradh na Gaeilige |
16,000 |
|
Institute of International and European Affairs |
11,000 |
|
Total |
3,503,976 |
My Department does not hold records relating to payments to NGO’s made by the aegis bodies. Contact details for these bodies are set out below, should the Deputy wish to contact the aegis bodies directly with his query.
|
- |
|
Contact E-Mail Addresses for State Bodies under the Remit of the Department of Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science |
|
Name of Body |
Dedicated Email address for the Members of the Oireachtas |
Designated Official Responsible for assisting Oireachtas Members |
|
Higher Education Authority |
Oireachtas@hea.ie |
Trevor Purtill - tpurtill@hea.ie |
|
Grangegorman Development Agency |
oireachtas@ggda.ie |
Nigel Thompson - nigel.thompson@ggda.ie |
|
SOLAS |
oireachtasinfo@solas.ie |
Maria Walsh - maria.walshe@solas.ie |
|
Skillnet Ireland |
oireachtasmembers@skillnetireland.ie |
Tracey Donnery - tracey.donnery@skillnetireland.ie |
|
Quality and Qualifications Ireland |
ceo@qqi.ie |
ceo@qqi.ie |
|
Léargas – The Exchange Bureau |
oireachtas@leargas.ie |
Lorraine Gilligan - lgilligan@leargas.ie |
|
Taighde Éireann – Research |
oireachtasqueries@researchireland.ie |
Donna McCabe |
Apprenticeship Programmes
Ceisteanna (310)
John Connolly
Ceist:310. Deputy John Connolly asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science to provide a commitment that his Department will adequately fund the Traveller apprenticeship incentivisation programme on a permanent basis as a feature of the national apprenticeship programme; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [13238/26]
Amharc ar fhreagraFreagraí scríofa
I am committed to growing and developing Ireland's apprenticeship system. A key priority for me is to make apprenticeships accessible to all. Access and inclusion measures such as the Traveller Apprenticeship Incentivisation Programme (TAIP), support people in accessing education and training pathways.
The TAIP is a pilot programme which was established in 2023 and is administered by the Irish Traveller Movement. The TAIP provides targeted support to members of the Traveller community to access and complete apprenticeship programmes. This support is delivered through a €3,000 bursary, structured across three streams:
• New apprentices.
• Existing apprentices.
• Those attending pre-apprenticeship programmes.
There are also grants of €2,000 for employers who take on Travellers as apprentices.
In 2025, the TAIP received 194 expressions of interest. In total, 83 Travellers received the TAIP bursary across the programme's three streams – pre-, new and existing apprentices. In addition, three employer bursaries were awarded.
The ITM has also delivered a comprehensive communication plan to inform Travellers, organisations and stakeholders of the programme through workshops, social media, expositions and employment events, print advertisements, magazine articles, bulletins, and speaking events. In 2025, the ITM’s team delivered 33 workshops to 190 Traveller men and 72 Traveller women. The aim of these workshops was to inform the participants about the TAIP programme, the supports available and how to make an application.
My department has secured funding for the TAIP since 2023 through the Dormant Accounts Fund which is administered by the Department of Rural and Community Development and the Gaeltacht and supports the development of persons who are economically or educationally disadvantaged, or those affected by a disability, within the meaning of the Equal Status Act.
Funding for apprenticeship delivery, including for access and inclusion measures, will be considered by the Government within the context of the Budget 2027 Estimates process.
A new Action Plan for Apprenticeship for the period 2026-2030 is currently in development, with access and inclusion supports remaining an objective in the new plan.
Departmental Funding
Ceisteanna (311)
Sean Fleming
Ceist:311. Deputy Sean Fleming asked the Minister for Rural and Community Development and the Gaeltacht the funding allocated to NGOs by his Department in 2025; the funding allocated to NGOs by agencies and bodies under the remit of his Department; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [13092/26]
Amharc ar fhreagraFreagraí scríofa
My Department operates a range of capital and current schemes which allocate funding to a wide range of bodies, including local authorities, state agencies, local development companies, and community and voluntary groups. While there is no agreed definition of what constitutes a non-governmental organisation, schemes aimed at addressing disadvantage, promoting social inclusion, and developing the Gaeltacht and Irish language, would often support community and voluntary type groups which may be considered as non-governmental organisations.
One example of such a scheme would be the Scheme to Support National Organisations (SSNO). This is a key departmental programme which provides multi-annual funding towards core costs of national community and voluntary organisations that demonstrate good governance and deliver services and supports that have a focus on one or more of the following: addressing poverty, social exclusion and promoting equality. The Scheme is administered by Pobal on behalf of my Department. Allocations are provided based on a competitive application and assessment process. The current scheme commenced on 1 July 2022 and finished last December. Over the course of that iteration of the Scheme, €24 million was allocated to 82 national organisations. The 2026-2029 Scheme closed for applications in December, and applications are currently being assessed.
A wide range of other schemes, including the Community Services Programme, the Local Enhancement Programme, and Social Enterprise supports, would also provide supports to community type organisations that are providing community supports or activities.
Funding allocations made by my Department, across schemes and in tabular format, are available on my Department's website, www.gov.ie/drcdg.
There are eight agencies under my Department’s remit: Pobal, the Charities Regulator, Water Safety Ireland, the Western Development Commission, Foras na Gaeilge, the Ulster-Scots Agency, Údarás na Gaeltachta and Oifig an Choimisinéara Teanga. Where these agencies operate funding schemes, the information on these schemes is available on each agencies website.
I would note that Pobal carry out work on behalf of a number of Government departments, and comprehensive information on all of these schemes and programmes is available on their website at: www.pobal.ie/programmes/
These agencies are independent legal entities, responsible for managing their own operations, including the administration of funding supports. The details of the Oireachtas contact point for each of the agencies are set out in the table below, should further specific information be required.
|
Organisation |
Email address |
Phone Number |
|
Pobal |
oireachtasqueries@pobal.ie |
01 5117000 |
|
Western Development Commission (WDC) |
oireachtas@wdc.ie |
094 9861441 |
|
Charities Regulatory Authority (CRA) |
oireachtas@charitiesregulator.ie |
01 6331500 |
|
Water Safety Ireland (WSI) |
oireachtas@watersafety.ie |
091 564400 |
|
Oifig an Choimisinéara Teanga |
oireachtas@coimisineir.ie |
091 504006 |
|
Údarás na Gaeltachta |
oireachtas@udaras.ie |
091 503170 |
|
Foras na Gaeilge |
oireachtasceisteanna@forasnagaeilge.ie |
01 6398400 |
|
Ulster-Scots Agency |
oireachtasqueries@ulsterscotsagency.org.uk |
07 4917 3876 |