Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 24 February 2026
1030. Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Health whether her Department has conducted any formal review, risk assessment, or governance oversight exercise since 1 January 2024 specifically concerning systemic governance, patient-safety risk indicators, or organisational controls at Children’s Health Ireland; if so, to state the date of each such review, the division of her Department responsible, and whether a written record was produced. [14725/26]
Amharc ar fhreagra1031. Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Health if her Department has not conducted any formal review of governance or patient-safety risk indicators at Children’s Health Ireland since 1 January 2024, to state the reason no such review has been undertaken at Departmental level. [14726/26]
Amharc ar fhreagra1032. Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Health whether her Department maintains a centralised internal register, inventory, or tracking mechanism recording reviews, audits, investigations, or independent reports concerning Children’s Health Ireland; if so, to state when it was last updated; and if not, to confirm that no such centralised register exists within her Department. [14727/26]
Amharc ar fhreagra1033. Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Health whether her Department relies exclusively on HSE-established structures, including the CHI Improvement Steering Group, for oversight of governance and patient-safety risks at Children’s Health Ireland; and to outline the formal reporting arrangements between that Group and her Department. [14728/26]
Amharc ar fhreagraI propose to take Questions Nos. 1030 to 1033, inclusive, together.
I am very cognisant of the challenges CHI has faced in recent years and am actively driving multiple efforts to address these. This includes strengthening governance and oversight, driving down waiting times, and ensuring increased engagement and timely communications with families of patients.
There have been a number of reviews recently focused on the paediatric services in Children’s Health Ireland (CHI), touching upon patient safety and governance issues.
As the HSE is responsible for managing and delivering, or arranging to be delivered on its behalf, health and personal social services, the HSE CEO has established the CHI Improvement Steering Group to co-ordinate oversight of the range of matters of focus in CHI, including the implementation of recommendations from completed reviews and upcoming reports.
This Group coordinates oversight of the implementation of the recommendations from completed Reviews including the Boston Review (2023), HIQA Review (2025), the Internal Examination of a particular clinical department (2022), and the Dickson report (2017), the Developmental Dysplasia of the Hip Audit (2025), and ongoing Reviews including the Audit of governance and equity in patient access and waiting list management at CHI and the External review of the Paediatric Orthopaedic Surgical service at Temple Street. This Group, co-chaired by the Chief Clinical Officer and the REO Dublin Midlands, and meets on a regular basis.
Senior Officials from my Department are standing attendees at this group. Where appropriate, matters are escalated to HSE CEO, and further to my Department as necessary.
