Written Answers Nos. 1-30
8. Deputy Paul Murphy asked the Minister for Health the reason her Department has refused to grant the health card requested by survivors of institutional abuse; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [17734/26]
Amharc ar fhreagraFirstly, I want to acknowledge the pain, suffering and traumatic impacts experienced by those who suffered institutional abuse. Last week the Taoiseach and the Tánaiste unequivocally apologised, on behalf of the Government, the State, and all the citizens of the State to those who have suffered in this shameful way. This was an important moment. It builds further on the responses of the State over the last number of years to acknowledge the wrongs that were done and to respond to the needs of those who have suffered. We must continue act.
Last July, the Oireachtas passed the Supports for Survivors of Residential Institutional Abuse Act 2025, which will enable the delivery of ongoing health and education supports to survivors of abuse in residential institutions. With regard to health supports, eligible survivors will be provided with a medical card, which will enable them to obtain certain health supports and services through the HSE. This entitlement will be for life and will not be subject to means testing or review.
The Government has also recently agreed to strengthen this package of health supports through the appointment of specified liaison officers within the HSE and through improved access to counselling and physiotherapy services.
My Department is now working closely with the HSE to develop and put in place the necessary capacity to ensure that these supports will be in place as soon as possible.
16. Deputy John Paul O'Shea asked the Minister for Health the number of persons nationally, broken down per HSE region, who are awaiting home support hours; the average waiting time involved; the efforts the HSE are making in recruiting home support workers; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [16273/26]
Amharc ar fhreagraImproving access to home support is a priority for this Government. Home support has increased every year since 2020, from 17.8 million hours to a target of 26.7 million in 2026.
Preliminary data from the HSE indicates that at the end of January, there were 5,310 people on the home support waiting list. Of these, 1,897 people were waiting on a new service and 3,413 people were waiting on additional hours. This is a substantial reduction since the start of 2020, when over 9,000 people were waiting. Priority is given to those in the community with acute needs and those assessed and in hospital who can return home with supports.
The Deputy has requested the waiting list by region, and I will circulate this information.
There is currently no system to report upon average waiting times. However, I requested in January that the HSE collate this information manually every quarter until the new ICT system is in place.
257 posts for HSE home support staff have been allocated for 2026. Recruitment is undertaken at local level and rolling campaigns are underway.
In addition, the HSE Home Support Authorisation Scheme is currently open. This allows new providers to apply to become approved providers, or existing providers to increase their footprint.
17. Deputy Aisling Dempsey asked the Minister for Health for an update on the latest data from the National Clinical Programme for Eating Disorders for 2025; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [17519/26]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe roll-out of the National Clinical Programme on Eating Disorders is progressing well with the 16 eating disorder teams specified in the Model of Care now fully funded. This includes 11 teams which are operational, a further three teams in recruitment and two teams in development. I have doubled investment on dedicated eating disorders services to €14m annually, compared to just €1.6m in 2016 and €6m when I assumed my role as Minister for Mental Health six budgets ago.
Approximately 110 dedicated eating disorder clinicians from the Programme are now working on specialist teams across the country, treating people with eating disorders every day.
In addition, I have prioritised the development of three new regional inpatient centres for adults with eating disorders in the HSE Capital Plan which will be built using an unprecedented €470m in NDP funding for mental health for the period 2026-2032.
This will add 19 new public beds, bringing to a total of 22, to ensure adults with eating disorders have more equitable, regional access to specialist inpatient support.
This is an area I have consistently prioritised for investment, and last week I received data on the activity of these vital services from the HSE. Key points include:
• Increases in activity across referrals, assessments, diagnoses and access to treatment. Over 900 referrals were received, and 600 assessments completed
• A total of 475 children, adolescents and adults with eating disorders were attending teams at the end of 2025
• There was a 13% increase in the number of people starting treatment for an eating disorder.
• Of the 600 assessments completed;
• 90% were female
• 1 in 3 were aged 15-17 yrs
• 78% were under 25 years
• 75% of referrals were assessed within 8 weeks
• Of the 534 eating disorder diagnoses provided by the Programme, anorexia nervosa was the most common at 56%, or 303 people.
All data will be made available on the HSE website shortly.
18. Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Health whether she accepts that emergency ambulance responses to clinical status 1 purple and red calls exceeding 60 minutes represent a patient safety failure; when she first became aware that such extreme delays are not included in published National Ambulance Service performance indicators; whether she considers a system acceptable in which more than half of red life-threatening emergency calls miss response time targets; and the immediate actions she will take to ensure full transparency, regional equity, and patient safety in emergency ambulance response times. [11575/26]
Amharc ar fhreagraAs the Deputy will be aware from my recent responses in this matter, NAS emergency response performance is measured against KPIs included in the HSE National Service Plan for the percentage of PURPLE and RED life-threatening calls responded to within 19 minutes. The timeframe of 19 minutes is as recommended by HIQA for pre-hospital emergency care response times.
NAS performance against these KPIs is reported to my Department on a monthly basis. Performance for 2025 was 71% against a 75% target for PURPLE cardiac life-threatening calls, and 44% for other RED life-threatening calls against a 45% target.
Regarding patient safety, there are established procedures in place under which HSE informs my Department of major or significant patient or service user safety incidents.
This Government remains committed to investing significantly in the NAS to ensure equity of access for patients to pre-hospital emergency services right across the country. In 2026, HSE plans to put in place 263 posts for the NAS at a cost of €20 million, to improve ambulance response performance with additional emergency ambulances, intermediate care services and alternative care pathways. The HSE also plans to establish a new Helicopter Emergency Medical Service in the West/North-West of the country later this year. Significant capital funding of €34m will also be provided for the renewal and expansion of emergency ambulances and other response vehicles.
19. Deputy Barry Heneghan asked the Minister for Health the current national and regional capacity for community based diagnostic services, including MRI, CT and X ray, within hospital groups serving north Dublin; the plans in place to expand this capacity in order to reduce pressure on acute hospitals such as Beaumont Hospital; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [17675/26]
Amharc ar fhreagraI appreciate that waiting times for radiology and diagnostic services have been recognised as an issue for some time. This Government is committed to the implementation of Sláintecare, which includes a maximum waiting time target of 10 days for a diagnostic test. This includes the expansion of services within the north Dublin region.
For example, in Beaumont Hospital, the HSE has advised that there are currently, five CT scanners, one of which is located off site in St. Joseph’s Hospital, Raheny. Imaging is available for ED and inpatients on a 24 hour basis, seven days a week.
It is intended to add further capacity. We continue to invest in the Dublin North East Health Region. The planned stand-alone diagnostic centre in St. Joseph’s Raheny in the HSE 2026 Capital Plan will enhance radiology capacity. This centre will include 3 ultrasound rooms, four x-ray rooms, a CT and MRI scanner along with additional support services. Cardiology CT and MRI will also be available.
However, it is important to strike a balance in the delivery of such services, ensuring that the right diagnostics are delivered in the right place for patients and the health service and avoid unnecessary duplication.
The development of primary care services is central to this Government's aim of delivering a high-quality, integrated and cost-effective health care system, with services provided as close to home as possible.
As part of the community-based approach, the GP Access to Community Diagnostics (GPACD) Scheme is available for referrals by GPs, delivering community-based radiology scans to the adult population through contracted private providers. This outsourced radiology service provides access to x-ray, CT, MRI, and DEXA scans.
In 2025, almost 250,000 community radiology diagnostic scans were provided through this Scheme. Over 21,000 have already been provided this year.
In 2025, HSE Dublin and North East provided 44,246 community based radiology scans through the scheme, with a further 3,822 scans provided to the end of January this year.
20. Deputy Martin Kenny asked the Minister for Health if she will provide funding for an emergency mental health unit for Sligo University Hospital; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [17289/26]
Amharc ar fhreagraI am overseeing the rollout of a range of alternative community supports for people experiencing a mental health crisis, providing options beyond attending an emergency department. At the same time, we are expanding specialist mental health nursing within emergency departments to ensure that, when people do present to hospital in distress, they receive a compassionate and effective response.
My focus on both community and hospital settings reflects a simple truth. We all acknowledge busy hospital emergency departments are not the best environment for someone in crisis, yet mental health presentations will always occur, and every setting must be equipped to respond appropriately.
This year, over €15 million is being invested to expand crisis supports and strengthen targeted suicide prevention initiatives.
As part of this, €2.8 million will support the development of new specialist crisis nursing teams, comprising Advanced Nurse Practitioners and Clinical Nurse Specialists, who will operate out-of-hours in emergency departments to care for people presenting in acute distress. These teams will be implemented in Model 4 hospitals first, with rollout to Model 3 hospitals, including Sligo, planned in future Budgets.
Beyond hospital settings, I am providing an additional €5 million this year to enhance our network of Crisis Resolution Services and specialist mental health supports, including Suicide Crisis Assessment Nurses. Sligo already benefits from a highly effective Crisis Resolution Team and the Solace Café, both of which work closely with local services such as the Consultation-Liaison Psychiatry Team at Sligo Hospital and the Early Intervention in Psychosis team. Together, they help keep people safe and reduce the need for hospital attendance.
Recently, I visited a specialist assessment hub in Kerry that offers timely, one-stop mental health assessments for anyone seeking support. It is an excellent model that I believe should be available in every county. On the morning of my visit, the hub had received nine overnight referrals from the hospital and local GPs. By bringing all relevant professionals together in one location, waiting times for interventions were reduced from twelve weeks to just two. This is exactly the kind of innovative, person-centred practice I want to see expanded nationally, and I will be writing to IHA managers to invite them to consider the Kerry hub as a model for replication across the country.
22. Deputy Peter Roche asked the Minister for Health if her Department has considered introducing an early access scheme for people living with rare diseases to access EMA-approved orphan medicines; if such an early access scheme will include orphan medicines products licensed for non-oncology conditions; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [17621/26]
Amharc ar fhreagraI recognise the importance of timely access for patients to new medicines and supporting those living with rare diseases in Ireland.
Government is committed to enhancing access to medicines for patients across Ireland. Supported by 158 million euros of funding, in the last four years, the State has delivered access to 250 new medicines. 101 of these were for cancer and 69 of these were for rare diseases. These include treatments for a wide range of conditions, such as severe forms of epilepsy, cystic fibrosis, and metachromatic leukodystrophy (MLD). Budget 2026 allocated 30 million euro in funding for new medicines.
It should be noted that once new medicines are approved the full cost of providing them as their uptake increases can reach multiples of their initial cost. For example, while €30m was made available to fund new medicines in 2024, the projected five-year budget impact of these medicines is €386m.
My immediate priority has been to deliver new Agreements with the pharmaceutical sector to create the environment for investment in new and innovative drugs and to provide timely access for patients.
We have just successfully concluded these new 4 Year Framework Agreements on the Supply and Pricing of Medicines with the Irish Pharmaceutical Healthcare Association and Medicines for Ireland.
These agreements include commitments to reaching pricing and reimbursement decisions within 180 days, excluding stop-clocks.
In addition, suppliers will aim to shorten the timeline to submit medicine reimbursement applications in Ireland to within six months of formal authorisation by the European Commission. Together these measures will enable faster access for patients in Ireland. This aims to ensure timely patient access, as previously delayed submissions have slowed availability of treatments. There have been instances where suppliers have taken up to 30 months after European Commission authorisation to submit applications to Ireland’s Pricing and Reimbursement system, significantly prolonging access timelines.
Looking ahead, my Department and the HSE will progress the development of a sandboxed early access programme for rare diseases. It will be in the form of a proof-of-concept initiative. This is aligned with Programme for Government commitments. Research work has already commenced.
As this work progresses, it will be essential that we take account of the views of patients, of industry, and of clinicians. The mechanisms involved are complex, and the potential impacts must be carefully considered to ensure any future system is fair, effective, and sustainable. The State and the pharmaceutical sector have agreed to establish a strategic partnership which will support this work.
23. Deputy Peter 'Chap' Cleere asked the Minister for Health for an update on the proposed health capital developments for older people services in Kilkenny in 2026; if she is confident that all timeframes and deadlines for these will be met; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [17206/26]
Amharc ar fhreagraI am committed to completing the HIQA CNU Programme and also, as set out in the Programme for Government, expanding community bed capacity nationally.
This programme was developed in response to the introduction of HIQA’s National Residential Care Standards for Older People and the requirement that all facilities providing long-stay beds be registered with HIQA.
The programme involves the replacement, upgrade, or refurbishment of Community Nursing Units at up to 90 locations nationwide. As outlined in the Sectoral Plan for Health that was published late last year, it is our intention to complete the HIQA programme within the next five years. This investment is being overlaid with the development of additional CNU capacity for older persons, including those living with dementia.
Seven of these projects are being delivered through a Public Private Partnership (PPP) arrangement.
St. Columba’s in Thomastown, County Kilkenny, is one of the facilities being delivered via Public Private Partnership (PPP). This project involves a new 95-bed unit, comprising 45 replacement beds and 50 additional beds. The PPP Co. expects to complete construction and handover the facility to the HSE in Q1 2026.
At this point, before the new Thomastown CNU can welcome residents and officially open, the unit must be registered with HIQA. The HSE are actively progressing the registration process with HIQA.
A date for residents to move into the new building will be confirmed once HIQA registration is achieved. Workforce planning and engagement with staff is ongoing to ensure that the required complement and skill mix of staff will be in place.
The HSE are working to ensure that residents move into their new homes as soon as possible and are committed to updating residents, staff, and their families in relation to the opening date.
24. Deputy Naoise Ó Cearúil asked the Minister for Health the projected timeline for the utilisation of the €750,000 allocated to external providers to address paediatric long waiters on the community audiology waiting list; the criteria for selecting children to be seen under this initiative; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [17542/26]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe Health Service Executive (HSE) provides free hearing tests and hearing aids, if needed, to children under the age of 18. The demand for these services continues to increase.
I acknowledge that the Audiology Paediatric Waiting List is too long. I have allocated €750,000 for an initiative to support the HSE to utilise external providers to reduce the number of children waiting.
This funding will be used for children over the age of 4 who have been waiting longer than 1 year. Most of these children should be able to be tested by a single audiologist. However, some of them may require a second assessment.
For children younger than 4 years of age, suitable audiology booths must meet the desired noise standard in ISO 82513 for performing diagnostic assessments. I understand that these are not readily available through private capacity. As a result, the HSE will continue to assess these children.
Each Region is required to quality assure the individual premises of external providers prior to placing patients. A key issue is local capacity within the external providers to deliver the numbers of appointments required.
As Regions remove patients they will target the next longest waiters within their allocated budget envelope.
As of December 2025, 601 children over 4 years of age were removed from the Audiology Paediatric Waiting List. The €750,000 that was allocated in Budget 2025 is now recurring and the HSE have advised that over 3,500 children will be seen in 2026.
25. Deputy Noel McCarthy asked the Minister for Health the measures being taken by her Department to increase the provision of ambulance services in the east Cork area; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [17705/26]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe Government has continuously invested in our National Ambulance Service with significant increases in investment in recent years. In 2026, Government investment will support HSE plans to further increase NAS capacity with 263 posts at a cost of €20 million. This funding will help to improve emergency ambulance response performance, increase intermediate care service capacity and further develop NAS alternative care pathways. The NAS also plans to establish a new Helicopter Emergency Medical Service in the West/North-West of the country later this year, significantly increasing NAS national aeromedical capacity.
In the South-West region, increased investment in 2026 will see additional emergency ambulances for Cork City and Killarney, as well as an additional Intermediate Care Vehicle in Bantry. An additional community paramedic in 2026 is also planned for the region to provide healthcare supports for lower acuity older patients, reducing the need for unnecessary conveyance to busy hospital emergency department where there is no clinical need. In nearby county Waterford, an additional paramedic was provided in 2025 and an additional community paramedic is planned for 2026. In addition, the provision of a replacement Ambulance Station in Midleton is currently at Design Feasibility stage.
The Deputy will be aware that the NAS has recently established a new tertiary education training facility in Cork to further support paramedic education and training. I am pleased to learn that the first intake of student paramedics took place in January 2026, which has increased overall NAS training capacity by 20%.
26. Deputy Barry Ward asked the Minister for Health if her attention has been drawn to concerns related to larger disposable nicotine vaping devices, which can deliver up to 25,000 puffs of nicotine vapor that are becoming increasingly prevalent; her views on whether these devices will be covered under the Public Health (Single-Use Vapes) Bill 2025; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [16473/26]
Amharc ar fhreagra71. Deputy Barry Ward asked the Minister for Health the position regarding any research carried out in relation to international comparisons when drafting the Public Health (Single-Use Vapes) Bill 2025, and in particular the United Kingdom with regards to their issues in banning larger disposable nicotine vaping devices which can deliver up to 25,000 puffs of nicotine vapor; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [16474/26]
Amharc ar fhreagraI propose to take Questions Nos. 26 and 71 together.
The Public Health (Single-Use Vapes) Bill will apply to any vape that is single-use including those referred to by the Deputy if they are single use. The definition of single use in the current Bill includes devices which are not refillable, have a battery which cannot be recharged or a coil which cannot be replaced. The development of the legislation included consultation with France, Belgium and the UK to learn from their experience of the implementation of a similar ban.
As with all public health legislation, a suite of measures is required in order to have the intended policy impact. The Public Health (Single-Use Vapes Bill) is one of several interventions aimed at reducing the appeal and availability of nicotine inhaling products to young people. This includes the measures in the Public Health (Tobacco Products and Nicotine Inhaling Products) (Amendment) Bill, and the E-Liquid Products Tax recently implemented by my colleague the Minister for Finance.
Matters relating to the size of a tank, pod or refill container of an electronic cigarette are regulated by the EU Tobacco Products Directive. The National Environmental Health Service of the HSE is the enforcement authority for the relevant provisions.
I understand that there is a campaign by representatives of tobacco manufacturers in relation to the devices referred to here. It is important that Ireland's obligation under the Framework Convention on Tobacco Control to protect our tobacco control policy from the interests of that industry continue to be upheld.
27. Deputy Pa Daly asked the Minister for Health if she will report the delay in delivery of new maternity hospital for UHK which would offer safe access to theatre from delivery suite; the reasons for this delay; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [16503/26]
Amharc ar fhreagraI would like to thank the Deputy for their question on University Hospital Kerry (UHK).
UHK is the largest hospital in the county and provides essential services to the people of Kerry and the wider region.
I remain fully committed to increasing capacity at the hospital. This commitment is reflected in the recently published Capital Plan, which outlines a number of significant projects progressing at UHK, including the 30-bed single-storey vertical extension that is currently under construction.
As with all acute hospital campuses, developments of scale are complex. They must be carefully planned to ensure that existing services can continue safely while works are underway.
The HSE Capital and Estates Office has advised that a Development Control Plan (DCP) for the University Hospital Kerry campus is currently being prepared. The DCP will provide a strategic framework for the future development of the hospital.
The purpose of the DCP is to ensure that any proposed capital investment – including the future development of maternity services facilities – is properly planned, fully integrated, and aligned with long-term service needs and site constraints.
Once complete, the DCP will inform and support the preparation of a capital submission to address the requirements of maternity services at UHK. It is anticipated that the DCP will be completed by early Q3 2026.
28. Deputy Mairéad Farrell asked the Minister for Health the outcome of her meeting with Galway University Hospital regarding the chronic issue of overcrowding in the hospital; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [17801/26]
Amharc ar fhreagraOn 12 February I attended a workshop with the HSE West North West Region, at which management of University Hospital Galway were present along with other hospitals from the region.
Key issues discussed included the implementation of 5 over 7 working, the Public Only Consultant Contract and broader productivity measures, across the region. These workshops took place with all HSE regions over January and February and I welcomed the engagement of HSE leadership there.
The Government has provided significant investment to University Hospital Galway in recent years. The budget has increased by €230 million since 2020, an increase of 57% from €398 million to €628 million this year. In this time staffing has grown by 815 staff, from 3,787 in 2020 to 4,602 - an increase of 21%. Bed capacity at the hospital has also grown by 5% from 706 in 2020, to 742 this year. That is an additional 36 beds.
Further development at Galway University Hospital is planned, including new laboratory buildings, development of Cath Lab in the long term, the construction of a Surgical Hub on the Merlin Park campus. Longer term development of an Elective Treatment Centre at Galway is also planned.
29. Deputy Thomas Gould asked the Minister for Health whether she is aware that no tender is issued for the Southdoc SLA, and that this is renewed without competition annually; and whether she will consider a separate tender for the northside of Cork city given the lack of out-of-hours service provided by Southdoc in the area. [16726/26]
Amharc ar fhreagraGPs contracted under the GMS scheme are required, by their contract, to make suitable arrangements to enable contact to be made with them for urgent GP care outside of normal practice hours. Most GPs participate in GP out of hours co-operatives as a means of meeting this contractual requirement.
South-West Doctor-on-Call Limited, known as SouthDoc, provides out of hours GP services for Counties Cork and Kerry. If a patient in Cork City requires care, this will be provided by appointment at either the Blackpool or Kinsale Road Treatment Centre, or by home visit, depending on the patient’s clinical condition as assessed by the consulting doctor. I understand that the Blackpool Treatment Centre remains open Monday to Friday from 6:30pm to 10:00pm for routine appointments. At weekends, patients are seen at the Blackpool Treatment Centre or by the mobile car unit, where clinically appropriate. In the year to date, I am informed by SouthDoc that 1,198 patients have been seen at the Blackpool Treatment Centre.
Although the HSE provides funding to support out of hours co-operative services through service level agreements (SLAs), GP out of hours co-operatives are private organisations.
A Strategic Review of General Practice is currently underway. The Review is examining the issues affecting general practice including GP training, GP capacity, Out of Hours services reform, and the financial support model for general practice. The Review will identify the arrangements necessary to be put in place a sustainable general practice model, including out of hours, as part of a primary care focused health service and in line with the Sláintecare vision on access.
The review will provide a report and assessment of the challenges affecting general practice and setting out the actions needed to provide for a more sustainable GP service. Out of hours services are a function of the GP GMS contract, ensuring an effective and integrated service approach across day –time and out of hours GP services. While the review is being completed existing arrangements for the delivery of out of hours services remain in place.
30. Deputy Colm Burke asked the Minister for Health the current status of the proposed elective hospital for Cork; the progress toward the project intended in 2026; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [17536/26]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe Government is fully committed to increasing elective-only day-case capacity through the Elective Ambulatory Care Programme. This is being delivered in two phases: a national network of Surgical Hubs in the first instance to meet medium-term demand and capacity, and then a national network of Elective Treatment Centres, also known as Elective Hospitals, in Galway, Cork and Dublin.
These new ‘elective-only’ facilities are for day-case patients, they are not for acute or emergency care. Significant international evidence supports the separation of scheduled (elective) and non-scheduled (emergency) care, leading to improved care for all patients.
Two Surgical Hubs are already operational (the Reeves Centre in Tallaght and Mount Carmel Hub in South Dublin). A further five hubs are expected to open this year in Swords, Galway, Cork, Limerick and Waterford. Plans are also in development for Surgical Hubs in Letterkenny and Sligo.
In line with the Preliminary Business Cases approved by Government in 2022, the Elective Treatment Centres will provide significant additional service delivery capacity and facilities. This includes endoscopy suites, operating theatres and minor operation rooms.
The design phase for the Elective Treatment Centres is underway. The HSE and its appointed design team are finalising these plans in relation to Cork with an application for planning permission to be submitted in the middle of this year.
