Written Answers Nos. 51-75
51. Deputy Grace Boland asked the Minister for Health the measures currently in place across health services to support women who have experienced traumatic childbirth and who are presenting with post-natal mental health difficulties, including community-based specialist perinatal mental health services; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [16940/26]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe Specialist Perinatal Mental Health Services (SPMHS) is now available in all 19 maternity hospitals nationwide, providing support to pregnant women and women with a baby up to one year old, with an existing or new mental health problem. Funding of €5 million annually has established 6 consultant led multidisciplinary teams across major maternity hospitals (Coombe, NMH, Rotunda, Galway, Cork, Limerick), and 13 spoke sites staffed by perinatal mental health midwife posts. There are now over 75 funded posts in SPMHS nationally.
Under Budget 2026, I secured an additional €640,000 to recruit two additional consultant psychiatrists for the Programme’s busiest sites, the Rotunda and Holles Street, to meet growing demand for the service.
The HSE are progressing a review of the Model of Care for SPMHS, with a Steering Group due to be established shortly and a refreshed model published later this year. The key objective of this refresh is the provision of equivalent service to the major hospital sites as for the other 13 spoke sites, and this will be the focus of this second phase of the Model of Care.
A key priority under this Model of Care is to develop a Perinatal Mother and Baby Unit (PMBU). Work is ongoing by the HSE to progress the development of an PMBU for Ireland, an inpatient mental health service with relevant maternity support to allow women to stay with their babies during their mental health treatment.
To meet the needs of new mothers with moderate to severe mental illness, the PMBU must be sited at a location with access to a maternity hospital as well as an acute mental health unit. This will ensure there is always mental health and maternity expertise available. As such, it is envisaged that the PMBU will be developed on the grounds of St Vincent’s University Hospital in Dublin, and a feasibility study is currently underway to determine a location within the campus, with the study due to conclude shortly. The outcome of the study will form the basis for the next key decisions on the project.
As this relates to an operational issue, it has been referred to the HSE for direct reply to you.
52. Deputy Naoise Ó Muirí asked the Minister for Health the way young people with eating disorders and their families are included in the planning and evaluation of CAMHS–AMHS transition pathways; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [17497/26]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe National Clinical Programme on Eating Disorders has progressed well with the total number of 16 eating disorder teams under the Model of Care now fully funded. This includes 11 teams now operational and a further 5 teams in recruitment and development, as per the Model of Care. The HSE spends over €14 million on eating disorders services annually.
Over 110 dedicated eating disorder clinicians from the National Clinical Programme are now working on the teams across the country, treating people with eating disorders every day. Enhancement for specialist mental health services including eating disorders is a key priority for myself as Minister, the Government as a whole, and the Health Service Executive (HSE).
HSE data from the National Clinical Programme for Eating Disorders for 2025 shows increases in activity across referrals, assessments, diagnoses and access to treatment. In 2025, over 900 referrals were received, 600 assessments were completed, with a 13% increase in the number of people starting treatment for an eating disorder. 75% of patients were assessed within eight weeks.
Our current focus is on completing and implementing the existing Model of Care and supporting the rollout of additional teams. Once this is complete, an evaluation will be undertaken, after which the Model of Care will be reviewed by the HSE.
The HSE report on inpatient bed capacity required for eating disorders was forwarded to my Department for consideration in July 2025. Accordingly, the recommendations for enhanced bed capacity for eating disorders have now been included in the National Development Plan.
In addition, as Minister I secured funding from Budget 2026 for two new eating disorder teams, a CAMHS team to serve the South east, and an Adult team to serve counties Galway and Roscommon. This will assist more people with an eating disorder requiring access to specialist eating disorder mental health services.
With reference to the specific information requested as this is an operational issue , I have referred it to the HSE for direct reply to you.
53. Deputy Michael Cahill asked the Minister for Health to urgently address the issues and ensure that the day centre at Caherciveen Community Hospital remains fully operational; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [17616/26]
Amharc ar fhreagraAs this is an operational matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond directly to the Deputy as soon as possible.
54. Deputy Mark Ward asked the Minister for Health the services available to newborns and infants from public health nurses in the Dublin mid-west area; the steps being taken to increase public health nurses in the area; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [17514/26]
Amharc ar fhreagraAs this is a service matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond to the Deputy as soon as possible.
55. Deputy Michael Murphy asked the Minister for Health whether specific waiting list reduction targets have been set for orthodontic assessment and treatment in south Tipperary for 2026 and 2027; the numerical reduction targets for each year; the projected maximum waiting time by the end of 2026 and 2027; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [17513/26]
Amharc ar fhreagraAs this is a service matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond to the Deputy directly.
56. Deputy Pádraig Mac Lochlainn asked the Minister for Health if she will ensure that the Letterkenny University Hospital, model 3 hospital, clinical care plan is published at the earliest opportunity, and the recommendations urgently acted upon.; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [17181/26]
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.
57. Deputy Peter 'Chap' Cleere asked the Minister for Health for an update on the proposed health capital developments in primary care and mental health services 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. [17207/26]
Amharc ar fhreagraAs Minister, I have set out my priorities for capital projects for 2026, with over €40m allocated to initiate and progress mental health infrastructure projects this year.
The funding represents another record level of investment in 43 separate mental health capital projects across the country, with annual investment set to increase further over the next four years.
I am prioritising the development of three regional adult Eating Disorder Inpatient Centres to provide improved access to specialist public beds in Cork, Dublin and the North West. The new facilities will provide specialist inpatient eating disorder care closer to home people who are acutely unwell and reduce the HSE’s current reliance on private placements.
Another key priority is the development of Ireland’s first Perinatal Mother and Baby Units to support the mental health of pregnant women and new mothers. Funding has been allocated to advance the establishment of a Perinatal Mental Health Unit which will be co-located with the new National Maternity Hospital on the St Vincent’s University Hospital campus in Dublin. In addition, HSE Mid-West are progressing plans for six-bed Perinatal Mental Health Unit on the St Joseph’s Hospital campus in Limerick.
As Minister I am determined to drive progress to redevelop six priority Acute Mental Health Units in 2026 to provide an improved therapeutic and recovery-focused environment for people admitted for mental health treatment. This includes new and upgraded facilities in Waterford, Roscommon, Cork, North Dublin, Kildare and South Dublin.
Funding has also been allocated to progress the development of new departments of psychiatry for Cavan General Hospital and St. Luke’s Hospital Kilkenny.
A new 10-bed specialist Community Mental Health Unit has been included in the plan for Wexford to provide intensive short stay care and treatment to people experiencing mental health difficulties in the county.
The investment for 2026 is the first tranche of funding to be allocated from an overall total of €470m earmarked for mental health projects in the National Development Plan 2026-2030.
A 10-year Capital Plan for Mental Health will be published this year which will set out a strategic investment plan to maximise the unprecedented level of investment in the mental health capital estate.
With regards to your specific query around Co. Kilkenny, as these are service matters, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond directly to the Deputy as soon as possible.
58. Deputy Joe Cooney asked the Minister for Health her plans to address the number of closed or unavailable beds in State-operated community nursing homes; the additional bed capacity planned over the next 10, 20 and 30 years to meet the needs of an ageing population; the way in which her Department intends to ensure future provision matches projected demographic demand; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [17547/26]
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.
59. Deputy Willie O'Dea asked the Minister for Health the proportion of the HSE workforce employed in acute services in 2026; the proportion at the end of 2019; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [17522/26]
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.
60. Deputy Peter Roche asked the Minister for Health when she intends to commence a review of the reimbursement process, as committed to in the Programme for Government; whether such a review will specifically include the way in which orphan medicines are assessed and reimbursed; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [17622/26]
Amharc ar fhreagraI thank the Deputy for his question on this matter.
The Programme for Government (Securing Ireland's Future) contains a suite of measures on medicines which my officials will seek to progress over the lifetime of this government.
Supported by 158 million euros of funding, in the last four years, the State has delivered access to 250 new medicines. Sixty-nine (69) of these drugs were for rare diseases. Budget 2026 allocated 30 million euro in funding for new medicines.
The Mazars Review published in 2023 found that Ireland’s pricing and reimbursement system was operating as intended and within international norms. A number of key recommendations were made on foot of this review which led to significant additional funding being allocated in 2024 to support staffing across the pricing and reimbursement system and the introduction of a HSE application tracker to improve transparency.
The State has successfully negotiated a new Agreement in Principle on the Supply and Pricing of Medicines with IPHA, commencing this year and running until the end of 2029. This agreement sets out a clear commitment and structured process aimed at achieving a 180-day timeline for completing health technology assessments and reimbursement decisions. The process will be implemented throughout the Agreement’s duration.
As part of FASPM talks, the State and the pharmaceutical sector have agreed to establish a strategic partnership on the development of a sandboxed early access programme for rare diseases.
Under the Health (Pricing and Supply of Medical Goods) Act 2013, the HSE has statutory responsibility for medicine pricing and reimbursement. Reimbursement applies to licensed indications approved by the EMA or HPRA.
Pricing and reimbursement applications are considered in order of application and there is no hierarchy of disease.
Ireland, by virtue of its size and market share, may not always be prioritised by a company in the first stages of marketing a new product. Reports that measure timelines from EMA approval to HSE reimbursement often overlook this factor. Ensuring timely access requires collaboration between industry and the State, supported by reasonable pricing and complete, high-quality dossiers.
61. Deputy David Cullinane asked the Minister for Health her plans to enhance care for people, particularly immunotherapy for children, with allergies; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [17631/26]
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.
62. Deputy Paul Murphy asked the Minister for Health the steps she will take to ensure better training and awareness of premenstrual dysphoric disorder (PMDD) among medical professionals, including GPs; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [17735/26]
Amharc ar fhreagraIn relation to healthcare professional awareness and training, the Irish College of GPs develops and delivers education on a range of community gynaecology topics including PMDD. Education is delivered in a range of formats from the large scale webinar to the in-depth skills based education in blended, modular format. This is CPD education, which is also available to GPs in training. PMDD is included as a mandatory topic in this course. The Community Gynaecology Course promotes effective communication skills in relation to a range of Gynaecological conditions and procedures
The Royal College of Obstetrics & Gynaecology’s published clinical guidelines on ‘Management of Premenstrual Syndrome’, provides clinicians with a comprehensive tool to diagnose and treat severe PMS.
In relation to awareness more generally, I have recently approved funding for the development of a menstrual health awareness campaign which is currently being developed by the HSE's National Women and Infants Health Programme.
The HSE have proposed an evidence-based approach to designing and undertaking this broad campaign. The first phase will involve a comprehensive evaluation and assessment of current attitudes, behaviours and knowledge of all relevant topics. This important research will underpin and guide the direction of the awareness campaign, which aims to balance information regarding what is normal versus what could be abnormal, and will focus on a range of menstrual health disorders and associated conditions. It is envisaged that a key product out of this research phase will be the development of a communications strategy with recommendations on specific areas requiring focus.
I have also approved funding for the HRB Applied Partnerships Award Scheme specifically for Women’s Health. Up to €1 million from the Department of Health’s Women's Health Fund will be made available for the Women’s Health Applied Partnership Scheme for both 2026 and 2027.
Research themes have been determined and are informed by Ministerial priorities, outcomes of various listening exercises with women, the work of the Women’s Health Taskforce and the HRB’s Women’s health outcomes: An evidence and gap map review commissioned by the Department and published in 2025. Menstrual health is one of the priority themes identified and applications are welcomed on all aspects of this area of women's health, including PMDD.
As the first research programme of this kind in the area of women's health, alongside specific themes focused on areas of unmet need, we are also including a general women's health theme. It is hoped that this dual approach will stimulate interest from a wide range of disciplines and open the door towards filling this longstanding gap in women's health research.
The research call went out to the research community in January 2026 with a deadline submission date of the end of March 2026
63. Deputy Alan Kelly asked the Minister for Health the progress made on the implementation of options B and C from the HIQA review of acute HSE services in the midwest. [8231/26]
Amharc ar fhreagra64. Deputy Peadar Tóibín asked the Minister for Health the total value of all medical equipment and personal protective equipment currently held in storage that is considered obsolete or past its expiry date; to detail the projected €7.4 million cost for the destruction of such stock in 2026; the annual storage fees paid for these assets, which reached €2.1 million in the previous year; if any other "unprocured" contracts similar to the respiratory sensor case have been identified; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [17791/26]
Amharc ar fhreagraAs 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.
65. Deputy Roderic O'Gorman asked the Minister for Health the number of times she has met with the Master of the Rotunda Hospital in 2026; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [17640/26]
Amharc ar fhreagraI attended a Fetal Surgery Conference in the Rotunda Hospital in my capacity as the Minister for Health on January 23rd 2026, to which I was invited by Professor Sean Daly, Master of the Rotunda Hospital, and at which Professor Daly was present.
I subsequently met with Professor Daly on March 3rd 2026 in relation to the recent Critical Care Wing planning decision. I and my officials will continue to engage closely with Professor Daly and the Rotunda in this regard.
66. Deputy Roderic O'Gorman asked the Minister for Health the way in which she intends to put in place an accelerated process to deliver the critical care wing of the Rotunda Hospital in light of the recent rejection of planning permission; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [17641/26]
Amharc ar fhreagraThis Government is committed to driving improvements across maternity services including continued investment in the Rotunda Hospital.
My officials and I met with representative from the Rotunda Hospital and the Health Service Executive this week and it was agreed that a new planning application will be submitted by the Rotunda. The application will include two additional elements:
Critical care capacity for women expanding on the earlier application which was focused solely on infants
An enhanced Sexual Assault Treatment Unit
My priority is to ensure the delivery of appropriate additional capacity for the Rotunda as quickly as possible. The Rotunda’s expansion, together with continued strengthened collaboration with the Mater, represents the most practical and immediate pathway to deliver that priority today.
Co-location of maternity hospitals with acute adult hospitals is recognised as international best practice as it provides mothers with access to a full range of medical and support services, which is paramount for high-risk mothers and babies.
Enhancing critical care facilities on the Rotunda site will differentiate the Rotunda Hospital from the co-location policy because the benefits of co-location can be achieved through the already established pathways to the Mater. The principle of safe stabilisation and assured access to adult acute services underpins this Government’s co-location policy and how it is applied in practice.
I will continue to work with the Minister for Public Expenditure, Infrastructure, Public Service Reform and Digitalisation, Jack Chambers TD, to ensure that health infrastructure is fully recognised as critical infrastructure within the forthcoming reforms arising from the Accelerating Infrastructure Report and Action Plan.
67. Deputy Edward Timmins asked the Minister for Health if she will consider designating long-Covid as an occupational illness; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [17792/26]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe responsibility for the Occupational Injuries scheme lies with the Minister for Social Protection.
The Occupational Injuries Benefit Scheme is a group of benefits for insured workers if they are unfit for work either due to an accident arising out of and in the course of employment (at work or an accident while travelling, on a continuous journey, to or from work), or due to the contraction of a prescribed disease, due to the type of work they do and in the course of insurable employment. The two main payments under the scheme are Injury Benefit and Disablement Benefit.
In November 2023, the Minister for Social Protection published a report on the inclusion of long COVID in the Occupational Injuries Benefit Regulations. The report concluded that COVID-19 does not satisfy the statutory criteria for recognition as an occupational illness. These criteria specify that the disease or injury must be caused as a risk of the person’s occupation and must not a risk outside of that profession.
Specifically, the Report found that presumptions about workplace transmission would not be sustainable as it is not possible to establish with confidence that the disease has been contracted through a person’s occupation and not through community transmission. This is because community transmission had become dominant by Summer 2020.
The Department of Social Protections range of income supports, including Illness Benefit and Invalidity Pension, at the same or higher rates of payment as payments under the Occupational Injuries Benefit Scheme, are available to people who cannot work due to the effects of long COVID.
68. Deputy Erin McGreehan asked the Minister for Health if she will examine the potential of a surgical hub being established at Louth County Hospital to support the north-east and the growing population; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [17646/26]
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. No other locations are under consideration at this time.
No matter where these new facilities are located, everyone in the country should have access to sufficient and appropriate elective surgical capacity. The plans in place to improve elective care across the country will benefit the people of Louth. As a national network, the new Surgical Hubs and Elective Treatment Centres are intended to provide national coverage and enable delivery of care for all patients, ultimately leading to a more efficient and responsive system for all.
69. Deputy Conor D. McGuinness asked the Minister for Health if she will intervene regarding the change to a long-established practice of offering permanent National Ambulance Service contracts to paramedics who successfully completed training. [17637/26]
Amharc ar fhreagraAs this is an operational matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive (HSE) to respond to the Deputy directly, as soon as possible.
70. Deputy Tony McCormack asked the Minister for Health the capital projects currently approved for health facilities in County Offaly; the funding allocated in 2026; the projected completion dates for these projects; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [17613/26]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe HSE Capital Plan is an annual document that sets out the planned Health infrastructure investment within a given year. Capital investment plays a critical role in enabling and enhancing health service provision.
The HSE Capital Plan 2026 outlines the planned investment in Health infrastructure throughout the country. The HSE Capital Plan reflects the priorities and ambition set out in the NDP Health Sectoral Plan.
The HSE Capital Plan 2026 was published on 24th February 2026, and provides detail on health infrastructure projects progressing in Offaly in 2026. The HSE Capital Plan is available on the HSE website https://about.hse.ie/publications/hse-capital-plan-2026/.
The annual capital programme is actively managed to achieve an optimal result in terms of both value for money and delivery of health services for the public. The progress of individual projects contained within the HSE Capital Plan are dependent on various factors, including market constraints.
Actual expenditure in the year may vary from initial allocation based upon a variety of factors, determined by market conditions, statutory processes (eg: planning), and availability of resources (eg: materials, labour, etc.)
72. Deputy Erin McGreehan asked the Minister for Health for an update on the plans to increase bed capacity in Our Lady of Lourdes Hospital, Drogheda; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [17647/26]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe Acute Inpatient Bed Capacity Expansion Plan 2024 – 2031 aims to deliver an additional 4,367 acute inpatient beds nationally. This includes an additional 141 beds for Our Lady of Lourdes Hospital Drogheda (OLOL).
I would like to assure the Deputy that OLOL is planning for the future to safeguard against increasing demand for its services. Anticipated population growth, particularly among those aged over 75, along with any potential reconfiguration of acute services, highlights the need to expand the hospital’s capacity and capability.
To meet this challenge, a number of projects have been and continue to be developed:
• Ground Floor East Ward expanded bed capacity by ten general beds and two ICU beds in January 2023.
• 15 bed modular short stay medical unit, operational since April 2025.
• In accordance with the Acute Inpatient Bed Capacity Expansion Plan, Phase 3, a new ward block with inpatient beds, Endoscopy Day Services, Critical Care Services & Trauma Services is at appraisal stage.
• Replacement of the existing OPD modular building with an extended two storey building (Phase 1 OPD) is under construction. This will provide additional outpatient capacity.
73. Deputy Albert Dolan asked the Minister for Health to provide an update on the development of the surgical hub at Galway University Hospital; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [16784/26]
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.
The Surgical Hub in Galway will be located on the Merlin Park campus. The HSE expects construction to be completed in Q2 this year at which point the contractor will hand over for fit-out, in preparation for the Hub to become operational from Q3.
74. Deputy Mark Ward asked the Minister for Health if there are proposals for new primary healthcare centres in the Dublin mid-west area; the proposed locations; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [17515/26]
Amharc ar fhreagraAs the Health Service Executive is responsible for the delivery of public healthcare infrastructure projects, I have asked the HSE to respond to you directly in relation to this matter.
75. Deputy Catherine Ardagh asked the Minister for Health her plans to expand access to weight loss medications given the health and societal costs of obesity; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [17500/26]
Amharc ar fhreagraI wish to thank the Deputy for her question.
The Obesity Policy and Action Plan (OPAP), launched in 2016 under the Healthy Ireland Framework was aimed at reversing obesity trends, preventing related health complications, and reducing the wider social and economic impact of overweight and obesity. Recognising obesity as a complex issue, OPAP adopts a whole-of-society approach and aligns closely with World Health Organisation recommendations.
Since 2016, significant progress has been made across OPAP’s Ten Step Programme, from health promotion and education initiatives to establishing obesity treatment and management services within the health system. My Department is now developing a new obesity strategy, informed by extensive public and expert consultation carried out over the past year, and expected to be published later this year.
In accordance with the Health (Pricing and Supply of Medical Goods) Act 2013 the HSE has sole statutory responsibility for decisions on pricing and reimbursement of medicines. Reimbursement is for licensed indications which have been granted market authorisation either by the European Medicines Agency (EMA) or by the Health Products Regulatory Authority (HPRA).
The HSE have advised that decisions on which medicines are reimbursed by the taxpayer are made on objective, scientific and economic grounds.
The HSE have also advised that controls are in place to reimburse GLP-1 medicines only for approved diabetes indications. Ozempic® and Trulicity® are therefore reimbursed only for patients with GMS or Long-Term Illness eligibility with type 2 diabetes mellitus. Ozempic® does not have a licence for weight loss. Liraglutide (Saxenda®) is the only medication reimbursed for weight management, under a Managed Access Protocol for patients who meet the clinical criteria. Applications are reviewed by the Medicines Management Programme on an individual patient basis. Mounjaro® and Wegovy® remain under HSE assessment and are not currently reimbursable.
