Written Answers Nos. 1068-1084
1068. Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Health whether a cost breakdown exists at project or contractor level separating fire safety works from general refurbishment works in the Heather House Community Nursing Unit project; if so, to provide that breakdown; and if not, the reason such cost categorisation is not maintained for capital projects involving statutory fire compliance requirements. [32660/26]
Amharc ar fhreagra1074. Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Health whether interim or final fire safety certification has been issued in respect of the Heather House Community Nursing Unit project; if so, to provide the dates of such certification and the certifying authority involved. [32666/26]
Amharc ar fhreagra1075. Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Health whether any defects, compliance issues, or remedial works relating to fire safety have been identified during the course of the Heather House Community Nursing Unit project; and if so, to provide details of same and any associated additional costs. [32667/26]
Amharc ar fhreagra1076. Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Health whether independent oversight, audit, or inspection has been carried out in respect of the Heather House Community Nursing Unit project, particularly in relation to fire safety compliance; if so, to provide details and findings [32668/26]
Amharc ar fhreagra1105. Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Health whether a copy of the October 2024 fire risk assessment report relating to the Daisy Unit, Heather House Community Nursing Unit will be made available; and if not, the specific legal or policy basis upon which it is being withheld. [32729/26]
Amharc ar fhreagra1107. Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Health whether any internal audit, external audit, or independent review has been undertaken in relation to the fire safety risks identified at the Daisy Unit, Heather House Community Nursing Unit and the subsequent decision to close the unit; and if so, to provide details of the scope, dates, and findings of such reviews. [32731/26]
Amharc ar fhreagra1109. Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Health whether a formal options appraisal was conducted following the October 2024 fire risk assessment of the Daisy Unit, Heather House Community Nursing Unit to assess remediation, partial closure, or continued operation with mitigation measures; and if so, to provide the outcome of that appraisal. [32733/26]
Amharc ar fhreagraI propose to take Questions Nos. 1068, 1074, 1075, 1076, 1105, 1107 and 1109 together.
As 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.
1069. Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Health whether there is a national policy or capital project guidance within the HSE requiring the separate identification and tracking of fire safety compliance costs in capital projects; and if not, whether she will introduce such a requirement. [32661/26]
Amharc ar fhreagra1072. Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Health the number of HSE capital projects since 2020 involving fire safety remediation works; the total expenditure on such works; and whether fire safety costs are systematically tracked and reported across the HSE estate. [32664/26]
Amharc ar fhreagraI propose to take Questions Nos. 1069 and 1072 together.
As 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 matte
1070. Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Health to outline the approval process for the capital funding allocated to the Heather House Community Nursing Unit project, including the stages of approval, the approving authority at each stage, and whether any revised cost approvals have been required since project commencement. [32662/26]
Amharc ar fhreagra1071. Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Health whether the projected total cost of €10.69 million for the Heather House Community Nursing Unit project is fixed or subject to revision; and whether any cost overruns or revised projections have been identified to date. [32663/26]
Amharc ar fhreagra1073. Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Health the original planned commencement and completion dates for the Heather House Community Nursing Unit refurbishment project; the current projected completion date; and the reasons for any delays arising. [32665/26]
Amharc ar fhreagra1093. Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Health to provide a detailed breakdown of the €10.69 million projected cost of the fire safety and refurbishment works at Heather House Community Nursing Unit, including the original approved budget, the current projected outturn cost, the value of all additional works identified during construction, and the total cost variance arising to date. [32705/26]
Amharc ar fhreagra1095. Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Health to provide details of the procurement process for the works at Heather House Community Nursing Unit, including the number of tenderers, the contract award value, the successful contractor, and whether any post-award variations have altered the contract value. [32707/26]
Amharc ar fhreagra1096. Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Health to outline the governance and oversight arrangements in place for the capital works at Heather House Community Nursing Unit, including reporting structures, risk management processes, and whether any issues identified during construction were escalated to the Department. [32708/26]
Amharc ar fhreagra1097. Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Health to specify the exact nature of the issues identified during the refurbishment works at Daisy Unit, Heather House Community Nursing Unit which led to the extension of the project timeline; whether these issues relate to structural defects, fire compliance, asbestos, design deficiencies, or contractor performance; and if she will provide a detailed breakdown of each issue identified. [32709/26]
Amharc ar fhreagra1108. Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Health what capital funding, if any, was allocated or approved to address the infrastructural fire safety risks identified in the October 2024 assessment of the Daisy Unit, Heather House Community Nursing Unit; the estimated cost of required remediation works; and whether such works were progressed prior to the decision to close the unit. [32732/26]
Amharc ar fhreagraI propose to take Questions Nos. 1070, 1071, 1073, 1093, 1095, 1096, 1097 and 1108 together.
As 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.
1077. Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Health the actual average cost per WTE of agency staff compared with directly employed staff across key grades, including staff nurse, clinical nurse specialist, consultant, and allied health professionals, for each of the years 2023, 2024, 2025 and to date in 2026. [32676/26]
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
1078. Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Health the total expenditure on agency staff within the HSE for each of the years 2023, 2024, 2025 and to date in 2026, and the estimated additional cost incurred due to agency premiums when compared to equivalent directly employed staffing. [32677/26]
Amharc ar fhreagraAs this is a service matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond to the Deputy as soon as possible.
1079. Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Health whether a formal cost-benefit analysis has been conducted comparing long-term direct employment versus agency staffing within the public health service; if so, to provide details and findings. [32678/26]
Amharc ar fhreagraAs this is a service matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond to the Deputy as soon as possible.
1080. Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Health whether the indicative 30% agency premium referenced by the HSE is formally incorporated into workforce planning, budget allocations, or recruitment strategy; and if not, why not. [32679/26]
Amharc ar fhreagraAs this is a service matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond to the Deputy as soon as possible.
1081. Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Health the proportion of agency staff engaged under framework agreements versus off-framework arrangements, and the cost differential between these categories. [32680/26]
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
1082. Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Health the total estimated additional annual cost to the Exchequer arising from the use of agency staff, based on the HSE's stated average premium of 30%, and the total agency spend for each of the years 2023, 2024, 2025 and to date in 2026. [32681/26]
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.
1083. Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Health whether the HSE maintains any grade-specific cost comparison between agency and directly employed staff, including nursing, medical and allied health grades; if so, to provide same; if not, the reason such analysis is not undertaken. [32682/26]
Amharc ar fhreagraAs this is a service matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond to the Deputy as soon as possible.
1084. Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Health whether workforce planning decisions within the HSE are informed by a quantified comparison of agency versus direct employment costs; and if no such model exists, whether one will be developed. [32683/26]
Amharc ar fhreagraAs this is an operational issue I have asked the HSE to respond directly to the Deputy on this matter.
