Written Answers Nos. 1089-1107
1091. Deputy Carol Nolan asked the Minister for Health the amount of money that has been used to fund My Options, in the categories of staff salaries, advertising, and other costs in 2025 and to date in 2026; the number of staff (full-time equivalent) employed by the HSE MyOptions service, by year and by category, as qualified nurses, qualified counsellors, and other staff; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [34539/26]
Amharc ar fhreagraAs this is a service matter, it has been referred to the Health Service Executive for attention and direct reply to the Deputy.
1092. Deputy Carol Nolan asked the Minister for Health the amount of money that has been used to fund the supply of mifepristone and misoprostol for abortions in each year from 2019 to date in 2026, by year and by setting (GP or hospital settings); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [34540/26]
Amharc ar fhreagra1105. Deputy Carol Nolan asked the Minister for Health whether the pre-termination counselling protocols mandated under the 2018 Act require the provision of evidence-based information on foetal development at each stage of gestation up to 12 weeks, the physical and psychological risks of the procedure, and details of non-directive support services including adoption and financial assistance for continuing the pregnancy; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [34614/26]
Amharc ar fhreagra1112. Deputy Carol Nolan asked the Minister for Health the assessment, if any, that has been made of the impact of the rollout of termination of pregnancy services on the capacity, staffing levels and reported morale within maternity and obstetric units in public hospitals; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [34621/26]
Amharc ar fhreagraI propose to take Questions Nos. 1092, 1105 and 1112 together.
As the Deputy's questions relate to service matters, I have referred them to the HSE for direct answer.
1093. Deputy Cormac Devlin asked the Minister for Health the number of schools registered with the Health Products Regulatory Authority (HPRA); if written communication has been sent to every Board of Management; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [34552/26]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe Emergency Medicines section of the HPRA website https://www.hpra.ie/regulation/human-medicine/patients-and-healthcare-professionals/emergency-medicines/emergency-medicines-register?data=eyJpZCI6bnVsbCwic2tpcCI6MCwidGFrZSI6MTAsInF1ZXJ5IjpudWxsLCJvcmRlciI6bnVsbH0%3D provides an overview of the legislative provisions that allow for supply and use of certain medicines to save a life or reduce distress in an emergency, sometimes referred to as ‘emergency medicines’. The overview includes information on the legislation underpinning supply and use of emergency medicines, details of the medicines within scope, and the roles of the relevant regulators.
An organisation that wishes to procure an emergency medicine must notify the HPRA of its intention to do so, prior to the first such procurement. An organisation that provides the HPRA with a valid notification of its intention to procure an emergency medicine may be added to the list maintained by the HPRA and, if added, is referred to as a ‘listed organisation’.
In accordance with the Medicinal Products (Prescription and Control of Supply) (Amendment) (No. 2) Regulations 2015 (SI 449/2015) https://www.irishstatutebook.ie/eli/2015/si/449/made/en/print the HPRA publishes the list of listed organisations on its website https://www.hpra.ie/regulation/human-medicine/patients-and-healthcare-professionals/emergency-medicines/emergency-medicines-register?data=eyJpZCI6bnVsbCwic2tpcCI6MCwidGFrZSI6MTAsInF1ZXJ5IjpudWxsLCJvcmRlciI6bnVsbH0%3D
As of 8 May 2026, there are 69 listed organisations. Based on the information available to the HPRA, seven of these organisations are schools.
1094. Deputy Cormac Devlin asked the Minister for Health the number of childcare facilities registered with the Health Products Regulatory Authority (HPRA); if written communication has been sent to each facility; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [34553/26]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe Emergency Medicines section of the HPRA website https://www.hpra.ie/regulation/human-medicine/patients-and-healthcare-professionals/emergency-medicines/emergency-medicines-register?data=eyJpZCI6bnVsbCwic2tpcCI6MCwidGFrZSI6MTAsInF1ZXJ5IjpudWxsLCJvcmRlciI6bnVsbH0%3D provides an overview of the legislative provisions that allow for supply and use of certain medicines to save a life or reduce distress in an emergency, sometimes referred to as ‘emergency medicines’. The overview includes information on the legislation underpinning supply and use of emergency medicines, details of the medicines within scope, and the roles of the relevant regulators.
An organisation that wishes to procure an emergency medicine must notify the HPRA of its intention to do so, prior to the first such procurement. An organisation that provides the HPRA with a valid notification of its intention to procure an emergency medicine may be added to the list maintained by the HPRA and, if added, is referred to as a ‘listed organisation’.
In accordance with the Medicinal Products (Prescription and Control of Supply) (Amendment) (No. 2) Regulations 2015 (SI 449/2015) https://www.irishstatutebook.ie/eli/2015/si/449/made/en/print, the HPRA publishes the list of listed organisations on its websitehttps://www.hpra.ie/regulation/human-medicine/patients-and-healthcare-professionals/emergency-medicines/emergency-medicines-register?data=eyJpZCI6bnVsbCwic2tpcCI6MCwidGFrZSI6MTAsInF1ZXJ5IjpudWxsLCJvcmRlciI6bnVsbH0%3D
As of 8 May 2026, there are 69 listed organisations. Based on the information available to the HPRA, two of these are childcare facilities.
1095. Deputy Cormac Devlin asked the Minister for Health the recruitment steps that have been taken to fill outstanding posts in the Public Health Nurse section in the CHO6 area year-on-year since 2020; the number of persons that have been interviewed, accepted offers and taken up posts; the number that remain unfilled; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [34554/26]
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.
1096. Deputy Barry Heneghan asked the Minister for Health if she is aware of concerns regarding the reported withdrawal or scaling back of the RSV immunisation programme for infants; whether any decision has been taken in this regard; the basis for any such decision, including any assessment undertaken by the Health Information and Quality Authority; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [34556/26]
Amharc ar fhreagra1097. Deputy Barry Heneghan asked the Minister for Health whether the broader clinical, public health and hospital capacity impacts of RSV infection in infants have been fully considered in any review of the RSV immunisation programme; the measures that are currently in place or planned to protect vulnerable infants from RSV; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [34557/26]
Amharc ar fhreagraI propose to take Questions Nos. 1096 and 1097 together.
The immunisation programme in Ireland is informed by the advice of the National Immunisation Advisory Committee (NIAC). NIAC considers the prevalence of the relevant disease in Ireland as well as international best practice in relation to immunisation when developing its advice.
Public health decisions around immunisation are evidence-based and are made for the wider benefit of the population.
My Department has agreed the scope of the RSV Infant Immunisation Pathfinder Programme for 2026/2027, which will be the same as for the 2025/2026 season. That is, RSV immunisation will be offered to babies born in-season and infants aged 6 months old or younger at the start of the RSV season, in line with NIAC advice.
My Department is giving consideration to the findings and options set out in HIQA's recently published HTA on RSV immunisation for infants and adults, including operational and budget impacts, ahead of making a policy decision on a longer-term RSV immunisation strategy.
1098. Deputy Barry Heneghan asked the Minister for Health to provide the number of infants diagnosed with RSV, the number of related GP presentations, emergency department presentations, hospital admissions, intensive care admissions, the associated mortality data, reported through appropriate national or HSE data systems, in each of the years from 2020 to date in 2026, in tabular form; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [34558/26]
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.
1099. Deputy Mattie McGrath asked the Minister for Health why dyslexic assessment of children in Ireland is solely carried out by educational psychologists, when current wait for a dyslexic assessment is reported to be around eighteen months, Dublin College University has a course to train teachers to assess dyslexia, and the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade's 2025 'Diaspora Strategy' aimed to promote opportunities by the next generation of the Diaspora to work and study in Ireland and to address barriers facing emigrants who are returning home (details supplied); if this can be reviewed; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [34559/26]
Amharc ar fhreagraThis is a matter for the Department of Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science to seek such an answer.
1100. Deputy Roderic O'Gorman asked the Minister for Health the provisions that are being put in place to protect vulnerable populations for heat related health risks resulting from heatwaves and climate change; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [34571/26]
Amharc ar fhreagraIreland's first National Climate Change Risk Assessment, published in June 2025, identifies increased exposure to heat among the risks faced by the country's population. Informed by this, the Health Climate Change Sectoral Adaptation Plan 2025-2030 was launched in November 2025 as one of a suite of Plans setting out a whole-of-Government approach to improving the State's resilience to the impacts of climate change and mitigate the risks faced by vulnerable populations.
My Department led a cross-sectoral body of work in 2024 which reviewed the thresholds and guidance in relation to heatwaves, publishing advice for vulnerable populations and relevant stakeholders which can be found at: www.gov.ie/en/department-of-defence/publications/heat-and-heat-waves/.
In addition, the National Skin Cancer Prevention Plan 2023-2026 includes a number of measures aimed at reducing the risks faced by vulnerable population cohorts during periods of extreme heat. The Plan includes targeted interventions in relation to outdoor workers, adolescents and young people, and those who engage in sports, tourism and outdoor recreation.
Over the period to 2030, the Health Sectoral Adaptation Plan will seek to build on these measures and support action, both by the health sector and across other relevant sectors, to reduce the impacts of extreme heat on vulnerable population groups in Ireland. The HSE has identified the need to improve the recording of the impacts of climate-related incidents, including heat, on the vulnerable, and the need to ensure health service delivery during and following such incidents.
My Department also chairs an international working group under the WHO European Region, which will carry out a body of work in 2026 aimed at sharing experiences and inform policy responses in relation to heatwaves on the basis of international best practice.
1101. Deputy Roderic O'Gorman asked the Minister for Health the amount spent on purchasing new resources and/or equipment for the National Neurosurgical Centre at Beaumont Hospital in the years of 2024, 2025 and to date in 2026, in tabular form. [34577/26]
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.
1102. Deputy Roderic O'Gorman asked the Minister for Health the last date an external in-person fire safety audit was carried out at Connolly Hospital, Blanchardstown; and when is the next external in-person fire safety audit scheduled to take place. [34578/26]
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.
1103. Deputy Roderic O'Gorman asked the Minister for Health the number of WTE qualified intensive care nurses posts filled at CHI Temple Street as of 5 May 2026, in tabular form. [34579/26]
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.
1104. Deputy Roderic O'Gorman asked the Minister for Health the estimated full year costs to increase the number of Crisis Resolution Teams within the HSE to 10. [34580/26]
Amharc ar fhreagraAs this is a service matter this PQ has been referred to the HSE to respond.
1106. Deputy Carol Nolan asked the Minister for Health the number of women who have had two or more terminations of pregnancy notified under the 2018 Act since 1 January 2019, by year and by whether the repeat procedure occurred within 12 months of the previous one; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [34615/26]
Amharc ar fhreagraUnder section 20 (1) of the Health (Regulation of Termination of Pregnancy) Act 2018, a notification of each termination of pregnancy carried out under the legislation must be notified to the Minister for Health within 28 days of it being carried out. Section 20, subsections (3) and (4), require the Minister to prepare a report on the notifications received in a given year not later than 30 June the following year and thereafter to lay it before the Houses of the Oireachtas and arrange for its publication.
The notifications are recorded on the form entitled “Health (Regulation of Termination of Pregnancy) Act 2018 (Notifications) Regulations 2018” (Statutory Instrument No. 597 of 2018). The following information is included in the form:
• Medical Council registration number of the medical practitioner who carried out the termination of pregnancy.
• The section of the Act under which the termination was carried out, i.e., section 9, 10, 11 or 12.
• Medical Council registration number(s) of the medical practitioner(s) who made the certification concerned.
• The county of residence, or place of residence (where the woman resides outside of the State)
• The date on which the termination of pregnancy was carried out.
No information regarding the previous number of terminations an individual has had are notified to the Minister as part of this process.
All the information permitted to be published under the Act on terminations of pregnancy carried out in years 2019-2024 were laid before the Houses of the Oireachtas and published the same day. All previous reports are available on the Government of Ireland website.
1107. Deputy Carol Nolan asked the Minister for Health the number of terminations carried out after 12 weeks' gestation on the ground that there is a condition likely to lead to the death of the foetus before or within 28-days of birth in each year since 2019, by specific condition; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [34616/26]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe Department of Health does not collect data on the specific conditions or gestation of each pregnancy that is terminated under section 11 of the Health (Termination of Pregnancy) Act 2018 but the following information is available:
|
Year |
Section 11 |
|
2019 |
100 |
|
2020 |
97 |
|
2021 |
53 |
|
2022 |
88 |
|
2023 |
129 |
|
2024 |
108 |
|
Total |
575 |
