Written Answers Nos. 1108-1135
1108. Deputy Carol Nolan asked the Minister for Health the number of women who received a termination of pregnancy under the 2018 Act and who were subsequently referred for dedicated post-termination mental health or counselling support through the HSE in each year since 2019; the uptake rate of such referrals; and whether any follow-up audit has been conducted on long-term outcomes; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [34617/26]
Amharc ar fhreagraAs the Deputy's question relates to services matters, I have referred it to the HSE for direct reply.
1109. Deputy Carol Nolan asked the Minister for Health the total Exchequer funding allocated specifically to the provision of termination of pregnancy services (broken down between community/GP settings and hospital settings) in each year since 2019 to date; and to compare this with the annual funding provided to crisis pregnancy support agencies and adoption services in the same period; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [34618/26]
Amharc ar fhreagraAs the Deputy's question relates to service matters, I have referred it to the HSE for direct reply.
1110. Deputy Carol Nolan asked the Minister for Health whether any audits or compliance checks have been carried out on the accuracy and completeness of notifications submitted under section 20 of the Health (Regulation of Termination of Pregnancy) Act 2018; the findings of any such audits; and the number of instances, if any, where sanctions were applied for non-compliance [34619/26]
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.
Audits are done on the inputted data internally in the Department, and there is regular engagement with service providers through the HSE to ensure, as far as practical, accuracy and compliance.
1111. Deputy Carol Nolan asked the Minister for Health the extent to which the HSE or HSE-funded clinics have engaged in the advertising or promotion of termination of pregnancy services since 2019, including details of any public campaigns, their cost, targeting methods and content; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [34620/26]
Amharc ar fhreagraAs this is a service matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond to the Deputy as soon as possible.
1113. Deputy Carol Nolan asked the Minister for Health for an update on the implementation status of any recommendations from the independent review of the 2018 Act that specifically relate to strengthening safeguards for women, improving data collection on repeat procedures or coercion, or enhancing non-directive counselling; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [34622/26]
Amharc ar fhreagraAs the Deputy's question relates to a service issue, I have referred it to the HSE for direct response.
1114. Deputy Donna McGettigan asked the Minister for Health the reason the National Ambulance Service (NAS) has failed to implement the recommendations of the 2020 independent Roles and Responsibilities Review, which proposed enhanced salary scales to reflect the increased clinical workload and responsibilities of paramedics; if she will acknowledge that this failure is the primary driver of the stoppages planned for May 2026; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [34640/26]
Amharc ar fhreagra1115. Deputy Donna McGettigan asked the Minister for Health if she is aware that staff representatives assert the core paramedic salary scales have not been updated to reflect the evolution of the profession in 18 years, despite the role moving to a degree-level clinical grade; the reason her Department has not finalised the proposed 3% to 14% pay modernisation increases that were brokered to address this anomaly; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [34641/26]
Amharc ar fhreagraI propose to take Questions Nos. 1114 and 1115 together.
The Government recognises the important work carried out by the national ambulance service and is committed to expanding the numbers of EMTs and Paramedics. This is reflected by the establishment of the Student Paramedic Grade in 2024 which funds hundreds of new paramedics each year to expand services.
The HSE and the Department of Health have engaged extensively, constructively and in good faith with staff representatives for more than two years to address the issues raised in the National Ambulance Service. That engagement has taken place through the State’s established industrial relations machinery, including the WRC and the Labour Court, and within the framework of the Public Service Agreement.
A comprehensive and independently brokered set of proposals emerged from that process. These included significant pay improvements for staff-between 3% and 14%-on top of the 9.25% pay increases already provided for under the Public Service Agreement. Crucially, those pay increases were linked to agreed reforms. The HSE and Departments of Health and Public Expenditure accepted the proposals, which included the full, immediate implementation of the proposed pay increases. It is difficult to understand why a resolution independently and fairly arrived at through the State’s industrial relations framework-a process the unions were party to - is now being rejected.
While union leadership initially endorsed the proposals and recommended them to members, they were subsequently rejected in a ballot. The difficulty is that they are now seeking to secure all the pay increases while resisting delivery of the associated reforms, which is not consistent with how these matters were independently resolved through the State’s industrial relations framework. Those reforms are essential because they deliver real benefits for patients and service delivery, including faster response times, more ambulances available through modern crewing arrangements, greater flexibility across the service, and the ability to treat more patients safely in the most appropriate setting.
The HSE and the Department of Health remain open to further engagement through the State’s industrial relations machinery to find a resolution to this matter. The HSE has requested both SIPTU and UNITE re-engage through dispute resolution mechanisms under the Public Service Agreement 2024–2026. In parallel with these engagements, contingency planning has been undertaken by the HSE to minimise disruption, prioritising patient safety and emergency ambulance services.
1116. Deputy Donna McGettigan asked the Minister for Health the reason the National Ambulance Service is estimated to be short by 2,000 to 2,500 paramedics of its own 2026 workforce target; her views on whether the current uncompetitive pay structure is preventing the recruitment and retention needed to hit these targets; if she will provide a value-for-money justification for the record €27.4 billion health budget when frontline service delivery in Clare is compromised by a staffing crisis; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [34642/26]
Amharc ar fhreagraAs this is a service matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond to the Deputy as soon as possible.
1117. Deputy Donna McGettigan asked the Minister for Health the reason the HSE and NAS management have insisted that pay modernisation increases be phased in over a multi-year period while demanding immediate productivity changes, a position which led to a 69% rejection of the latest pay deal by NAS members in February 2026; the immediate steps she is taking to prevent further strikes scheduled for June 2026; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [34644/26]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe HSE and the Department of Health have engaged extensively, constructively and in good faith with staff representatives for more than two years to address the issues raised in the National Ambulance Service. That engagement has taken place through the State’s established industrial relations machinery, including the WRC and the Labour Court, and within the framework of the Public Service Agreement.
A comprehensive and independently brokered set of proposals emerged from that process. These included significant pay improvements for staff-between 3% and 14%-on top of the 9.25% pay increases already provided for under the Public Service Agreement. Crucially, those pay increases were linked to agreed reforms. The HSE and Departments of Health and Public Expenditure accepted the proposals, which included the full, immediate implementation of the proposed pay increases. It is difficult to understand why a resolution independently and fairly arrived at through the State’s industrial relations framework - a process the unions were party to-is now being rejected.
While union leadership initially endorsed the proposals and recommended them to members, they were subsequently rejected in a ballot. The difficulty is that they are now seeking to secure all the pay increases while resisting delivery of the associated reforms, which is not consistent with how these matters were independently resolved through the State’s industrial relations framework. Those reforms are essential because they deliver real benefits for patients and service delivery, including faster response times, more ambulances available through modern crewing arrangements, greater flexibility across the service, and the ability to treat more patients safely in the most appropriate setting.
The HSE and the Department of Health remain open to further engagement through the State’s industrial relations machinery to find a resolution to this matter. The HSE has requested both SIPTU and UNITE re-engage through dispute resolution mechanisms under the Public Service Agreement 2024–2026. In parallel with these engagements, contingency planning will be undertaken by the HSE to minimise disruption, prioritising patient safety and emergency ambulance services.
1118. Deputy Donna McGettigan asked the Minister for Health the total number of whole-time equivalent (WTE) paramedics and advanced paramedics currently employed by the National Ambulance Service (NAS), of that total, the number that are currently assigned to non-operational roles, such as management, administration, clinical auditing, or office-based training positions, and are therefore not available for frontline emergency dispatch; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [34645/26]
Amharc ar fhreagraAs this is a service matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond to the Deputy as soon as possible.
1119. Deputy Donna McGettigan asked the Minister for Health to clarify if the "record recruitment" figures frequently cited by her Department include paramedics who have been seconded to office-based or headquarters roles; if she will provide a separate breakdown of the number of paramedics available for active rostered shifts in County Clare for each month in 2025 and 2026 to date; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [34646/26]
Amharc ar fhreagraAs this is an operational matter, I have asked the HSE to respond directly to the Deputy.
1120. Deputy Donna McGettigan asked the Minister for Health the reason there has been a reported increase in the number of 'clinical support officer' and administrative positions within the NAS while frontline stations like Kilrush continue to report dropped shifts due to a lack of available paramedics; if she will commit to a "frontline-first" policy to ensure that qualified staff are not being diverted from ambulances to offices during a staffing crisis; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [34647/26]
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.
1121. Deputy Donna McGettigan asked the Minister for Health the total number of management and supervisory roles within the National Ambulance Service created since 2020; the number of these roles filled by qualified paramedics who previously worked on the frontline; if an assessment has been made on the impact this 'internal brain drain' is having on ambulance response times in rural areas like West Clare; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [34648/26]
Amharc ar fhreagraAs this is a service matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond to the Deputy as soon as possible.
1122. Deputy Donna McGettigan asked the Minister for Health the current vacancy rate for frontline rostered positions in County Clare; the number of times in 2026 that an ambulance crew had to be split or a vehicle taken "off-road" because staff were diverted to attend mandatory administrative meetings or office-based training; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [34649/26]
Amharc ar fhreagraAs this is a operational matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive (HSE) to respond to the Deputy directly, as soon as possible.
1123. Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Health to provide a comprehensive list of all non-statutory bodies receiving direct or indirect funding from her Department or the HSE in each of the years 2020 to 2026, including the amount allocated to each body. [34650/26]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe Department directly funds three non-statutory bodies and the allocation for each body between the years 2020 to 2026 is outlined in the attached document.
Information on non-statutory bodies that received indirect funding over the same period was previously answered in PQ 32330/26 so I would direct the Deputy to that response for the information requested.
The HSE will also provide a direct response.
1124. Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Health whether bodies funded under service level agreements, Section 38 arrangements, Section 39 arrangements, or grant-based programme allocations are classified as non-statutory bodies for governance and reporting purposes. [34651/26]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe Department of Health directly funds three bodies who are classified as non-statutory bodies. These bodies are defined as organisations that perform public functions or provides services but are not established by a specific Act or Statutory Instrument under legislation, in contrast to statutory bodies constituted under legislation.
These bodies operate within the parameters of their service contact agreements or their Oversight and Performance Delivery Agreements for both governance and reporting purposes.
Section 38 and Section 39 bodies are not directly funded by the Dept of Health. They are funded by the HSE. Any questions on the amounts paid, oversight and governance or reporting of these bodies is not under the remit of the Department and would have to be redirected to the HSE.
1125. Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Health whether a formal classification framework exists to distinguish statutory, non-statutory, and intermediary-funded bodies, and if so, to provide a copy of this framework. [34652/26]
Amharc ar fhreagraI thank the Deputy for his question.
As he is aware from the response provided to him by the Minister for Public Expenditure, Infrastructure, Public Service Reform and Digitalisation on 28 April 2026, the Code of Practice for the Governance of State Bodies applies to commercial and non-commercial organisations under the aegis of Government Departments. However, there are other types of State or public bodies that are covered by different corporate governance codes.
For instance, the 18 Central Government Departments and the 27 other Vote funded Offices of Government are required to follow the Corporate Governance Standard for the Civil Service introduced by the Department of Public Expenditure, Infrastructure, Public Service Reform and Digitalisation as a key part of its public service reform mandate. Likewise, the 31 Local Authorities follow the Local Government Code of Governance published by the Department of Housing, Local Government and Heritage.
The Central Statistics Office in its Register of Public Bodies includes many non-statutory public bodies that are deemed to be under public control for statistical accounting purposes. However, many of these bodies are not owned by the State even if they are providing public services on behalf of Government Departments. These public bodies, as defined by the CSO include voluntary sector agencies that are often formed as companies limited by guarantee. Such incorporated public bodies formed in this manner can be legally independent of Government, but for the most part depend on the State for most of their funding needs. Many of these companies classified as public bodies by the CSO have been registered as charities by the Charities Regulator and, consequently, are required in their annual report to indicate compliance with the Charities Governance Code.
It is vital that all public bodies adhere to the best practice in corporate governance and comply with the relevant corporate governance code for their organisation type.
1126. Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Health whether any internal audit or external review has examined funding flows to non-statutory bodies, including those funded indirectly, since 2020 [34653/26]
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.
1127. Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Health to confirm whether any independent review, audit, or evaluation of ambulance dispatch practices has been conducted by the Pre-Hospital Emergency Care Council, the HSE, HIQA, or any external body since 2020, and if so, to provide details. [34655/26]
Amharc ar fhreagra1128. Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Health whether the absence of a defined national dispatch-time standard has been formally recorded on any risk register within the HSE or Department of Health, and if so, to provide details of that risk classification. [34656/26]
Amharc ar fhreagra1129. Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Health which body holds ultimate responsibility for setting national dispatch-time standards in Ireland. [34657/26]
Amharc ar fhreagra1130. Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Health whether the existing Priority Dispatch Standard includes defined maximum time thresholds for call handling and resource allocation, and if not, whether this absence has been reviewed. [34658/26]
Amharc ar fhreagraI propose to take Questions Nos. 1127, 1128, 1129 and 1130 together.
The regulator for the prehospital emergency care profession, the Prehospital Emergency Care Council (PHECC) is the independent statutory body that sets the standards for the delivery of prehospital emergency care in Ireland.
National Ambulance Service key performance indicators relating to emergency resource allocation and emergency response, as published in the HSE's National Service Plan and based on the HIQA standard, align to the Priority Dispatch Standard as published by PHECC. I am informed by PHECC that the Dispatch Standard was last reviewed in September 2025.
I have asked the HSE to respond to the Deputy directly with any further pertinent information it may have.
1131. Deputy Claire Kerrane asked the Minister for Health her plans to pass all stages of the Public Health (Single-Use Vapes) Bill 2025 before the summer recess; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [34665/26]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe Public Health (Single-Use Vapes) Bill has completed all stages in Dáil Eireann and Second stage in the Seanad Eireann. As the Bill was required to be notified under the EU Technical Standards Directive a standstill period, during which it cannot be enacted, applies until 19 June this year. I intend to bring the Bill through its remaining stages as soon as possible following the end of EU standstill period.
1132. Deputy Barry Ward asked the Minister for Health her views on whether it is acceptable that health insurance providers are entitled to penalise insured persons if they choose to upgrade their policies by creating an interim period whereby cover is not provided; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [34669/26]
Amharc ar fhreagra1133. Deputy Barry Ward asked the Minister for Health if she will take steps to ensure that health insurance providers are not allowed to penalise customers who are already in receipt of health insurance cover, for upgrading their policies by creating an interim period whereby cover is not provided; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [34670/26]
Amharc ar fhreagra1134. Deputy Barry Ward asked the Minister for Health if she will confirm whether it is the case that health insurance providers are entitled to penalise customers that have existing health insurance policies for upgrading to a higher level of cover by creating an interim period whereby cover is not provided; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [34671/26]
Amharc ar fhreagra1135. Deputy Barry Ward asked the Minister for Health the position regarding any engagement she has had with private health insurance companies to ensure that their customers are treated fairly and within the parameters of their insurance agreements; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [34672/26]
Amharc ar fhreagraI propose to take Questions Nos. 1132, 1133, 1134 and 1135 together.
As Minister for Health, I am responsible for the regulation of the private health insurance market in Ireland. This is a voluntary market, which operates under the principles of community rating, open enrolment, lifetime cover and minimum benefit.
Private health insurance companies operate as commercial entities in a competitive private health insurance market. Beyond prescribing the minimum level of coverage that health insurers must provide under the Minimum Benefit Regulations, I am not in a position to direct any insurer to provide cover for any particular procedure or service, or direct how that cover is to be provided. I have no role in the commercial decision-making of any private health insurer.
Under the Health Insurance Acts, where an insured person upgrades to a health insurance plan with a higher level of cover, an insurer may apply a waiting period to the additional or higher benefits provided under the upgraded plan. Benefits already held under the existing policy continue to be covered.
Legislation provides for maximum waiting periods of up to two years in respect of increased benefits following an upgrade, and 52 weeks in the case of maternity benefits. These provisions operate within the context of a risk equalised community rated market, and are intended to support the overall sustainability of the health insurance market.
Current market practice indicates that, in many cases, such waiting periods are generally only applied by insurers in respect of pre-existing conditions for in-patient benefits. Customers should check with their insurance company in advance of renewing or upgrading a policy to ensure that it meets their needs and requirements.
The statutory framework governing private health insurance provides for a number of independent oversight and consumer protection mechanisms to ensure that consumers are treated fairly and in accordance with the relevant legislation and regulatory requirements.
The Health Insurance Authority (HIA) is the statutory regulator of the private health insurance market in Ireland. More information on waiting periods is available on the Health Insurance Authority’s website, at: www.hia.ie/information/waiting-periods#switch.
If a health insurance customer has a complaint about claim disputes, procedure cover or refusal for pre-existing conditions, they should first speak directly to their insurer. If the complaint isn’t resolved after speaking to the insurer, they should contact the Financial Services and Pensions Ombudsman, which provides an independent dispute resolution service for consumers and financial service providers, including private health insurers. They can be contacted via their website at: www.fspo.ie/.[]
