Written Answers Nos. 1136-1173
1136. Deputy Barry Heneghan asked the Minister for Health if her Department will commit to creating a social support group (details supplied) that will help deal with the serious issue of isolation particularly in vulnerable groups who are often isolated at home and are disconnected from the wider community; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [34705/26]
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.
1137. Deputy John Paul O'Shea asked the Minister for Health if she will provide a list of all capital projects, including hospital, primary care centre and other health infrastructure works delivered by her Department or the HSE, which have been completed on time and within budget in Cork North-West in each of the past five years, in tabular form; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [34735/26]
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.
1138. Deputy Pádraig Rice asked the Minister for Health to respond to matters raised in correspondence (details supplied); to clarify the criteria for urgent discharge from outpatient psychiatric services; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [34751/26]
Amharc ar fhreagraAs this is a service matter, I have asked the HSE to respond to the Deputy directly, as soon as possible.
1139. Deputy Roderic O'Gorman asked the Minister for Health if she will consider as a matter of policy providing an annual free allowance of compression sleeves to patients being treated for lymphoedema within the public health system; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [34758/26]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe Health Service Executive (HSE) provides a wide range of medical products and services, including compression garments, under the Community Funded Schemes to eligible persons (as set out in the Health Act 1970) free of charge following assessment by a relevant health professional. These support individuals to continue living within their communities and to enjoy a greater quality of life than would otherwise be the case.
The HSE provides these medical products and service to a wide section of the community including older people, people with diverse chronic illnesses, and people with disabilities. Provision is based on an appropriate clinical assessment, the funding available within local budgets, and a determination of the most appropriate product that will meet the eligible person’s needs.
1140. Deputy Liam Quaide asked the Minister for Health the number of residents in designated centres for older persons who were issued with a discharge notice, notice to terminate their contract of care, or any equivalent notice requiring them to leave the nursing home in each of the years 2024, 2025 and to date in 2026; broken down by HSE health region, county, public, private and voluntary provider type, and whether the resident was supported under the nursing homes support scheme; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [34759/26]
Amharc ar fhreagraAs this is a service matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond to the Deputy as soon as possible.
1141. Deputy Liam Quaide asked the Minister for Health the number of discharge notices, notices to terminate contracts of care, or equivalent notices issued to nursing home residents in each of the years 2024, 2025 and to date in 2026 which were subsequently withdrawn; the reasons recorded for withdrawal; whether the withdrawal followed intervention by the HSE, HIQA, safeguarding services, an advocate, a family member or another body; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [34760/26]
Amharc ar fhreagra1142. Deputy Liam Quaide asked the Minister for Health the recorded outcomes for nursing home residents who were issued with a discharge notice or equivalent notice in each of the years 2024, 2025 and to date in 2026, including the number who transferred to another nursing home, were admitted to hospital, returned home with supports, remained in the same nursing home, died before transfer, or had another outcome; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [34761/26]
Amharc ar fhreagraAs this is an operational matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond to the deputy directly, as soon as possible.
1143. Deputy Liam Quaide asked the Minister for Health the number of nursing home residents who were admitted to an emergency department within seven, 14 and 30 days of being issued with a discharge notice, notice to terminate their contract of care, or equivalent notice in each of the years 2024, 2025 and to date in 2026; the number of such admissions that were due to an acute medical event, a fall, behavioural or psychological distress, absence of an alternative placement, or other recorded reason; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [34762/26]
Amharc ar fhreagraAs this is a service matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond to the Deputy as soon as possible.
1144. Deputy Liam Quaide asked the Minister for Health whether the HSE, HIQA, the National Treatment Purchase Fund or her Department collects data linking nursing home discharge notices with subsequent emergency department attendance, hospital admission, delayed discharge, safeguarding referral or transfer to another nursing home; if not, the reason this data is not collected; whether she accepts that this is a significant gap in oversight; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [34763/26]
Amharc ar fhreagraAs this is a service matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond to the Deputy as soon as possible.
1145. Deputy Liam Quaide asked the Minister for Health the number of residents of nursing homes admitted to emergency departments in each of the years 2024, 2025 and to date in 2026; the number of such admissions by HSE health region, hospital group and age cohort; the primary recorded reasons for admission, including falls, infection, deterioration in physical health, mental health or behavioural distress, medication-related incidents, safeguarding concerns, or other causes; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [34764/26]
Amharc ar fhreagraAs this is a service matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond to the Deputy as soon as possible.
1146. Deputy Liam Quaide asked the Minister for Health whether any data is collected on cases in which a nursing home resident, family member, advocate or representative made a complaint or raised concerns about care and was subsequently issued with a discharge notice, notice to terminate a contract of care, or equivalent notice within 90-days; if so, the number of such cases in each of the years 2024, 2025 and to date in 2026; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [34765/26]
Amharc ar fhreagra1147. Deputy Liam Quaide asked the Minister for Health the number of referrals or contacts made to HSE safeguarding teams in respect of nursing homes in each of the years 2024, 2025 and to date in 2026; the number of such referrals which related to discharge notices, threatened discharge, or concerns about the manner in which a transfer or discharge was being managed; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [34766/26]
Amharc ar fhreagraAs this is a service matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond to the Deputy as soon as possible.
1152. Deputy Liam Quaide asked the Minister for Health the number of occasions in each of the years 2024, 2025 and to date in 2026 on which a nursing home sought additional funding, staffing support, clinical support, specialist input or other resources because a resident's care needs had increased; the body to which such requests were made; the number approved, refused or still pending; the average time to decision; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [34771/26]
Amharc ar fhreagraAs this is an operational matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond to the deputy directly, as soon as possible.
1153. Deputy Liam Quaide asked the Minister for Health the number of nursing home residents in in each of the years 2024, 2025 and to date in 2026 whose care needs were deemed by a nursing home to have exceeded the capacity of that nursing home to provide safe care; the number of such cases that resulted in a discharge notice, hospital admission, transfer to another nursing home or referral to the HSE; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [34772/26]
Amharc ar fhreagraAs this is an operational matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond to the deputy directly, as soon as possible.
1154. Deputy Liam Quaide asked the Minister for Health the specialist supports that are available to nursing homes when a resident's care needs increase, including access to geriatric medicine, psychiatry of later life, palliative care, dementia-specific supports, behavioural support, tissue viability nursing, dietetics, physiotherapy, occupational therapy, speech and language therapy and social work; whether access to these supports is recorded nationally; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [34773/26]
Amharc ar fhreagraAs this is an operational matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond to the deputy directly, as soon as possible.
1160. Deputy Liam Quaide asked the Minister for Health the number of discharge notices, notices to terminate contracts of care, or equivalent notices issued to residents supported under the nursing homes support scheme compared with residents paying privately in 2024, 2025 and to date in 2026; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [34779/26]
Amharc ar fhreagraAs this is an operational matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond to the deputy directly, as soon as possible.
1161. Deputy Liam Quaide asked the Minister for Health whether she will commission a review of the issuing of discharge notices and termination of contracts of care in nursing homes, including the extent to which such notices follow complaints by families, increased care needs, safeguarding concerns, funding disputes, staffing limitations or inability to access specialist supports; whether such a review will examine the balance of power between providers, residents and families; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [34780/26]
Amharc ar fhreagra1162. Deputy Michael Cahill asked the Minister for Health to urgently examine a matter and assist a family (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [34783/26]
Amharc ar fhreagraAs this is a service matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond direct to the Deputy as soon as possible.
1163. Deputy Sorca Clarke asked the Minister for Health to outline the progress on the commitment to fund mental health supports across all Integrated Care Programme for Older People teams, as per the Programme for Government; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [34822/26]
Amharc ar fhreagraExpanding the reach of mental health supports across Integrated Care Programme for Older People teams is a priority for me as Minister and for Government.
Mental health policy is guided by Sharing the Vision the national mental health policy , which promotes tailored, community-based services for older adults and better integration between primary care and specialist mental health teams. Over 30 Psychiatry Later Life Teams are currently in operation in the community, and the Model of Care for Specialist Mental Health Services for Older People (2019) is being implemented, with five demonstration sites delivering liaison psychiatry services have established. Expansion of these services is ongoing, with additional teams planned based on identified needs and staffing gaps. Under Budget 2026, I have funded two additional teams for this Programme.
With reference to the specific information requested, as this relates to a service matter, it has been referred to the HSE for direct reply to you.
1164. Deputy Pádraig Mac Lochlainn asked the Minister for Health the reason a person considered to be a nurse specialist in Northern Ireland with ten years’ experience in Scotland and Northern Ireland is not considered to be a nurse specialist in alcohol and drugs addiction services in the Republic of Ireland, unless they are qualified to a level 9 / postgraduate / master’s level (details supplied). [34835/26]
Amharc ar fhreagraAs this is an operational matter, this PQ is referred to the HSE for direct response to the deputy.
1165. Deputy John Paul O'Shea asked the Minister for Health the number of people admitted to hospital who experienced a delay in being discharged home or into care elsewhere in 2026 to the end of March; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [34884/26]
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.
1166. Deputy John Paul O'Shea asked the Minister for Health the progress made on the commitment to explore the establishment of a national safeguarding body to ensure the health, safety and welfare of vulnerable adults, as per the Programme for Government; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [34885/26]
Amharc ar fhreagraSafeguarding at-risk adults against abuse is of paramount importance and is taken very seriously by the Government.
The Programme for Government 2025 ‘Securing Ireland’s Future’ includes a commitment to publish a national policy on adult safeguarding for the health and social care sector.
Responding to this commitment, Government approved Ireland’s first ever National Policy Framework for Adult Safeguarding in the Health and Social Care sector in December 2025. The policy framework will extend across all public, private and voluntary health and social care services.
Included are a range of both legislative and non-legislative measures that will significantly expand and strengthen existing supports and protections for adults at risk of harm across the health and social care sector. The Government has also approved the development of legislation to underpin these commitments and my Department has commenced the drafting of a General Scheme of a Safeguarding Bill. Key legislative commitments include:
• The Health Service Executive (HSE) will have responsibility for leading and coordinating adult safeguarding across the sector and will have statutory functions, duties, and powers to underpin this role.
• Current safeguarding structures within the HSE will be strengthened and legislation will provide that they will operate independently in the performance of their functions.
• New powers of entry for safeguarding and protection teams and powers to obtain court protection orders.
• The Health Information Quality Authority's (HIQA’s) remit will be extended to include independent oversight and monitoring of adult safeguarding services for the Health and Social care sector delivered by the HSE.
• New obligations for service providers including undertaking risk evaluations, developing, and publishing adult safeguarding statements and ensuring staff are appropriately trained.
• The introduction of mandatory reporting in specified circumstances.
• The National Independent Review Panel (NIRP) process for adult safeguarding learning reviews for serious incidents will be strengthened and placed on a statutory footing.
• Strengthened cooperation between service providers and relevant state agencies.
The policy framework also sets out a range of non-legislative commitments to strengthen adult safeguarding across the sector, which will complement the proposed legislation. The HSE’s Chief Social Worker has been charged with developing an implementation plan for the policy framework, which will set out the detailed work that will be undertaken to take forward these commitments, including to prepare for the forthcoming legislation.
Separately, the Programme for Government also includes a commitment relating to all sectors to explore the establishment of a National Safeguarding Body to ensure the health, safety and welfare of vulnerable adults. I anticipate that this Programme for Government commitment will be carefully considered by all relevant Departments in relation to their respective functions.
1167. Deputy Sean Fleming asked the Minister for Health if she will include asthma in the long-term illness scheme; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [34887/26]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe Long-Term Illness (LTI) Scheme was established under Section 59(3) of the Health Act 1970 (as amended). Regulations were made in 1971, 1973 and 1975, prescribing 16 conditions to be covered by the Scheme. Further information, including the list of conditions, can be found at: www2.hse.ie/services/schemes-allowances/lti/about/.[]
Under the LTI Scheme, patients receive drugs, medicines, and medical and surgical appliances directly related to the treatment of their illness, free of charge. While there are currently no plans to extend the list of conditions, it is important to remember that the LTI Scheme exists within a wider eligibility framework.
Individuals and families in Ireland may be entitled to the following schemes:
• General Medical Services (GMS) Scheme (medical card). Eligibility for a medical card is determined by the HSE, in accordance with the provisions of the Health Act 1970 (as amended) In certain circumstances the HSE may exercise discretion and grant a medical card, even though an applicant exceeds the income guidelines, where he or she faces difficult financial circumstances, such as extra costs arising from illness.
• In circumstances where an applicant is still over the income limit for a medical card, they are then assessed for a GP visit card, which entitles the applicant to GP visits without charge.
• Under the Drugs Payment Scheme (DPS), no individual or family pays more than €80 a month towards the cost of approved prescribed medicines. The DPS is not means tested and is available to anyone ordinarily resident in Ireland.
The issue of granting medical card eligibility based on having a particular disability or illness was previously examined in 2014 by the HSE Expert Panel on Medical Need and Medical Card Eligibility. The Group concluded that it was not feasible, desirable, nor ethically justifiable to list medical conditions in priority order for medical card eligibility. In following the Expert Group’s advice, a person’s means remains the main qualifier for a medical card.
1168. Deputy Michael Cahill asked the Minister for Health the number of WTE Consultant Anaesthesia with a special interest in Intensive Care Medicine posts filled at Kerry University Hospital as of 5 May 2026, in tabular form; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [34906/26]
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.
1169. Deputy Michael Cahill asked the Minister for Health the number of WTE Psychologists by grade posts filled within Kerry Primary Care Services as of 5 May 2026, in tabular form; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [34907/26]
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.
1170. Deputy Michael Cahill asked the Minister for Health the number of WTE Registrar in Neurosurgery posts filled at Cork University Hospital as of 5 May 2026, in tabular form; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [34908/26]
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.
1171. Deputy Michael Cahill asked the Minister for Health the estimated full year costs to provide two additional pathfinder teams within the HSE; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [34909/26]
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.
1172. Deputy Tony McCormack asked the Minister for Health when a person (details supplied) will receive an appointment. [34924/26]
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.
1173. Deputy Martin Kenny asked the Minister for Health when the external review that was supposed to be completed in August 2025 will be given to a family (details supplied). [34925/26]
Amharc ar fhreagraAs this relates to a service matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond directly to the Deputy as soon as possible.
