Written Answers Nos. 255-274
255. Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Health whether any analysis has been conducted on the effectiveness of Publicjobs compared with international journal advertising in generating consultant appointments. [40607/26]
Amharc ar fhreagraAs this is a service matter we have asked the HSE to respond directly to the Deputy.
256. Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Health the number of consultant recruitment campaigns in 2025 which fail. [40608/26]
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.
257. Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Health the total annual expenditure under the treatment abroad scheme in each year since 2020; the number of approved patients in each year; and the average approved expenditure per patient annually. [40614/26]
Amharc ar fhreagra258. Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Health whether expenditure and activity data reviewed during quarterly treatment abroad scheme oversight meetings with the Department of Health is recorded in a standardised reporting format; and if she will provide copies of the reporting templates used. [40615/26]
Amharc ar fhreagra259. Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Health whether the treatment abroad scheme records activity data by clinical speciality, treatment category, age cohort or referral pathway; and if she will provide a breakdown of the categories currently recorded. [40616/26]
Amharc ar fhreagra261. Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Health whether any internal reports, dashboards, expenditure summaries or performance-monitoring documents relating to the treatment abroad scheme are routinely furnished to the Department of Health; and if she will provide details of the documents concerned. [40618/26]
Amharc ar fhreagra262. Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Health whether the treatment abroad scheme maintains separate expenditure or activity reporting for referrals involving minors. [40619/26]
Amharc ar fhreagra263. Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Health the number of treatment abroad scheme applications submitted, approved, refused and withdrawn in each HSE health region in each year since 2020. [40620/26]
Amharc ar fhreagra264. Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Health whether any internal analysis has been conducted comparing treatment abroad scheme referral rates per capita across HSE health regions. [40621/26]
Amharc ar fhreagra265. Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Health whether any equality impact assessment or access equity review has been conducted in relation to regional variation in treatment abroad scheme utilisation. [40622/26]
Amharc ar fhreagra267. Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Health whether any approval-rate benchmarking exists between specialties, consultants or regions under the treatment abroad scheme. [40624/26]
Amharc ar fhreagra268. Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Health which officer or division holds responsibility for monitoring consistency of treatment abroad scheme decision-making nationally. [40625/26]
Amharc ar fhreagraI propose to take Questions Nos. 257 to 259, inclusive, 261 to 265, inclusive, 267 and 268 together.
As this is a service matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond to the Deputy directly, as soon as possible.
260. Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Health the dates on which the treatment abroad scheme was audited by the HSE Internal Audit function or the Comptroller and Auditor General since 2020; the scope of each audit; and whether any recommendations or governance concerns were identified. [40617/26]
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.
266. Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Health the dates and titles of all Internal Audit Office or Comptroller and Auditor General audits relating to the treatment abroad scheme since 2020. [40623/26]
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.
269. Deputy Pádraig O'Sullivan asked the Minister for Health the reason for the high number of urgent day case breaches recorded at Cork University Maternity Hospital as reflected in the Sláintecare KPI data contained in the HSE South-West Cork Oireachtas briefing of 18 May 2026; the steps being taken to reduce the number of urgent breaches at that hospital; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [40629/26]
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.
270. Deputy Pádraig O'Sullivan asked the Minister for Health the reason the number of inpatient beds at Cork University Maternity Hospital has remained static at 143 beds from 2020 to 2025 despite outpatient referrals to the hospital increasing by 53% from 12,599 in 2023 to 19,272 in 2025; her plans to increase inpatient bed capacity at CUMH to meet this growing demand; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [40630/26]
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.
271. Deputy Pádraig O'Sullivan asked the Minister for Health the reason South Infirmary Victoria University Hospital recorded the lowest KPI attainment rate for inpatients of any hospital listed in the HSE South-West Cork Oireachtas Briefing of 18 May 2026 at 35.79%; the specific measures are being implemented to address the 344 breaches and 40 urgent breaches recorded at that hospital; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [40631/26]
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.
272. Deputy Pádraig O'Sullivan asked the Minister for Health the current number of children waiting for autism assessment across Cork, given that HSE South-West data confirms a combined total of 2,174 children waiting across Cork north and east and Cork south and west integrated health areas; the steps being taken to address the fact that there are currently only three providers delivering autism assessments in the region and that capacity is considerably in deficit of demand at a monthly referral rate of approximately 130; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [40632/26]
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.
273. Deputy Pádraig O'Sullivan asked the Minister for Health her plans to establish a primary care autism assessment team within HSE South-West given that the Cork Oireachtas briefing of 18 May 2026 confirms that no assessments are currently conducted directly within primary care HSE South-West; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [40633/26]
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.
274. Deputy Pádraig O'Sullivan asked the Minister for Health the current number of children and adolescents on the orthodontic assessment and treatment waiting list at St. Finbarr's Hospital Cork, given that HSE South-West data as of May 2026 confirms a total of 2,980 patients waiting; the reason specialist orthodontists who have left the service have not been replaced; the immediate recruitment measures being taken to restore capacity given that waiting times for routine treatment are currently running at over 2.5 years for assessment and 5.5 years for treatment; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [40634/26]
Amharc ar fhreagraAs this is a service matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond to the Deputy directly.
