Written Answers Nos. 701-721
701. Deputy John Connolly asked the Minister for Health the provisions in place at University Hospital Galway to provide for the occasion of an extraordinary regional emergency that required a response of significant medical intervention among a sizable proportion of the general population; if the plans for such occasion could be published; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [47055/26]
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
702. Deputy Martin Kenny asked the Minister for Health if the perinatal mental health midwife position for Sligo is operational; if not, when the service is expected to resume; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [47058/26]
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.
703. Deputy Martin Kenny asked the Minister for Health if cover will be put in place for the lactation consultant based on the postnatal ward in SUH; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [47062/26]
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.
704. Deputy Martin Kenny asked the Minister for Health when the community lactation consultant position in Sligo, soon be vacant will be filled (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [47064/26]
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.
705. Deputy David Cullinane asked the Minister for Health the level of funded expenditure in her Department spent on management consultant fees, by each relevant body, in 2024, 2025, and to date in 2026, in tabular form. [47069/26]
Amharc ar fhreagraMy Department’s total expenditure on management consultancy services in 2024, 2025, and to date in 2026 is set out in the attached tables.
It is Department policy to engage external consultants only where highly specialised skills are not available internally and where such an approach is considered more appropriate and cost-effective.
Total expenditure on management consultancy services 2024-2026
706. Deputy David Cullinane asked the Minister for Health the level of HSE expenditure spent on non-compliant procurement, by each health area, in 2024, 2025, and to date in 2026, in tabular form. [47070/26]
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.
707. Deputy David Cullinane asked the Minister for Health the level and value of expired stock write offs, by type, and health area, in 2024, 2025, and to date in 2026, in tabular form. [47071/26]
Amharc ar fhreagraAs this is a service matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond to the Deputy as soon as possible.
708. Deputy David Cullinane asked the Minister for Health the amount spent in premium pay or for premium rates through waiting list initiatives and insourcing/outsourcing arrangements for waiting list initiatives, by list initiative and health area, in tabular form. [47072/26]
Amharc ar fhreagraI have asked the HSE to respond directly on this matter.
709. Deputy David Cullinane asked the Minister for Health the amount spent on locum doctors or temporary consultant cover, by health area, in tabular form. [47073/26]
Amharc ar fhreagraAs this relates to an operational matter, this Parliamentary Query has been referred to the HSE for direct response.
710. Deputy David Cullinane asked the Minister for Health the share of medicines spending which is spent on generic substitute medicines; and the share of generic medicines in the volume of medications funded or dispensed by the HSE in each year 2024, 2025, and to date in 2026, in tabular form. [47074/26]
Amharc ar fhreagraUnder the Health (Pricing and Supply of Medical Goods) Act 2013, the HSE has statutory responsibility for decisions on the pricing and reimbursement of medicines; therefore, the matter has been referred to the HSE for attention and direct reply to the Deputy.
711. Deputy David Cullinane asked the Minister for Health the target and actual generic substitution rate for each health region; and her plans for improving generic substitution and improvements in medicines spending efficiency. [47075/26]
Amharc ar fhreagraUnder the Health (Pricing and Supply of Medical Goods) Act 2013, the HSE has statutory responsibility for decisions on the pricing and reimbursement of medicines and medical devices; therefore, the matter has been referred to the HSE for attention and direct reply to the Deputy.
712. Deputy David Cullinane asked the Minister for Health the current status of each acute hospital bed project included in the acute hospital bed plan; the timeline for the next stage; the timeline for delivery; and the amount spent on each to date, in tabular form. [47076/26]
Amharc ar fhreagraAs this is a service matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond to the Deputy as soon as possible.
713. Deputy David Cullinane asked the Minister for Health the current status of each elective centre development project; the timeline for the next stage; the timeline for delivery; and the amount spent on each to date, in tabular form. [47077/26]
Amharc ar fhreagraAs set out in a previous PQ (45719/24), the Department of Health incurred costs relating to the extensive planning process undertaken in the early stages of development of the Elective Care Programme, totalling €750,336. It should be noted that these costs were for work carried out in relation to the programme as a whole and that the costs for individual sites were not separated out.
I have asked the HSE, as sponsoring agency with day-to-day responsibility for the delivery of Surgical Hubs and Elective Treatment Centres, to respond to you directly in relation to the matters raised, including costs associated with the HSE as well as the wider programme status.
714. Deputy David Cullinane asked the Minister for Health the status of each capital project for which funding has been granted; the date work commenced; the timeline for the next stage; the timeline for delivery; and the amount spent to date, in tabular form. [47078/26]
Amharc ar fhreagraAs 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.
715. Deputy David Cullinane asked the Minister for Health the status of each capital project which is in appraisal; the date the application was received; and the timeline for decision, in tabular form. [47079/26]
Amharc ar fhreagraAs 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.
716. Deputy David Cullinane asked the Minister for Health the number of consultant doctors employed in each health area by service division or acute hospital by specialty, in tabular form; and the breakdown of the number on each type of consultant contract. [47081/26]
Amharc ar fhreagraAs this is a service matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond to the Deputy as soon as possible.
717. Deputy David Cullinane asked the Minister for Health the key performance indicators which she tracks for the monitoring of implementation of the public only consultant contract. [47082/26]
Amharc ar fhreagraI have asked the HSE to respond directly to the Deputy.
718. Deputy David Cullinane asked the Minister for Health the key performance indicators which she tracks for the monitoring of private practice in public hospitals. [47083/26]
Amharc ar fhreagraTo ensure accountability, transparency, and the effective delivery of care, based on medical need and not ability to pay, the HSE monitors performance across more than 170 operational Key Performance Indicators (KPIs). Many of these KPIs are outlined in the National Service Plan for 2026.
With the conclusion of the enhanced transition period for consultants who switched to the Public Only Consultant Contract (POCC) in December 2025, all but 20 consultants who recently switched are prohibited from engaging in private practice in public hospitals. The increased availability of more than 2,000 senior clinicians provides greater flexibility to deliver extended services in the evenings and weekends.
Current rostering figures show that only 37% of consultants are rostered for evening working and only 11% for Saturday working. That is too low and it must improve. The Government’s objective is clear: the Public Only Consultant Contract must mean more timely care, more senior decision makers on site, better access to services outside traditional hours, and fuller delivery for public patients.
To that end, last year an agreement was reached on a Framework for extending working hours for appropriate staff with all trade unions, which paves the way for broader implementation of extended services. This agreement allows the POCC to move from paper into practice, giving hospitals the basis to roster both consultants and support staff on extended days, evening and weekends in a structured way.
The HSE has governance and programme structures in place to strengthen oversight, reporting and accountability, and that work now needs to translate into more consistent extended-day and weekend rostering across the system.
719. Deputy David Cullinane asked the Minister for Health the key performance indicators which she tracks for the monitoring of management productivity and efficiency measures. [47084/26]
Amharc ar fhreagra745. Deputy David Cullinane asked the Minister for Health the key performance indicators which she tracks for the monitoring of workforce productivity. [47295/26]
Amharc ar fhreagraI propose to take Questions Nos. 719 and 745 together.
We monitor productivity and efficiency across the health service, including workforce utilisation, through an integrated set of performance indicators reported by the HSE.
These indicators are captured through established national performance reporting processes, including the HSE's monthly National Performance Report, Management Data Report, supplementary performance reports and monthly operational reporting.
Productivity and efficiency are assessed through a range of service, operational and clinical output measures, including:
- Activity levels relative to available resources, including patients seen per clinical whole-time equivalent in community and mental health services;
- Acute hospital productivity indicators such as day of surgical admission rates, average length of stay, weekend discharge rates and readmission rates;
- Throughput and flow metrics including delayed transfers of care, emergency department waiting levels and discharge performance;
- Service access and delivery indicators, including waiting lists, waiting times and delivery against Sláintecare access targets;
- Outpatient and scheduled care productivity measures, including outpatient activity and ongoing work to develop activity per consultant metrics;
- Diagnostic and theatre utilisation, and other measures of asset and capacity use, which are being further developed;
- The implementation of system-wide productivity initiatives, including seven-day service delivery and digital-enabled productivity improvements.
Taken together, these measures provide a comprehensive view of how health service capacity, workforce and infrastructure are being utilised to deliver activity and improve patient access and outcomes.
The performance framework continues to evolve, including further development of productivity indicators as part of ongoing engagement between the Department and the HSE.
720. Deputy David Cullinane asked the Minister for Health the level of HSE expenditure spent on private cleaning and hygiene services, by each health area, in 2024, 2025 and to date in 2026, in tabular form. [47091/26]
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.
721. Deputy David Cullinane asked the Minister for Health the level of HSE expenditure spent on private portering services, by each health area, in 2024, 2025 and to date in 2026, in tabular form. [47092/26]
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.
