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Tuesday, 23 Jun 2026

Written Answers Nos. 807-826

Health Strategies

Ceisteanna (807, 838, 839, 881, 882, 902)

Richard O'Donoghue

Ceist:

807. Deputy Richard O'Donoghue asked the Minister for Health whether implementation of the Diabetes Policy and Services Review: A strategy for Better Care Diabetes Strategy has been identified as a ministerial priority within the HSE National Service Plan and Estimates process for 2027; if new funding will be provided in the upcoming budget to support the implementation of the national diabetes strategy; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [47552/26]

Amharc ar fhreagra

Barry Heneghan

Ceist:

838. Deputy Barry Heneghan asked the Minister for Health whether implementation of the Diabetes Policy and Services Review: A strategy for Better Care Diabetes Strategy has been identified as a ministerial priority within the HSE national service plan and Estimates process for 2027; if new funding will be provided in the upcoming Budget to support the implementation of the national diabetes strategy; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [47660/26]

Amharc ar fhreagra

Johnny Guirke

Ceist:

839. Deputy Johnny Guirke asked the Minister for Health whether implementation of the Diabetes Policy and Services Review: A strategy for Better Care Diabetes Strategy has been identified as a ministerial priority within the HSE national service plan and Estimates process for 2027; if new funding will be provided in the upcoming budget to support the implementation of national diabetes strategy; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [47670/26]

Amharc ar fhreagra

Ruairí Ó Murchú

Ceist:

881. Deputy Ruairí Ó Murchú asked the Minister for Health whether implementation of the Diabetes Policy and Services Review: A strategy for Better Care Diabetes Strategy has been identified as a ministerial priority within the HSE national service plan and Estimates process for 2027; if new funding will be provided in the upcoming budget to support the implementation of the national diabetes strategy; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [47760/26]

Amharc ar fhreagra

Ruairí Ó Murchú

Ceist:

882. Deputy Ruairí Ó Murchú asked the Minister for Health with reference to the Diabetes Policy and Services Review: A strategy for Better Care Diabetes Strategy and the appendix outlining staffing gaps in current service provision, whether funding will be made available for the new posts identified in the HSE Dublin and north-east area to include acute hospital diabetes services, community specialist teams, paediatric diabetic services and diabetes in pregnancy services; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [47761/26]

Amharc ar fhreagra

Brian Brennan

Ceist:

902. Deputy Brian Brennan asked the Minister for Health whether implementation of the Diabetes Policy and Services Review: A strategy for Better Care Diabetes Strategy has been identified as a Ministerial priority within the HSE National Service Plan and Estimates process for 2027; if new funding will be provided in the upcoming budget to support the implementation of the National Diabetes Strategy; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [47862/26]

Amharc ar fhreagra

Freagraí scríofa

I propose to take Questions Nos. 807, 838, 839, 881, 882 and 902 together.

The https://assets.gov.ie/static/documents/a41e7d5d/Diabetes_Policy_and_Services_Review_-_A_Strategy_for_Better_Care.pdf was launched on the 21st of May.

This is Ireland’s first national strategy for diabetes, marking a major milestone in diabetes care in Ireland. It provides a detailed assessment of our current diabetes services and sets out series of recommendations and actions to improve diabetes care delivery. The recommendations cover four key themes:

• Service Development

• Affordability and Access to care

• Better support for people living with diabetes

• Digital Healthcare

The recommendations are marked in the strategy as either short, medium or long-term goals. Short-term refers to recommendations which can be implemented within three years. Medium term recommendations can be implemented within five years, and long-term recommendations are those that will take longer than five years to fully implement.

The HSE is currently working to develop an implementation plan to ensure that the recommendations are followed through at national level and throughout the Health Regions.

Discussions relating to the 2027 Estimates process are currently underway and will not be concluded until closer to the date of the Budget. The HSE National Service Plan will be published after the budgetary process concludes.

Dental Services

Ceisteanna (808)

Shane Moynihan

Ceist:

808. Deputy Shane Moynihan asked the Minister for Health the number of WTE general dental surgeons posts filled at Ballyfermot Primary Care and Mental Health Centre as of 12 June 2026 in tabular form. [47555/26]

Amharc ar fhreagra

Freagraí scríofa

As this is a service matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond to the Deputy directly, as soon as possible.

Health Services Staff

Ceisteanna (809)

Shane Moynihan

Ceist:

809. Deputy Shane Moynihan asked the Minister for Health the number of WTE paediatric occupational therapists by grade posts filled at Lucan Health Centre as of 12 June 2026 in tabular form. [47556/26]

Amharc ar fhreagra

Freagraí scríofa

As this is a service matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond to the Deputy directly, as soon as possible.

Health Services Staff

Ceisteanna (810)

Daniel Ennis

Ceist:

810. Deputy Daniel Ennis asked the Minister for Health the number of WTE staff by job title currently working within ophthalmology services at Grangegorman primary care centre as of 15 June 2026, in tabular form. [47576/26]

Amharc ar fhreagra

Freagraí scríofa

As this is a service matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond to the Deputy directly, as soon as possible.

Health Services Staff

Ceisteanna (811)

Daniel Ennis

Ceist:

811. Deputy Daniel Ennis asked the Minister for Health the number of WTE consultant rheumatologists based at the Mater Hospital as of 15 June 2026, in tabular form. [47577/26]

Amharc ar fhreagra

Freagraí scríofa

As this is a service matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond to the Deputy directly, as soon as possible.

Health Services Staff

Ceisteanna (812)

Daniel Ennis

Ceist:

812. Deputy Daniel Ennis asked the Minister for Health the number of WTE speech and language therapists, by grade posts filled at Summerhill primary care centre as of 15 June 2026, in tabular form. [47578/26]

Amharc ar fhreagra

Freagraí scríofa

As this is a service matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond to the Deputy directly, as soon as possible.

Health Services Staff

Ceisteanna (813)

Pádraig Rice

Ceist:

813. Deputy Pádraig Rice asked the Minister for Health to clarify the manner in which consultants on public-only consultant contracts, POCC, and those on the non-POCC are rostered in Cork University Maternity Hospital during the weekends; if separate rosters are in place (details supplied); if HSE south west has investigated if public-only consultants are delivering the babies of private patients and engaging in similar gifting practices to those revealed in the Rotunda Maternity Hospital; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [47579/26]

Amharc ar fhreagra

Freagraí scríofa

As this is a service matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond to the Deputy as soon as possible.

Hospital Services

Ceisteanna (814, 815, 816, 817)

John Clendennen

Ceist:

814. Deputy John Clendennen asked the Minister for Health the steps her Department is taking to ensure that Midlands Regional Hospital Tullamore complies with the 2016 national model of care for neurology services, which stipulates that all model 3 hospitals should have a dedicated neurology service; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [47588/26]

Amharc ar fhreagra

John Clendennen

Ceist:

815. Deputy John Clendennen asked the Minister for Health if she is aware that Midlands Regional Hospital Tullamore currently operates with only 0.2 of a neurology consultant contract, provided on a visiting basis from St James's Hospital; her plans to transition this to a full-time, dedicated, and sustainable neurology service within the hospital; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [47589/26]

Amharc ar fhreagra

John Clendennen

Ceist:

816. Deputy John Clendennen asked the Minister for Health her views on the findings of the April 2026 Neurological Alliance of Ireland report, Towards an Equitable Integrated Neurology Service for Ireland, regarding regional variation in access to specialist expertise; if she will commit to the necessary investment in budget 2027 to establish a full neurology service in Tullamore to serve patients across the midlands, including Offaly; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [47590/26]

Amharc ar fhreagra

John Clendennen

Ceist:

817. Deputy John Clendennen asked the Minister for Health the number of patients from the midlands region, by county (Laois, Offaly, Westmeath and Longford) who were required to travel to St James’s Hospital Dublin for neurology appointments in 2024, 2025 and to date in 2026 due to the lack of a full service in Tullamore; the impact this travel burden has on patient outcomes, in tabular form; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [47591/26]

Amharc ar fhreagra

Freagraí scríofa

I propose to take Questions Nos. 814, 815, 816 and 817 together.

As this is a service matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond to the deputy directly, as soon as possible.

Question No. 815 answered with Question No. 814.
Question No. 816 answered with Question No. 814.
Question No. 817 answered with Question No. 814.

Hospital Services

Ceisteanna (818)

John Clendennen

Ceist:

818. Deputy John Clendennen asked the Minister for Health the specific recruitment plans in place for 2026 and 2027 to provide a multidisciplinary neurology team at Midlands Regional Hospital Tullamore, including consultant neurologists, specialist nurses, and health and social care professionals, as recommended by the Neurological Alliance of Ireland; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [47592/26]

Amharc ar fhreagra

Freagraí scríofa

As this is a service matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond to the Deputy directly, as soon as possible.

Healthcare Infrastructure Provision

Ceisteanna (819)

John Clendennen

Ceist:

819. Deputy John Clendennen asked the Minister for Health the expected official opening date for the Birr primary care centre, County Offaly; if construction has reached the handover stage to the Health Service Executive and local GP practices as scheduled for 2026; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [47593/26]

Amharc ar fhreagra

Freagraí scríofa

As the Health Service Executive (HSE) holds responsibility for the provision, along with the maintenance and operation of Primary Care Centres, I have asked the HSE to respond to the Deputy directly, as soon as possible.

Dental Services

Ceisteanna (820)

John Clendennen

Ceist:

820. Deputy John Clendennen asked the Minister for Health the expected timeline for the establishment and full operation of public dental services at the Birr primary care centre; the number of dental treatment rooms allocated in the new facility; the number of dental posts that will operate from that location; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [47594/26]

Amharc ar fhreagra

Freagraí scríofa

As this is a service matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond to the Deputy directly, as soon as possible.

Healthcare Infrastructure Provision

Ceisteanna (821)

John Clendennen

Ceist:

821. Deputy John Clendennen asked the Minister for Health the expected timeline for the commencement of physiotherapy and occupational therapy services at the Birr primary care centre; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [47595/26]

Amharc ar fhreagra

Freagraí scríofa

As this is a service matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond to the Deputy directly, as soon as possible.

Health Services

Ceisteanna (822)

John Clendennen

Ceist:

822. Deputy John Clendennen asked the Minister for Health to provide a comprehensive list of all health services intended to be operational at the Birr primary care centre by the end of 2026; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [47596/26]

Amharc ar fhreagra

Freagraí scríofa

As this is a service matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond to the Deputy directly, as soon as possible.

Health Services Staff

Ceisteanna (823)

John Clendennen

Ceist:

823. Deputy John Clendennen asked the Minister for Health the current status of recruitment for the multidisciplinary teams required for the Birr primary care centre; if all clinical and administrative posts have been filled ahead of the anticipated Summer 2026 opening; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [47597/26]

Amharc ar fhreagra

Freagraí scríofa

As this is a service matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond to the Deputy directly, as soon as possible.

Health Services Staff

Ceisteanna (824)

John Clendennen

Ceist:

824. Deputy John Clendennen asked the Minister for Health for an update on the recruitment process for the additional 12 posts that were confirmed to be allocated to the midlands integrated healthcare area, in the Dáil chamber on 27 January 2026, including posts to address vacancies in occupational therapy and physiotherapy for children’s services in Offaly; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [47605/26]

Amharc ar fhreagra

Freagraí scríofa

As this is a service matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond to the Deputy directly, as soon as possible.

Healthcare Infrastructure Provision

Ceisteanna (825)

John Clendennen

Ceist:

825. Deputy John Clendennen asked the Minister for Health whether additional diagnostic services, including X-ray, ultrasound, community diagnostics or chronic disease management services are planned for the new primary care centre in Birr, County Offaly; the timeline for their delivery; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [47606/26]

Amharc ar fhreagra

Freagraí scríofa

As this is a service matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond to the Deputy directly, as soon as possible.

Departmental Properties

Ceisteanna (826)

Peadar Tóibín

Ceist:

826. Deputy Peadar Tóibín asked the Minister for Health the total landholding of her Department, broken down by county, including the amount currently unused or vacant, the portion zoned for development, and the number of sites that include vacant or derelict properties. [47627/26]

Amharc ar fhreagra

Freagraí scríofa

My Department does not own any property, and occupies offices at Miesian Plaza, Lower Baggot Street, Dublin 2, as a tenant of the OPW. Questions in relation to this property should be directed to the OPW in the first instance.

As 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.

Roinn