Written Answers Nos. 848-869
848. Deputy Sorca Clarke asked the Minister for Health the current and capital cost of implementing the Governments plan for inpatient and outpatient perinatal mental health care; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [47701/26]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe Specialist Perinatal Mental Health Services (SPMHS) is now available in all 19 maternity hospitals nationwide, providing support to pregnant women and women with a baby up to one year old, with an existing or new mental health problem. Funding of €5 million annually has established 6 consultant led multidisciplinary teams across major maternity hospitals (Coombe, NMH, Rotunda, Galway, Cork, Limerick), and 13 spoke sites staffed by perinatal mental health midwife posts. There are now over 75 funded posts in SPMHS nationally.
Under Budget 2026, I secured an additional €640,000 to recruit two additional consultant psychiatrists for the Programme’s busiest sites, the Rotunda and Holles Street, to meet growing demand for the service.
The HSE are progressing a review of the Model of Care for SPMHS, with a Steering Group due to be established shortly and a refreshed model published later this year. The key objective of this refresh is the provision of equivalent service to the major hospital sites as for the other 13 spoke sites, and this will be the focus of this second phase of the Model of Care.
A key priority under this Model of Care is to develop a Perinatal Mother and Baby Unit (PMBU). Work is ongoing by the HSE to progress the development of an PMBU for Ireland, an inpatient mental health service with relevant maternity support to allow women to stay with their babies during their mental health treatment.
To meet the needs of new mothers with moderate to severe mental illness, the PMBU must be sited at a location with access to a maternity hospital as well as an acute mental health unit. This will ensure there is always mental health and maternity expertise available. As such, it is envisaged that the PMBU will be developed on the grounds of St Vincent’s University Hospital in Dublin, and a feasibility study is currently underway to determine a location within the campus, with the study due to conclude shortly. The outcome of the study will form the basis for the next key decisions on the project.
With reference to the information requested as this is an operational issue, I have referred it to the HSE for direct reply to you.
849. Deputy Sorca Clarke asked the Minister for Health the estimated cost to fully implement the National Clinical Programme for ADHD; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [47702/26]
Amharc ar fhreagraADHD has long been recognised as one of the most common psychiatric disorders in children and it is now known to persist into adulthood. Core symptoms include inattention, hyperactivity and impulsivity.
This National Clinical Programme is based on multi-disciplinary community teams to diagnose and treat ADHD in adults. As Minister, I'm proud to have launched the Model of Care for Adult ADHD and to have resourced the establishment of the teams envisioned by the Model of Care. The ADHD Programme is funded with total funding of over €5 million on a recurring annual basis. As a result, there are 11 community based teams funded, with 8 teams are currently operational with the remaining teams in recruitment listed below. This includes an ADHD team which covers Cavan/Monaghan/Louth/ Meath which opened in November 2025. Funding was secured by myself as Minister in Budget 2025 to facilitate the rolling out of the total number of ADHD teams envisaged in the Model of Care.
Operational ADHD Teams
• Sligo/Leitrim/Donegal
• South Dublin/ Wicklow
• Limerick/Clare/North Tipperary
• Cork
• Kerry/West Cork
• South- West Dublin
• Midlands/Kildare/West Wicklow
• Cavan/Monaghan/Louth Meath
Community based teams in recruitment
• Waterford/Wexford/Kilkenny/Carlow/South Tipperary
• North Dublin and County
• Galway/Roscommon/Mayo
In relation to the additional specific information requested, as this is an operational matter , I have referred it to the HSE for direct reply to you.
851. Deputy Sorca Clarke asked the Minister for Health the estimated cost to increase funding for recovery education by 10%; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [47704/26]
Amharc ar fhreagraSharing the Vision: Ireland's Mental Health Policy 2020-2030 strengthens the role of lived experience in mental health policy development and service delivery. The policy is underpinned by core person-centred principles, including recovery, trauma-informed care, rights, and a strong focus on education and learning. The National Implementation and Monitoring Committee plays a key role in overseeing delivery, with lived experience embedded as a core component of its monitoring function.
In addition, the Mental Health Engagement and Recovery (MHER) Office in the HSE is leading on a number of key recommendations within the policy that are specifically designed to be driven by lived experience expertise. Lived experience panels are actively contributing to the implementation of Sharing the Vision through the work of MHER, ensuring that policy commitments are translated into meaningful changes at service level.
At the same time, the HSE is progressing the development of a lived and living experience workforce within mental health services. This includes the expansion of key recovery-oriented programmes, such as engagement initiatives, peer support roles, recovery education, and Individual Placement and Support, all of which are designed to embed lived experience at the heart of service delivery.
Lived experience expertise must be two-way, with lived experience experts working alongside health systems to support culture change toward co-production and inclusion at all levels of care and service delivery.
As your question raises operational issues, I have also referred it to the HSE for direct reply to you.
852. Deputy Pádraig O'Sullivan asked the Minister for Health further to the recall of infant formula products in January 2026 due to contamination with the toxin cereulide, the testing requirements that now apply for the detection of cereulide in infant formula placed on the market in the State, noting that the European Food Safety Authority established an acute reference dose for cereulide corresponding to a product level of 0.43 nanograms per gram on 2 February 2026; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [47708/26]
Amharc ar fhreagra854. Deputy Pádraig O'Sullivan asked the Minister for Health whether the Food Safety Authority of Ireland has verified that retailers displayed point-of-sale recall notices for the infant formula products recalled in January 2026 due to the potential presence of cereulide; the outcome of any such compliance checks; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [47710/26]
Amharc ar fhreagraI propose to take Questions Nos. 852 and 854 together.
The Food Safety Authority of Ireland (FSAI) has overall responsibility for the enforcement of food law in Ireland which includes food recalls; therefore, as this is an operational matter, I have asked the FSAI to reply directly to the Deputy.
853. Deputy Pádraig O'Sullivan asked the Minister for Health the expected timeline for the introduction and implementation of the State of the European Union legislation, currently in draft and reported for adoption in the first quarter of 2027, which will require mandatory checks for cereulide in infant formula; the interim measures in place in the State pending that legislation; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [47709/26]
Amharc ar fhreagraCommission Regulation (EC) No. 2073/2005 lays down microbiological criteria for foodstuffs and the rules to be complied with by food business operators under EU food hygiene legislation.
A draft amendment to that Regulation, concerning cereulide in infant formula, is currently under discussion at EU level through the Standing Committee on Plants, Animals, Food and Feed, Biological Safety section. The proposal is intended to establish a food safety criterion for cereulide, to be complied with by food business operators as part of their food safety management systems. The proposal remains under consideration and there is not yet an agreed final timeline for completion. If adopted, the Regulation would enter into force 20 days after publication in the Official Journal of the European Union.
Pending finalisation of the EU measure, interim controls are in place. These include action by food business operators to change suppliers of relevant ingredients, testing of incoming ingredients such as arachidonic acid oil, and extensive testing of finished products. In addition, EU import controls now apply to arachidonic acid oil originating in China due to the risk of cereulide contamination.
The Food Safety Authority of Ireland, as the statutory body responsible for coordinating enforcement of food law in the State, continues to engage with the Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine, the HSE National Environmental Health Service and EU partners on this issue. Ireland will continue to participate actively in the EU process to ensure that any final measure is proportionate, evidence-based and protective of infant health.
855. Deputy Sorca Clarke asked the Minister for Health the estimated cost to fully implement the Strategy to Reduce Suicide and Self-harm, Connecting for Life 2026-2035; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [47719/26]
Amharc ar fhreagraThere has been sustained and significant investment in suicide reduction initiatives over the last number of years, underlining the high priority placed by Government on improving mental health services and supports and reducing suicide and self-harm across the population.
This commitment has been further reinforced in Budget 2026. The total allocation for mental health is almost €1.6 billion, representing a record level of funding and an increase for the sixth consecutive year, with overall mental health funding increasing by over 50% since 2020.
Budget 2026 also includes a major focus on improving supports for people in mental health crisis, with over €15 million in additional funding for crisis supports and suicide prevention measures.
This funding is supporting a range of service developments, including:
• Specialist nursing teams in Emergency Departments (Model 4 hospitals) operating on an out-of-hours basis to support people in crisis
• Three new Crisis Resolution Services and associated crisis cafés in Donegal, Kerry and the Midlands as alternatives to Emergency Departments
• Additional Suicide Crisis Assessment Nurses (SCAN) to support people presenting in primary care settings
• A new crisis response pathway for children and young people, including additional specialist CAMHS doctors
• Increased funding for community and voluntary organisations delivering suicide prevention services, including Pieta
• €1 million to support the initial implementation of the new suicide reduction strategy
These measures are aligned with the actions set out in the Strategy, including strengthening crisis responses across hospital and community settings and expanding alternatives to Emergency Departments.
In addition, there has been sustained investment in suicide reduction initiatives over recent years through the HSE’s National Office for Suicide Prevention (NOSP), with expenditure increasing significantly from approximately €5 million in 2012 to over €16 million in 2026.
With regard to the Connecting for Life 2026–2035, the strategy does not set out a single aggregated estimate of the total cost required for full implementation over its lifetime.
Instead, the Strategy provides for a phased and structured approach to resource planning. It commits that implementation will be supported through the annual Estimates process and will be underpinned by fully costed implementation plans for each implementation period.
In this regard, three sequential implementation plans, with the first covering the period 2026 to 2028, will specify the detailed actions, timelines and associated costs. This approach allows for costs to be aligned with evolving priorities, service developments and emerging evidence over the lifetime of the Strategy.
The Strategy further provides that there will be ongoing investment in suicide prevention across Government, with this investment tracked annually, including through the development of annual reporting on expenditure across the civil service and public sector. []
The Strategy recognises the importance of economic evaluation as part of its monitoring and evaluation framework, to ensure that resources are used effectively and that interventions deliver value for money.[]
Overall, while a single total cost is not specified, the Strategy establishes a clear framework to ensure that implementation is appropriately resourced, subject to Government approval through the Estimates process, and accompanied by robust financial planning, monitoring and evaluation mechanisms.
This is complemented by sustained and increasing investment in mental health services and suicide prevention, including targeted funding for crisis supports, which will support the early implementation and delivery of key actions under the Strategy.
857. Deputy Sorca Clarke asked the Minister for Health the estimated cost of providing universal counselling within primary care; the cost of providing counselling in primary care for 0-18 years, 0-25 years and over 25's, in tabular form; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [47721/26]
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.
858. Deputy Sorca Clarke asked the Minister for Health the estimated cost of fully implementing the National Model of Care for Dual Diagnosis over five years; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [47722/26]
Amharc ar fhreagraDual diagnosis in this context means a person experiences both a substance abuse problem and a mental health issue such as depression or an anxiety disorder.
Treatment options must address both issues, and as such the HSE have developed a Model of Care which recommends the development of 12 Adult Specialist Dual Diagnosis Teams nationally, 4 Adolescent Hub Teams, and a National Dual Diagnosis Rehabilitation Centre. To date funding of over €5 million has resulted in the roll out of the Dual Diagnosis teams. Five Dual Diagnosis teams are being recruited into and developed at present – adult teams in Limerick and Cork commenced services in 2024, and a team in Waterford is in recruitment. 2 Adolescent hub teams in Dublin have also been developed, supported by funding from HSE Social Inclusion.
Under Budget 2026, funding has been allocated for an additional Dual Diagnosis team, and a Dual Diagnosis Day Programme in Dublin.
With reference to the information requested , as this is an operational issue , I have referred it to the HSE for direct reply to you.
860. Deputy Sorca Clarke asked the Minister for Health the estimated cost of eliminating all CAMHS waiting lists in excess of 12-weeks; the additional WTE staff required; and the regional breakdown of those costs. [47724/26]
Amharc ar fhreagraGovernment has provided record funding of nearly €1.6 billion for mental health in 2026. CAMHS receives approximately €191 million annually, an increase of almost 40% over the past four years. A further €127 million is provided to NGOs, many of which focus on young people. Under Budget 2026, €10 million was provided to enhance services including to develop a new crisis response pathway for children and young people; to open two new early intervention youth mental health Jigsaw services; to support the digital single point of access for youth mental health services; to develop five new mental health Discovery Colleges for young people; to resource an additional specialist CAMHS eating disorders team and two new Mental Health of Intellectual Disabilities teams for children; and to open an additional 18 CAMHS acute inpatient beds.
Improving access to CAMHS and reducing waiting lists, particularly for those waiting longest, are being addressed on an on-going basis by the HSE. The issues raised by the Deputy continue to be progressed in the context of the significant new funding and staffing resources I have secured for youth mental health to best meet evolving service requirements. This includes the HSE developing a new Single Point of Access and more integrated care across relevant services for young people.
As the Deputy may be aware, I visited 21 CAMHS teams nationwide last year to meet with the Regional Executive Officers (REOs) and their staff to focus on improvements to all aspects of youth mental health care, including the specialist CAMHS service. I stressed the need to identify areas where increased activity is needed, and the potential for more innovative approaches to improve service delivery. I also highlighted the importance of filling all approved posts for each CAMHS team to ensure the most effective delivery of services.
I conveyed in my meeting with each Region that reducing the waiting list for CAMHS is one of my main priorities as Minister for Mental Health. The Programme for Government makes several commitments relating to CAMHS, including a commitment to providing additional resources to reduce CAMHS waiting lists.
I subsequently wrote to each REO and to the Chief Executive Officer of the HSE following my visits seeking a plan to improve access to CAMHS services. While significant improvement has been made on many fronts to enhance CAMHS care, particularly in the face of increasing demand and case complexity, the issues of improved access and regional variation need to be addressed as early as possible.
This is particularly the case in light of the significant additional funding I have secured for CAMHS over recent years, including under Budget 2026, and the emphasis I have placed on better outcomes for mental health in line with the HSE Service Plan 2026. The objective of improving access to care, and of reducing waiting lists, are also core elements of the three year HSE Child and Youth Mental Health Actional Plan published in February 2025.
I acknowledge that the ringfenced waiting list reduction funding of €3 million supported activity in excess of the targeted 1,250 removals across the six Regions. While this is positive overall, there is evidence that the funding allocated could have better targeted the removal of children and young people waiting for extended periods in some Regions. It is concerning also that the overall CAMHS waiting list nationally has remained persistently high, particularly for the HSE Dublin and North East Region and the HSE South West Region.
I therefore recently sought a detailed plan, inclusive of both national and regional targets, to reduce CAMHS waiting lists, including a greater focus on those waiting over 12 months. I requested that this plan be reported on, at a minimum on a quarterly basis, by the HSE to the Department, and should reflect core CAMHS resourcing and all additional waiting list funding provided in recent years. I expect to receive this plan from the HSE shortly, reflecting both national and regional approaches.
I, and the Government, fully appreciate the very significant improvements that have been made by all CAMHS staff over recent times and the real difference that this has made to many vulnerable children and their families. I will continue to work closely with the HSE to monitor CAMHS waiting lists over the remained of this year. I intend to further improve all aspects of youth mental health care under the forthcoming Estimates process for 2027.
862. Deputy Sorca Clarke asked the Minister for Health the estimated annual cost of establishing one additional adult crisis resolution; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [47726/26]
Amharc ar fhreagraAs this Question relates to an operational issue it has been referred to the HSE for response.
863. Deputy Sorca Clarke asked the Minister for Health the estimated annual cost of funding an additional 50, 100 and 150 clinical psychology training places; the associated supervision and placement costs; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [47727/26]
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.
864. Deputy Sorca Clarke asked the Minister for Health the estimated capital cost of establishing the planned perinatal mother and baby units in Dublin and Limerick; the expected bed capacity of each unit; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [47728/26]
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.
865. Deputy Sorca Clarke asked the Minister for Health the estimated full-year staffing and operational cost of each planned perinatal mother and baby unit; the projected staffing complement, by grade; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [47729/26]
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.
866. Deputy Sorca Clarke asked the Minister for Health the expenditure incurred by the HSE on private inpatient eating disorder placements in each of the years 2023, 2024 and 2025. [47730/26]
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.
867. Deputy Sorca Clarke asked the Minister for Health the estimated capital cost for a specialist adult eating disorder inpatient bed; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [47731/26]
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.
868. Deputy Sorca Clarke asked the Minister for Health the estimated annual current expenditure cost of operating a specialist adult eating disorder inpatient bed, including medical, nursing, psychology, allied health professional and support staffing costs; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [47732/26]
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.
869. Deputy Paul Lawless asked the Minister for Health the reason therapeutic radiography tutors are universally graded at clinical specialist level while the majority of diagnostic radiography practice tutors remain graded at senior radiographer level despite both professions historically performing equivalent educational, supervisory and governance responsibilities; the basis on which this disparity was originally established; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [47737/26]
Amharc ar fhreagra870. Deputy Paul Lawless asked the Minister for Health if she will address concerns raised by diagnostic radiography practice tutors that their grade was incorrectly set at senior radiographer level from the inception of the role; if her Department has reviewed this grading decision; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [47738/26]
Amharc ar fhreagra871. Deputy Paul Lawless asked the Minister for Health if she is aware of the impact that the current grading disparity between diagnostic and therapeutic radiography tutors is having on retention, recruitment, and the quality of radiography education; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [47739/26]
Amharc ar fhreagra872. Deputy Paul Lawless asked the Minister for Health the way in which the EU Pay Transparency Directive 2026 will apply to radiography practice tutors, particularly in relation to the principle of equal pay for equal work where diagnostic and therapeutic radiography tutors perform comparable duties but are graded differently; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [47740/26]
Amharc ar fhreagra873. Deputy Paul Lawless asked the Minister for Health if she will provide an update on the Workplace Relations Commission process involving radiography practice tutors, a union (details supplied), the HSE and her Department; if she is aware that the national group has now balloted overwhelmingly for industrial action due to the lack of progress; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [47741/26]
Amharc ar fhreagra874. Deputy Paul Lawless asked the Minister for Health if she has assessed the potential impact on diagnostic waiting lists, clinical placement capacity and patient care arising from the ongoing loss of experienced radiography practice tutors and the risk of industrial action; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [47742/26]
Amharc ar fhreagra875. Deputy Paul Lawless asked the Minister for Health the way in which her Department intends to ensure the sustainability of the radiography workforce pipeline in light of tutor attrition linked to grading inequity, workload pressures and stalled industrial relations processes; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [47743/26]
Amharc ar fhreagraI propose to take Questions Nos. 869, 870, 871, 872, 873, 874 and 875 together.
Officials from my Department and the HSE are aware of the issues and are working closely with the Union to resolve the matter under the auspices of the WRC.
