Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 30 June 2026
877. Deputy Naoise Ó Muirí asked the Minister for Health the way in which her Department intends to ensure value for money in circumstances where the State has invested approximately €24,000 per physician associate students in training, yet graduates remain unable to take up employment within the health service due to the ongoing recruitment pause; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [49395/26]
Amharc ar fhreagra879. Deputy Naoise Ó Muirí asked the Minister for Health if she will review the proposed salary scale for physician associates, in view of concerns that the suggested structure represents a significant reduction compared with existing PA salaries and international norms; and if she will ensure that any finalised scale reflects the level of postgraduate medical training and clinical responsibility undertaken by PAs; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [49397/26]
Amharc ar fhreagra880. Deputy Naoise Ó Muirí asked the Minister for Health if her Department has carried out an assessment of the way in which the proposed salary scale for physician associates may affect recruitment, retention and the risk of emigration among Irish trained graduates; if she will publish the findings; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [49398/26]
Amharc ar fhreagra884. Deputy Naoise Ó Muirí asked the Minister for Health the way in which the continued inability of physician associates to enter the workforce aligns with national workforce planning objectives, hospital staffing pressures and efforts to reduce waiting lists; and the actions being taken to address this contradiction. [49404/26]
Amharc ar fhreagraI propose to take Questions Nos. 879, 877, 880 and 884 together.
Physician Assistants are dependent practitioners with generalist training through a medical model. They can support physicians and surgeons in the management of patients, with supervision and appropriate delegation.
As committed in the 2025 National Service Plan, the HSE commissioned an independent review of the Physician Assistant role with the aim of making recommendations regarding the governance of the role, scope of practice, and appropriate and safe deployment in Ireland. The HSE paused the recruitment of Physician Assistants pending the outcome of the review.
The report is now complete and was published on 6th May 2026.
The Department and the HSE is now in an implementation phase focused on strengthening governance, role clarity and national consistency. I expect that patient safety in service delivery be prioritised in relation to any HSE workforce roles, including Physician Assistant.
The Minister and Department officials continue to engage with colleagues in the HSE on the Physician Assistant role with recruitment expected to commence at the conclusion of this process.
