Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 7 July 2026
774. Deputy Roderic O'Gorman asked the Minister for Health the long-term measures her Department are taking to prevent negative impacts from relocation on the health of Palestinian refugees accessing medical treatment in Dublin (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [51150/26]
Amharc ar fhreagraI would like to thank the Deputy for the question he has raised.
In September 2024, the Government agreed that Ireland would receive up to 30 paediatric patients in response to the World Health Organisation's (WHO) request to EU Member States to respond to the growing humanitarian crisis in Gaza. Since September 2024, Ireland has evacuated 27 World Health Organisation approved paediatric patients and their 115 accompanying family members.
On arrival, all paediatric patients and their family members are initially accommodated in short-term accommodation in Dublin to support early treatment and assessment. A transition to longer-term accommodation is required for the duration of their treatment period. Families are informed of this process before arrival.
Irish Red Cross are contracted by the Department of Health to provide accommodation and social care support to the patient and their family groups. Irish Red Cross engage with the medical services and relevant advocacy groups to ensure that the accommodation is medically suitable for the primary purpose to support the WHO approved child patient.
For families who are medically cleared to relocate outside Dublin, the Children’s Health Ireland hub-and-spoke model is utilised, where a family accesses specialist treatments in Dublin and interim/ follow up medical services are accessed locally. Children’s Health Ireland provides medical clearance for the family to relocate, where a property is deemed medically appropriate.
The Irish Red Cross maintain frequent contact with the families to work through any concerns. Post-relocation Irish Red Cross continue to engage directly with the families, to address any concerns with respect to the move to Kilkenny and transport to medical appointments.
Department Officials maintain regular contact with Irish Red Cross on various matters, particularly when Departmental support is required on challenging issues in delivery of accommodation and support services to Gaza medevac patients and their families.
Irish Red Cross hold regular meetings with the families, their supporters, and Children’s Health Ireland to address any concerns. Irish Red Cross engage with local bus companies to explore adding an additional bus stops where necessary. Irish Red Cross arrange volunteers to provide transport to medical appointments for the first month after relocation, to help with their transition.
24 of the 27 Gaza Medevac Initiative patients and family groups have successfully relocated to appropriate accommodation outside Dublin. The same accommodation and treatment pathway has been used for all 27 paediatric patients and their family members who have arrived in Ireland for medical treatment since December 2024. This follows standard Irish Red Cross practice in the provision of accommodation and associated services to individuals fleeing situations of conflict
