Written Answers Nos. 417-437
417. Deputy Shónagh Ní Raghallaigh asked the Minister for Health the number of vacant registered general nurses within the Kildare area as of 8 September 2026; and the steps being taken to fill these vacancies. [66276/26]
Amharc ar fhreagraAs this is a service matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond to the Deputy as soon as possible.
418. Deputy Shónagh Ní Raghallaigh asked the Minister for Health the number of WTE consultant child and adolescent psychiatrists specialising in substance use disorder posts filled within CHO 7 as of 8 September 2026, in tabular form. [66273/26]
Amharc ar fhreagraAs this is a service matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond to the Deputy as soon as possible.
419. Deputy John Clendennen asked the Minister for Health the number of persons with type 1 diabetes currently receiving insulin-pump therapy through the public health service, by adults and children, HSE health region and hospital at which their diabetes care is provided, in tabular form. [66269/26]
Amharc ar fhreagraAs this is a service matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond to the Deputy as soon as possible.
420. Deputy John Clendennen asked the Minister for Health for an update on the development and implementation of a national care pathway for Huntington's disease, including the estimated annual cost of fully implementing the proposed pathway; and whether funding has been sought for implementation in 2026 and 2027. [66287/26]
Amharc ar fhreagra421. Deputy John Clendennen asked the Minister for Health whether the proposed national care pathway for Huntington's disease provides for the establishment of regional specialist multidisciplinary services; the proposed number and locations of such services; and the disciplines that will comprise each multidisciplinary team. [66286/26]
Amharc ar fhreagraI propose to take Questions Nos. 420 and 421 together.
As this is a service matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond to the deputy directly, as soon as possible.
422. Deputy John Clendennen asked the Minister for Health the number of persons with type 1 diabetes currently awaiting commencement of insulin-pump therapy, by HSE health region and hospital; the number waiting less than three months, three to six months, six to 12 months and more than 12 months; and the median and longest waiting time for commencement of therapy in each location, in tabular form. [66267/26]
Amharc ar fhreagraAs this is a service matter, I have asked the HSE to reply to the Deputy as soon as possible.
423. Deputy John Clendennen asked the Minister for Health to list each acute hospital diabetes service in the State which currently has the capacity to initiate adult patients with type 1 diabetes onto insulin-pump therapy; to provide details of each hospital which can provide ongoing pump management and aftercare but cannot initiate patients; and to provide details of each hospital providing neither service, in tabular form. [66265/26]
Amharc ar fhreagraAs this is a service matter, I have asked the HSE to reply to the Deputy as soon as possible.
424. Deputy John Clendennen asked the Minister for Health for an update on the implementation framework to complement The Diabetes Policy and Services Review; A strategy for Better Care. [66259/26]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe Diabetes Policy and Services Review: A Strategy for Better Care 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, in cooperation with my Department, to ensure that the recommendations are followed through at national level and throughout the Health Regions.
425. Deputy John Clendennen asked the Minister for Health the number of patients with type 1 diabetes ordinarily resident in County Offaly who are currently receiving insulin-pump therapy, by adults and children; the hospitals at which those patients receive insulin-pump initiation and follow-up care and the number who are required to travel outside of County Offaly for such care, in tabular form. [66263/26]
Amharc ar fhreagraAs this is a service matter, I have asked the HSE to reply to the Deputy as soon as possible.
427. Deputy Michael Cahill asked the Minister for Health the amount the HSE spent on recruiting foreign doctors through the HSE relocation package for both EU and non-EU applicants in each of the years 2020 to 2025 and to date in 2026; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [66315/26]
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.
428. Deputy Roderic O'Gorman asked the Minister for Health in the context of the current cost-of-living pressures cited by health sector unions (details supplied) in the lead-up to planned industrial action, the extent to which her Department and the HSE have assessed the potential to reduce commuting costs and time for clinical nursing grades by facilitating telemedicine-enabled remote or blended working for appropriate non-acute outpatient contacts; whether any analysis has been undertaken of the cost savings to staff, patients and to the health service of shifting suitable nursing-delivered outpatient consultations to a remote model. [66243/26]
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.
429. Deputy Roderic O'Gorman asked the Minister for Health the steps being taken to ensure that clinical nursing grades (details supplied) are equally facilitated in accessing blended working and telemedicine-enabled remote consultation arrangements, in line with the HSE blended working policy; whether guidelines exist to assess which nursing-delivered patient contacts are appropriate for remote delivery; the extent to which approval of such arrangements varies by HSE health region or by local management discretion; and the measures in place to prevent grade-based or regional disparity in access to these arrangements. [66242/26]
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.
430. Deputy Pádraig Rice asked the Minister for Health of the 74 posts identified for agency conversion in the 2026 HSE National Service Plan, the number that have been converted to HSE posts to date. [66161/26]
Amharc ar fhreagraAs this is a service matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond to the Deputy as soon as possible.
431. Deputy John Brady asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science if his Department maintains a risk register; if so, if copies of the register since 2022 will be provided; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [66067/26]
Amharc ar fhreagraWhile my Department maintains a risk register, the Department is not in position to provide the Deputy with the requested information as described within the scope of the Deputy's question. The eRisk system used by my Department does not maintain a historical record in the manner requested. Instead, when the Risk Register report is generated for specific requirements, it reflects the information recorded in the system in its current form at that point in time.
Risk Registers are central to modern effective management in organisations and are integral to the day-to-day management and good governance of the Department. Achieving this requires the creation of an environment where officers can identify risks secure in the knowledge that this is a positive contribution to improving the Department’s functions rather than potentially exposing weaknesses or endangering critical systems or infrastructure.
The release of the Department’s Risk Register could reasonably be expected to result in underreporting of risk and undermine the effectiveness of registers and thus the management function of the Department. The release of these records may impact on the prevention, detection and investigation of offences or the effectiveness of lawful methods, systems, plans or procedures.
432. Deputy Malcolm Byrne asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science whether Government has undertaken an assessment of the potential implications of advances in artificial intelligence for Ireland’s future economic competitiveness and labour market; the skills, talent and workforce requirements identified; whether the capacity of the higher education sector to meet these requirements has been evaluated, including whether any risks have been identified arising from current funding deficits in the sector; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [65988/26]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe adoption of AI is one of the largest structural forces that is shaping our country. While AI is changing how many jobs are performed, it also presents significant opportunities for innovation, productivity and the creation of new employment opportunities.
Since March, I have chaired a series of National Skills Roundtables that bring together representatives from industry, education and Government to discuss preparing our workforce for the age of AI. It is evident from the Roundtable engagements that Ireland has a strong foundation and clear ambition regarding Artificial Intelligence skills. However, we need to act with greater speed, coordination, and a focus on building capabilities across the entire workforce to fully realise AI’s economic and societal potential. To adapt to the changing labour market and support Ireland’s future economic competitiveness, the following avenues are pursued.
My Department funded a study a report on Skills for Digital Specialists to 2030 – to be published shortly by the Expert Group on Future Skills Needs. The report examines Ireland’s current and future requirements for specialist digital skills, including those associated with artificial intelligence. It considers the supply of the skills required to support Ireland’s continued digital transformation and competitiveness. The report will inform the Roadmap for Technology Skills of the Future which will outline how the system will drive the skilling and upskilling of our ICT professionals.
Since AI is impacting on many occupations, we are adapting the education and training system. We are offering a range of pathways through which individuals can acquire and develop relevant digital and AI – whether they are in education, in the workforce or they are hoping to enter or re-enter the workforce or they simply need those skills for life. These pathways include provision across higher education (e.g. Springboard+ and subsidised micro-credentials), as well as flexible upskilling and reskilling opportunities initiatives offered by Skillnet Ireland and its networks, the ETBs (e.g. micro-qualifications and e-college).
I want Ireland to become a leader in the development of practical AI capability and digital skills. To develop AI literacy and help people understand and use AI effectively, my Department's officials, SOLAS, and the National Skills Council worked together to develop AIReady.ie. That platform features four free, non-technical short online courses to support upskilling and future-proof Ireland’s workforce for an AI driven economy. My officials are working on the next phase of the initiative with the intent of offering signposted courses for different user profiles.
433. Deputy Séamus McGrath asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science to consider the points raised (details supplied) in relation to the DARE scheme. [66139/26]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe Disability Access Route to Education is an admissions scheme that is offered by the Irish Universities Association (IUA) on behalf of the Higher Education Institutions with applications processed through the CAO.
As the DARE is not a Departmental scheme my Department has no responsibility or remit over the administration or the eligibility criteria.
To assist Deputies with information on the scheme I facilitated an IUA information session in Leinster House in May.
Any query relating to the scheme eligibility or administration would need to be directed to the IUA.
UCC, as a member of the IUA, and a participating institution in the scheme should be in a position to raise this matter with the IUA and effect a change if required.
I trust this clarifies the matter.
434. Deputy Paul Lawless asked the Minister for Rural and Community Development and the Gaeltacht the reason the annual €3,000 grant scheme for men's sheds was not made available this year; the reason for its discontinuation; whether any alternative funding supports have been put in place for men's sheds; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [66260/26]
Amharc ar fhreagraAs the Deputy will be aware, my Department is very supportive of both Men’s Sheds and Women’s Sheds. Indeed, I can assure the Deputy that I am very conscious of the important role that these groups play in communities across the country. Men’s Sheds provide a space for men of all ages to come together on a regular basis in a safe, comfortable and inclusive environment.
My Department provides funding to Men’s Sheds under various funding supports, including:
• The Local Enhancement Programme (LEP);
• The Social Inclusion and Community Activation Programme (SICAP) 2024 - 2028; and
• The LEADER programme.
Since 2018, under my Department’s Local Enhancement Programme (LEP) and its iterations, Men’s Sheds have been allocated over €2.7 million, to assist with building upgrades and the purchase of equipment.
My Department also provides funding directly to the Irish Men's Shed Association (IMSA) under the Scheme to Support National Organisations (SSNO). The SSNO provides multi-annual funding towards core costs of national, community and voluntary organisations. The current iteration of the SSNO commenced on 1 July 2026, with funding of €297,766 over the three-years and 6-month period being provided to the IMSA.
In addition, since 2022, my Department has also provided over €2.3 million in current funding directly to the IMSA for onward distribution to individual Men's Sheds. I recently met with representatives of IMSA to discuss this funding and I have asked the IMSA for further information. I understand that the IMSA intends to submit a new proposal to me in the coming weeks and I look forward to reviewing the proposal once received.
Finally, the Deputy can be assured that I and my Department are totally committed to the work of Men's Sheds and also Women's Sheds on the ground. Given that the current distribution of funding has been identified by many individual sheds as cumbersome and being a burden, when considering the future allocation mechanism for Men's Sheds, my priority is to ensure that the process is streamlined for the Sheds themselves and that funding is targeted and distributed in an effective and efficient manner. I have asked the IMSA for a proposal on this and I look forward to receiving this
435. Deputy Niamh Smyth asked the Minister for Rural and Community Development and the Gaeltacht If he will review correspondence (details supplied); and if he will provide an update on the community investment fund application in question. [66316/26]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe Community Centre Investment Fund (CCIF) was introduced to provide high quality community facilities that are available to all groups in both urban and rural communities. Through the CCIF, some €112 million has been allocated for the enhancement and refurbishment of existing community centres and the construction of new centres where such a need has been identified.
I was delighted to launch the latest round of funding under CCIF 2026 on the 26th March for enhancement and refurbishment of existing community centres. The fund will be delivered across 2 categories with maximum funding levels of €25,000 and €100,000 respectively. The closing date for the CCIF 2026 has now passed.
DI can confirm that an application was received from the organisation referred to by the deputy under Category 2 of CCIF 2026. Applications are currently being assessed and I will announce the successful projects later in the year.
436. Deputy John Brady asked the Minister for Rural and Community Development and the Gaeltacht if his Department maintains a risk register; if so, if copies of the register since 2022 will be provided; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [66454/26]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe Department of Rural and Community Development and the Gaeltacht has a comprehensive risk management process in place, and this process was reviewed by external experts in 2025. The Department’s Risk Committee reports to both the Management Board and the external Audit Committee of the Department. As part of the risk management process, each unit maintains its own risk register and the Department also maintains an overarching strategic risk register which is overseen by the Department's Risk Committee.
In order to ensure the integrity and effectiveness of risk management processes, these documents are confidential in nature. The Comptroller and Auditor General is provided with the register each year as part of the annual audit of account, and the Department’s Audit Committee also have sight of the strategic risk register. Risk management is also subject to review as part of the internal audit work programme.
