Written Answers Nos. 860-880
860. Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Health the number of CT, MRI and PET scanners that are currently available for use in each hospital within Cork as of 18 September 2026; and the hours per week each of those machines are available, by location, in tabular form. [68749/26]
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.
861. Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Health the timeline for full implementation of the recommendations of the HSE internal audit of non-EU doctor recruitment; whether a follow-up audit will be conducted to verify compliance; the date by which it will report; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [68928/26]
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.
862. Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Health the individual or office within the HSE with responsibility for ensuring that mandatory pre-employment checks, including garda vetting, overseas police clearance, occupational health clearance and English-language competency, are completed before a doctor commences employment; the sanctions, if any, applied where those checks are not completed; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [68927/26]
Amharc ar fhreagra863. Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Health the number of non-EU consultant and non-consultant hospital doctors recruited by the HSE in each of the years 2022 to 2025 and to date in 2026, by HSE region, in tabular form; the proportion of those recruitments subject to any audit of pre-employment checks; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [68926/26]
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 Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Health whether the HSE plans to extend the internal audit of non-EU doctor recruitment to hospitals in the HSE South West region, including Cork University Hospital, the Mercy University Hospital, the South Infirmary Victoria University Hospital and Mallow General Hospital; if not, the reason; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [68924/26]
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 Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Health the compliance rate recorded in the HSE internal audit of non-EU doctor recruitment for each of the seven sites examined, namely Tullamore, Portlaoise, Mullingar, Drogheda, Cavan, Navan and the Rotunda Maternity Hospital, by hospital, in tabular form; the two sites found to be fully compliant; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [68923/26]
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 Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Health further to the HSE internal audit finding that English-language competency evidence was available for only 27 of 40 doctors examined, the number of cases in which a certificate below the minimum HSE-required score was accepted; the number in which a certificate was obtained after the doctor commenced employment; whether any patient safety incidents have been linked to language competency in these cases; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [68922/26]
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 Roderic O'Gorman asked the Minister for Health for an update on her Department's progression of the sunbeds working group recommendation to ban commercial sunbeds; the engagement her Department has had with the European Commission on this issue in recent months; and the timeline for progression of this issue. [68830/26]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe Programme for Government includes a commitment to explore ways to ban commercial sunbed use. In support of this commitment, I established a Sunbed Working Group, the Report of which was published on 25 March 2026. The majority of its members recommended a ban on commercial sunbed use as the most effective public health measure to reduce harm associated with sunbed exposure.
Since publication of the Report, the Department has been progressing the next phase of policy development. This work includes consideration of the findings of the Working Group Report, the Department-led Workshop Report, and the Report of the Public Consultation on Sunbed Use in Ireland. In addition, further work is being undertaken to assess the legal, economic, enforcement, feasibility and EU-law implications of the policy options under consideration.
The Department has also engaged with a range of stakeholders, including industry representatives, and has undertaken external engagement with counterparts in other jurisdictions to inform the development of this public health policy.
In relation to engagement with the European Commission, the Department has been examining the EU considerations that would arise should a proposal to prohibit commercial sunbed use be progressed. Any legislative proposal in this area would require careful consideration of relevant European Union law and, where appropriate, engagement with the European Commission, including through relevant notification procedures. This work forms part of the ongoing policy development process.
No Government decision has been made at this stage on the introduction of a ban on commercial sunbed use. Accordingly, it is not yet possible to provide a definitive timeline for legislation. The Department's current focus is on completing the remaining evidence, impact and policy analysis. Following completion of this work, policy proposals will be brought forward for Government consideration and decision. Subject to Government approval of a preferred policy approach, any necessary EU engagement and legislative processes would then be progressed.
The Government remains committed to protecting public health and reducing the burden of skin cancer, and the Department will continue to progress this work in an evidence-based and proportionate manner.
868. Deputy Robert Troy asked the Minister for Health if she will ensure a cross border reimbursement application (details supplied) is processed without further delay. [68934/26]
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 Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Health further to Parliamentary Question No. 66553/26 of 22 September 2026, the reason Ireland did not submit an objection, observation, comment or reservation through the world trade organization or European Commission notification processes in February 2024 in respect of the UK folic acid fortification measures, given that her Department's correspondence to the European Commission in September 2025 raised concerns from Irish stakeholders; whether an assessment was prepared at the time of notification; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [68762/26]
Amharc ar fhreagraFurther to my response to the Deputy’s Questions Nos. 66575/26, 66573/26, 66572/26, 66564/26, 66553/26 and 66551/26 dated 22 September, my Department engaged with the European Commission regarding the implications of the UK regulatory changes for Irish food business operators in September 2025. The purpose of the engagement with the European Commission was to discuss practical issues raised by Irish industry stakeholders, regarding sourcing, implementation and compliance with EU legislation.
My Department did not consider it was necessary to submit an objection, observation, comment or reservation through the world trade organisation or European Commission notification processes in February 2024 in respect of the UK folic acid fortification measures, based on an evaluation of the information which was available at that time.
870. Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Health the steps the HSE has taken since the completion of its internal audit of non-EU doctor recruitment to obtain the missing garda vetting and overseas police clearance for the doctors concerned; whether any doctor has been removed from clinical duties pending completion of those checks; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [68921/26]
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.
871. Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Health further to the HSE internal audit of non-EU doctor recruitment, the number of cases in which overseas police clearance was missing, had expired, or did not meet the required standard; the number of cases in which alternative documentation was accepted in place of police clearance; who authorised the acceptance of that alternative documentation; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [68920/26]
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.
872. Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Health further to the HSE internal audit of non-EU consultant and non-consultant hospital doctor recruitment reported on 24 September 2026, the number of the 40 doctors examined who were working in patient-facing roles without evidence of garda vetting on file; the number who remain in post without that evidence as of the date of this reply; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [68919/26]
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.
873. Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Health the status of the HSE file review of residents cared for by a healthcare assistant (details supplied); the number of files reviewed to date; the number of further referrals made to An Garda Síochána; the expected completion date; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [68918/26]
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.
874. Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Health the number of HSE employees placed on administrative leave, suspended or dismissed following allegations of sexual abuse or sexual harassment in each of the years 2021 to 2025 and to date in 2026; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [68917/26]
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.
875. Deputy Michael Cahill asked the Minister for Health the status of the proposed stem cell tissue establishment and advanced cellular therapies unit at a hospital (details supplied); whether a project team has been established; whether funding has been identified; the reason the project is not included in the HSE Capital Plan 2026-2030; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [68885/26]
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.
876. Deputy Ryan O'Meara asked the Minister for Health further to PQ45807/26, if further progress has been made to expand access to the shingles vaccine, given that cost-effectiveness is a concern; if there has been further engagement or negotiatations between the relevant parties; and the position regarding the shingles vaccine being considered for the immunisation schedule in Ireland. [68861/26]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe immunisation programme in Ireland is informed by the advice of the National Immunisation Advisory Committee (NIAC). NIAC considers the prevalence of the relevant disease in Ireland as well as international best practice in relation to immunisation when developing its advice
The current NIAC guidelines state that the shingles vaccine may be considered for those aged 65 years and older, due to the greater burden and severity of disease in this age group and in those aged 18 years and older at increased risk of shingles.
The Health Information and Quality Authority (HIQA) has carried out a Health Technology Assessment (HTA) on the herpes zoster vaccine which protects against shingles. A HTA is a multidisciplinary research process that collects and summarises information about a health technology. HIQA’s HTA examined the evidence on the clinical effectiveness and safety of shingles vaccines. The cost effectiveness and budget impact were also reviewed, along with the ethical, social and organisational implications of including the vaccine in the adult immunisation schedule.
HIQA published this HTA on 19 July 2024. The HTA found that adding the shingles vaccine to the routine immunisation schedule, at the vaccine price at the time, for all adults aged 65 years and over would not be cost effective and would be associated with a substantial budget impact.
While the vaccine is considered safe and effective, its protective effect diminishes over time. HIQA also noted the substantial budget impact associated with vaccination. If made available to everyone aged 65 and older, vaccination would cost €218 million over five years.
Whilst the HTA found that the introduction of the shingles vaccine was not cost effective based on the cost of the vaccine, it found that it could be cost effective for vaccination of those at 75 years and 80 years if the cost of the vaccine was reduced by 80%.
Given that the healthcare budget is finite and decisions regarding increased spending relating to a change in one area could impact the provision of other health technologies and treatments within the healthcare system, the cost-effectiveness must be considered in any decision-making process.
My Department considered the findings of this HTA in 2024 and determined that the introduction of the vaccine could be reconsidered when the cost effectiveness of the vaccine is confirmed as being more favourable
I can confirm that the introduction of the shingles vaccine to the immunisation schedule in Ireland is again being actively considered for a cohort of immunocompromised individuals, in line with NIAC advice and cognisant of the cost effectiveness of market pricing and available funding.
877. Deputy John Connolly asked the Minister for Health the plans the HSE have to increase the capacity of spaces for car parking at Merlin Park Hospital in Galway. [68877/26]
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.
879. Deputy Cian O'Callaghan asked the Minister for Health to examine the lack of transitional and long term community rehabilitation pathways for young people experiencing functional neurological disorder or other mobility disorders in North Dublin. [68864/26]
Amharc ar fhreagraThis PQ is not for the Department of Health. We respectfully request that this Parliamentary Question be redirected to the Department of Children, Disability and Equality as the matters raised fall under their remit.
880. Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Health whether the HSE maintains a central record of allegations of sexual abuse or sexual harassment arising in HSE-run or HSE-funded facilities; if not, the reason; whether she will direct the establishment of such a record; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [68913/26]
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.
