Ken O'Flynn

1055. Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Health to detail the process by which independent medical advisors engaged by the HSE in respect of Treatment Abroad Scheme applications are selected, governed, and assessed for independence; and whether their advice is binding or advisory. [32634/26]

1056. Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Health whether any internal audit, external audit, or examination by the Comptroller and Auditor General has been conducted on the decision-making and approval processes under the Treatment Abroad Scheme since 2020; and if so, to provide details and findings. [32635/26]

1057. Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Health whether the Department or the HSE maintains any formal risk register entry relating to governance, financial control, or clinical oversight risks associated with the Treatment Abroad Scheme. [32636/26]

1058. Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Health whether a standardised cost range or expected cost per patient is applied when approving applications under the Treatment Abroad Scheme; if not, how value for money is assessed at approval stage. [32650/26]

1059. Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Health whether the HSE conducts any ex post review of costs incurred under the Treatment Abroad Scheme to assess variance between estimated and actual expenditure per patient. [32651/26]

1060. Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Health whether any benchmarking is carried out comparing the cost of procedures funded under the Treatment Abroad Scheme across different jurisdictions. [32652/26]

1061. Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Health what internal financial controls are applied to ensure that costs claimed under the Treatment Abroad Scheme are reasonable, necessary, and proportionate. [32653/26]

1062. Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Health whether any internal or external audit has been carried out specifically on expenditure under the Treatment Abroad Scheme for gender affirmation procedures. [32654/26]

1063. Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Health whether any independent clinical validation, separate from the referring consultant and MDT, is carried out by the HSE prior to approval of applications under the Treatment Abroad Scheme for surgical procedures not provided in the State. [32655/26]

1064. Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Health whether the HSE applies any procedure-specific clinical criteria, risk thresholds, or suitability assessments for gender-related surgical procedures funded under the Treatment Abroad Scheme, beyond the general eligibility criteria outlined. [32656/26]

1065. Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Health whether any audit or review has been conducted on approvals granted under the Treatment Abroad Scheme for gender-related surgical procedures since 2020. [32657/26]

1066. Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Health whether post-operative outcomes, complications, or follow-up care requirements are tracked for patients funded under the Treatment Abroad Scheme; if not, the rationale for the absence of such data. [32658/26]

1067. Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Health whether the Department has conducted any value-for-money or clinical effectiveness assessment in respect of gender-related surgical procedures funded under the Treatment Abroad Scheme. [32659/26]

1068. Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Health whether a cost breakdown exists at project or contractor level separating fire safety works from general refurbishment works in the Heather House Community Nursing Unit project; if so, to provide that breakdown; and if not, the reason such cost categorisation is not maintained for capital projects involving statutory fire compliance requirements. [32660/26]

1069. Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Health whether there is a national policy or capital project guidance within the HSE requiring the separate identification and tracking of fire safety compliance costs in capital projects; and if not, whether she will introduce such a requirement. [32661/26]

1070. Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Health to outline the approval process for the capital funding allocated to the Heather House Community Nursing Unit project, including the stages of approval, the approving authority at each stage, and whether any revised cost approvals have been required since project commencement. [32662/26]

1071. Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Health whether the projected total cost of €10.69 million for the Heather House Community Nursing Unit project is fixed or subject to revision; and whether any cost overruns or revised projections have been identified to date. [32663/26]

1072. Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Health the number of HSE capital projects since 2020 involving fire safety remediation works; the total expenditure on such works; and whether fire safety costs are systematically tracked and reported across the HSE estate. [32664/26]

1073. Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Health the original planned commencement and completion dates for the Heather House Community Nursing Unit refurbishment project; the current projected completion date; and the reasons for any delays arising. [32665/26]

1074. Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Health whether interim or final fire safety certification has been issued in respect of the Heather House Community Nursing Unit project; if so, to provide the dates of such certification and the certifying authority involved. [32666/26]

1075. Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Health whether any defects, compliance issues, or remedial works relating to fire safety have been identified during the course of the Heather House Community Nursing Unit project; and if so, to provide details of same and any associated additional costs. [32667/26]

1076. Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Health whether independent oversight, audit, or inspection has been carried out in respect of the Heather House Community Nursing Unit project, particularly in relation to fire safety compliance; if so, to provide details and findings [32668/26]

1077. Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Health the actual average cost per WTE of agency staff compared with directly employed staff across key grades, including staff nurse, clinical nurse specialist, consultant, and allied health professionals, for each of the years 2023, 2024, 2025 and to date in 2026. [32676/26]

1078. Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Health the total expenditure on agency staff within the HSE for each of the years 2023, 2024, 2025 and to date in 2026, and the estimated additional cost incurred due to agency premiums when compared to equivalent directly employed staffing. [32677/26]

1079. Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Health whether a formal cost-benefit analysis has been conducted comparing long-term direct employment versus agency staffing within the public health service; if so, to provide details and findings. [32678/26]