Ken O'Flynn

2903. Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Health the comparative cost to the Exchequer of agency staff versus directly employed staff within the public health service, expressed on a per-WTE basis across key staff categories. [24740/26]

2904. Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Health the estimated savings achieved to date arising from the conversion of agency staff to direct employment contracts within the public health service. [24741/26]

2905. Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Health the vacancy rates across the public health service by staff category and region; and the extent to which these vacancies are contributing to reliance on agency staffing. [24742/26]

2906. Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Health the performance indicators developed to monitor agency staffing usage and expenditure; and the frequency with which these indicators are reviewed at Departmental level. [24743/26]

2907. Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Health whether she accepts that, where Exchequer funding is provided under the treatment abroad scheme for specific categories of procedures, her Department retains ultimate responsibility for ensuring that a complete and centrally held dataset exists in respect of patient numbers, procedure types, and associated expenditure; and if she will outline the steps she will take to establish such a dataset where none currently exists. [24744/26]

2908. Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Health whether she has formally approved, or is aware of the absence of a centrally maintained dataset capturing the number and cost of procedures funded under the treatment abroad scheme in specific clinical categories; and if she considers this consistent with her obligations for financial oversight and accountability. [24745/26]

2909. Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Health to set out whether a formal national policy or governance framework exists governing the authorisation, funding, and oversight of procedures funded under the treatment abroad scheme in specific clinical areas; and if she will provide details of any such framework or confirm if none exists. [24746/26]

2910. Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Health the expenditure control arrangements in place in her Department or the HSE governing high-cost procedures funded under the treatment abroad scheme, including any approval thresholds, case review requirements, or cost ceilings applied prior to authorisation; and if she will provide details of these controls. [24747/26]

2911. Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Health the date of the most recent internal or external audit conducted in respect of the treatment abroad scheme; the scope of that audit; whether it included examination of specific procedure categories; and if she will provide a summary of the findings and any recommendations made. [24748/26]

2912. Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Health whether her Department or the HSE maintains any structured system for the monitoring of clinical outcomes, complication rates, or patient-reported outcomes in respect of procedures funded under the treatment abroad scheme; and if she will outline the basis on which value for money and patient safety are assessed in the absence of such data. [24749/26]

2913. Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Health whether a central risk register is maintained at Departmental level in respect of the treatment abroad scheme, including financial, clinical, and governance risks associated with overseas procedures; and if she will outline the mechanisms in place for identifying and escalating such risks. [24750/26]

2914. Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Health whether she is satisfied that the operation of the treatment abroad scheme, in respect of high-cost overseas procedures, is fully compliant with the Public Spending Code requirements relating to appraisal, monitoring, and evaluation; and if she will provide the basis for that assessment. [24751/26]

3115. Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Health the number of WTE Consultant Vascular Surgeons based at Cork University Hospital as of 1 April 2026, in tabular form. [25974/26]

3116. Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Health the number of recruitment campaigns that South Infirmary Victoria University Hospital took to the UK seeking nurses, radiographers, physiotherapists and so on to work at this hospital in the years of 2025 and to-date in 2026; the number of persons that indicated willingness to work within this hospital, in tabular form. [25975/26]

3117. Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Health the number of Critical Care Ambulances on a 24-7 basis that are based in Cork as of 1 April 2026; and if she will provide the same figures as of 1 April 2022, in tabular form. [25976/26]

3118. Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Health the number of vacant registrar's posts by speciality currently at Mercy University Hospital; and the estimated timeframe for filling each of those vacancies, in tabular form. [25977/26]

3119. Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Health the number of persons on the waiting list to see a consultant oral and maxillo-facial surgeon at South Infirmary Victoria University Hospital. [25978/26]

3142. Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Health whether her Department holds up-to-date data on the number of people currently living with Alzheimer’s disease in the State; if so, to provide the most recent figures available; and if she will outline any trends in prevalence over recent years. [26097/26]

3248. Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Health the number of approved posts within Child and Adolescent Mental Health Services, by discipline and by health region, as provided for under the most recent National Service Plan; the number of filled posts in each category; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [26630/26]

3249. Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Health the vacancy rates within Child and Adolescent Mental Health Service, by discipline and by health region; the number of posts currently vacant for more than 3, 6 and 12 months; and the measures in place at national level to address these vacancies; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [26631/26]

3250. Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Health the number of Child and Adolescent Mental Health Services (CAMHS) teams currently operating nationwide; the number of those teams operating below the staffing levels recommended under national policy and clinical guidance; the criteria used by the HSE to determine minimum safe staffing levels for CAMHS teams; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [26632/26]

3251. Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Health whether her Department or the HSE has conducted, commissioned or received any audit, review, report or risk assessment relating to referral acceptance, refusal or rejection practices within Child and Adolescent Mental Health Services since 2020; if so, to provide details of same and any recommendations arising; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [26633/26]

3252. Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Health the number of complaints received by or on behalf of the HSE in relation to Child and Adolescent Mental Health Services in each of the past five years; the systems in place to record and categorise such complaints at national level; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [26634/26]

3253. Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Health whether Child and Adolescent Mental Health Services (CAMHS) is separately identifiable within the HSE's national complaints management system; if not, the reason for same; any plans to introduce service-specific categorisation for CAMHS complaints; and the timeline for implementation of such measures; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [26635/26]

3254. Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Health the total number of approved new posts for Child and Adolescent Mental Health Services under the National Service Plans for 2024 and 2025; the number of these posts filled to date; the number currently in recruitment; and the expected timelines for full recruitment to these posts; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [26636/26]