Ken O'Flynn

551. Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Children, Disability and Equality the number of occasions since 1 January 2020 on which substantiated governance or safeguarding failures in publicly funded early years services have been escalated to her Department at senior official level; the categories of concern involved; and whether any resulted in policy review, regulatory amendment, contractual revision, or funding sanction at Departmental level. [14831/26]

552. Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Children, Disability and Equality to set out the formal governance interface between her Department and Tusla in respect of oversight of early years services, including whether a structured compliance reporting template exists, whether trend analysis is conducted centrally, and whether aggregated safeguarding data informs policy development or funding decisions. [14832/26]

560. Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Health whether the Primary Care Reimbursement Service holds reimbursement claims data for salbutamol nebules dispensed under the general medical services scheme from 1 January 2025 to date; and if so, to provide the total number of claims and the monthly breakdown [13447/26]

561. Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Health whether the Primary Care Reimbursement Service holds reimbursement claims data for alternative nebulised bronchodilator products dispensed under the general medical services scheme from 1 January 2025 to date; and if so, to provide the total number of claims and the monthly breakdown, including identification of the relevant product categories [13448/26]

562. Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Health whether her Department or the HSE conducted any national analysis of prescribing substitution patterns arising from reported shortages of salbutamol nebules since 1 January 2025; and if so, to provide details of the methodology used and any conclusions reached [13449/26]

563. Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Health the national monitoring framework which is in place within her Department or the HSE to assess the patient impact of essential medicine shortages under the general medical services scheme; and whether this framework includes tracking of clinical substitution, cost impact, or regional variation [13450/26]

564. Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Health whether any additional expenditure has arisen under the general medical services scheme as a result of prescribing alternative products due to salbutamol nebule shortages since 1 January 2025; and if so, to provide the estimated amount and the basis of calculation [13451/26]

582. Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Health to provide, the full list of all non-statutory bodies in receipt of direct funding from her Department in each of the past five years; the annual amount allocated to each body; the policy unit responsible for oversight of each body; whether a formal governance framework is applied by the Department to each body; and the statutory or administrative basis under which such oversight is exercised, in tabular form. [13606/26]

583. Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Health whether her Department requires non-statutory bodies in receipt of direct funding to maintain a Department-approved safeguarding policy, a designated safeguarding officer, mandatory reporting procedures to the Department in the event of safeguarding concerns, compliance with Children First Act 2015 obligations, where applicable, and periodic certification of safeguarding compliance to the Department. [13607/26]

584. Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Health whether her Department maintains a central risk register in respect of non-statutory bodies receiving direct Departmental funding, conducts formal risk assessments prior to the allocation of funding, applies a risk-rating classification to such bodies, requires annual risk statements from funded bodies; and has defined escalation procedures where governance or safeguarding risks are identified. [13608/26]

585. Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Health whether funding agreements with non-statutory bodies include defined service-quality standards, measurable performance indicators, reporting obligations beyond financial statements, periodic compliance reviews conducted by Department officials and documented evaluation of service delivery outcomes. [13609/26]

586. Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Health to outline the frequency with which policy units formally review governance documentation submitted by funded non-statutory bodies, whether site visits or structured compliance engagements are undertaken by Department officials; whether written governance assessment reports are generated by the Department; and the number of instances in the past five years in which funding conditions were revised, suspended, or withdrawn due to governance concerns. [13610/26]

587. Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Health to specify the oversight mechanisms operated directly by her Department in respect of non-statutory bodies receiving direct funding, separate from annual financial audit, expenditure controls and post-hoc review by the Comptroller and Auditor General; and to identify the policy framework governing such mechanisms. [13611/26]

588. Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Health the number of claims submitted under the General Medical Services Scheme, Drugs Payment Scheme and Long-Term Illness Scheme for salbutamol nebules or equivalent short-acting bronchodilator nebule products in (a) 2024 and (b) 2025; the number and value of such claims paid; the number and value rejected or unpaid; and whether she will provide the corresponding figures for claims processed under Discretionary Hardship Arrangements during registered shortage periods. [13629/26]

589. Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Health whether the Department or the Health Service Executive maintains centralised data on the number of patients whose access to reimbursable salbutamol nebules or equivalent substitute products was impacted during registered shortage periods in 2024 and 2025; if so, the number recorded; and if not, whether she intends to introduce a monitoring mechanism to quantify patient impact during essential medicines shortages. [13630/26]

590. Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Health whether any formal risk assessment, clinical safety review, or value-for-money analysis was conducted in relation to the ongoing shortages of salbutamol nebules during 2024 and 2025; whether contingency procurement arrangements were activated; and what governance structures are in place to ensure uninterrupted reimbursement access for essential respiratory medicines for medical card holders. [13631/26]

591. Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Health the total expenditure incurred in 2024 and 2025 on salbutamol nebules and equivalent substitute products under the Community Drug Schemes; the additional expenditure, if any, arising from the use of Exempt Medicinal Products during shortage periods; and the budgetary provisions in place to manage future supply disruptions. [13632/26]

593. Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Health whether the 2021 consultant post in child and adolescent psychiatry approved under the National Gender Service Model of Care (2018), referenced in PQ 70457/25, included in its job description or person specification any requirement to adhere to WPATH Standards of Care; and if so, the exact wording of that requirement and the date on which it was first approved. [13641/26]

594. Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Health the governance and approval pathway by which any requirement to adhere to WPATH Standards of Care was authorised for inclusion in the 2021 consultant child and adolescent psychiatry post referenced in PQ 70457/25, including the Departmental or HSE national clinical governance structure under which such approval was granted. [13642/26]

595. Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Health the policy rationale, evidential basis, and clinical guidance relied upon when approving the 2021 consultant child and adolescent psychiatry post referenced in PQ 70457/25; and whether any written clinical safety assessment, risk assessment, or governance memorandum was prepared at the time of approval. [13643/26]

596. Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Health whether the Department or the HSE retains documentary records, minutes, memoranda, or correspondence relating to the approval of the 2021 consultant child and adolescent psychiatry post referenced in PQ 70457/25; and whether the Minister will confirm the existence of such records and their retention under national governance procedures. [13644/26]

597. Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Health the number of recruitment campaigns undertaken to fill the 2021 consultant child and adolescent psychiatry post referenced in PQ 70457/25; the dates of each campaign; and the policy-level reasons recorded for the campaigns being unsuccessful. [13645/26]

598. Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Health when the review of the National Gender Service Model of Care (2018), referenced in PQ 70457/25, formally commenced; the governance structure overseeing the review; and the anticipated completion date. [13646/26]

599. Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Health the manner in which the findings of the Cass Review are being incorporated into the review of the National Gender Service Model of Care (2018); and whether the Minister will publish the terms of reference for that review. [13647/26]

600. Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Health what national clinical governance arrangements currently apply to specialist gender healthcare services for children and adolescents while the National Gender Service Model of Care (2018) is under review; and whether any interim clinical guidance has been issued since publication of the Cass Review. [13648/26]