Pádraig Rice

1405. Deputy Pádraig Rice asked the Minister for Justice, Home Affairs and Migration if his attention has been brough to the delays associated with the visa applications of a group of Iranian scholars (details supplied); if his Department has been in contact with these individuals; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [20796/26]

1691. Deputy Pádraig Rice asked the Minister for Health the reason newly qualified paramedics have not been offered permanent contracts and instead have been informed that they must reapply for their current roles; if she was informed about the decision in advance; her views on this change to National Ambulance Service (NAS) policy; if she has engaged with the NAS regarding this change; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [18406/26]

1692. Deputy Pádraig Rice asked the Minister for Health if she intends to instruct the National Ambulance Service to reverse the decision not to offer newly qualified paramedics permanent contracts; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [18407/26]

1693. Deputy Pádraig Rice asked the Minister for Health further to the publication of the draft National Drugs Strategy 2026–2029, to outline the proposed governance, funding flows and accountability arrangements for the regional structures within the HSE health regions; if the local drug and alcohol task forces will retain independent governance and decision-making authority over locally delivered programmes; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [18408/26]

1694. Deputy Pádraig Rice asked the Minister for Health how funding will be allocated within the proposed regional structures under the draft National Drugs Strategy 2026–2029; if deprivation, social exclusion and patterns of entrenched drug-related harm will be formally weighted alongside population in determining resource allocation; if she will publish the criteria to be used by HSE health regions in making funding decisions; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [18409/26]

1695. Deputy Pádraig Rice asked the Minister for Health the specific measures that will be put in place to protect the independent, community-led role of local drug and alcohol task forces under the proposed regional governance arrangements in the draft National Drugs Strategy 2026–2029; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [18410/26]

1696. Deputy Pádraig Rice asked the Minister for Health if, under the proposed regional structures in the draft National Drugs Strategy 2026–2029, all public funding for community-based drug services, including local drug and alcohol task forces, will be pooled at HSE health region level; the safeguards that will be put in place to prevent dilution of funding to areas of high deprivation; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [18411/26]

1697. Deputy Pádraig Rice asked the Minister for Health the number of people directly employed to work in her Department, by grade. [18413/26]

1852. Deputy Pádraig Rice asked the Minister for Health the running cost of the Mount Carmel surgical hub in 2025; the allocation for this hub in 2026; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [19304/26]

1853. Deputy Pádraig Rice asked the Minister for Health the estimated annual running cost of each surgical hub once open; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [19305/26]

1854. Deputy Pádraig Rice asked the Minister for Health the total capital allocation for each surgical hub since the programme was initiated, by hub. [19306/26]

1855. Deputy Pádraig Rice asked the Minister for Health to respond to matters raised in correspondence (details supplied); if any of the specific actions outlined can, or will, be advanced; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [19307/26]

1856. Deputy Pádraig Rice asked the Minister for Health the steps being taken to address the prohibitively high cost of hearing aids; if this will be dealt with in the new national hearing care plan; the timeline for publication of this plan; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [19308/26]

1857. Deputy Pádraig Rice asked the Minister for Health the status of the Programme for Government commitment to expand the RSV immunisation programme; the steps she is taking to deliver this commitment; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [19309/26]

1858. Deputy Pádraig Rice asked the Minister for Health the status of the RSV immunisation programme for infants; if a proposal is being considered (details supplied); her views on same; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [19310/26]

1933. Deputy Pádraig Rice asked the Minister for Health if specific information, training or education is provided to general practitioners with respect to neurodiversity (details supplied); his plans to provide such information, training or education; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [19616/26]

2076. Deputy Pádraig Rice asked the Minister for Health further to Parliamentary Question No. 96 of 5 March 2026, the sites in which the 7 WTE staff provided for under 2025 PrEP funding are working; if funding has been provided for additional staff in PrEP services in 2026; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [20180/26]

2089. Deputy Pádraig Rice asked the Minister for Health if she will use the opportunity of the forthcoming United Nations Commission on Population and Development (CPD) fifty-ninth session on 13 to 17 April 2026 to showcase Ireland's positive experience of reforming law and policy and expanding access to reproductive health and rights, including at events and discussions sponsored by Member States and international organisations; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [20239/26]

2193. Deputy Pádraig Rice asked the Minister for Health further to Parliamentary Question No. 120 of 5 March 2026, to provide further information regarding the Women's Health Service (details supplied); to provide details of the supports provided to sex workers; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [20583/26]

2198. Deputy Pádraig Rice asked the Minister for Health if the EOLAS programme (details supplied) will be funded and delivered on a national basis; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [20596/26]

76. Deputy Pádraig Rice asked the Minister for Health the measures being taken to reduce preventable baby deaths, following a recent Oireachtas Committee on Health meeting in which this issue was highlighted (details supplied); if this will be a priority in the next National Maternity Strategy; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [17724/26]

96. Deputy Pádraig Rice asked the Minister for Health the status of the Sexual Health Strategy recommendation to develop a comprehensive, evidence-based and fit-for-purpose model of care for sexual health; the progress made to date; the timeline she is working towards; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [17722/26]

106. Deputy Pádraig Rice asked the Minister for Health the definitive timeline for the completion of the Strategic Review of General Practice; the reason for the delay in completing the review, given that the original competition date was the end of 2023; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [17721/26]

120. Deputy Pádraig Rice asked the Minister for Health to provide an update on the delivery of the programme for Government commitment to continue to extend access to free contraception; the work carried out to date; the timeline she is working towards in expanding the scheme; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [17723/26]

354. Deputy Pádraig Rice asked the Minister for Education and Youth further to Parliamentary Question No. 66 of 17 February 2026, for an updated timeline for when this school will receive further guidance on a report (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [18075/26]