Questions

277. Deputy Paul Lawless asked the Minister for Health the percentage increase in A&E attendances and waiting times since 2015; whether she accepts that pressures have continued to worsen in recent years; the urgent actions being taken to reduce waiting times for non-life-threatening but distressing presentations; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [27734/26]

278. Deputy Louis O'Hara asked the Minister for Health if there is a child psychologist based in Athenry primary care centre; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [27735/26]

279. Deputy Sorca Clarke asked the Minister for Health the steps being taken to address delays and breakdowns in the referral process between primary care and child and adolescent mental health services and youth mental health services, particularly in cases where electronic referrals are not being received or processed; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [27740/26]

280. Deputy Sorca Clarke asked the Minister for Health the current policy regarding age thresholds for referral and acceptance into child and adolescent mental health services (CAMHS) and youth mental health services (YAMHS) in particular, whether it is the case that while existing patients may be retained by CAMHS up to the age of 18, new referrals for young people aged 16 and 17 are now routinely directed to YAMHS;…

281. Deputy Pearse Doherty asked the Minister for Health when home support approved in January 2026 will be put in place for a person (details supplied) in County Donegal; the reason for the delay; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [27742/26]

282. Deputy Natasha Newsome Drennan asked the Minister for Health to ensure that the HSE urgently prioritises a conclusion to the skyclarys reimbursement negotiations, given that it is the only available treatment for this progressive disease, which currently can be classed as having an ‘unmet need’ as outlined in the National Rare Disease Strategy 2025-2030; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [27745/26]

283. Deputy Robert O'Donoghue asked the Minister for Health her views on the issue of medical decisions being made by clinicians whose identities are not disclosed to the patient, particularly in the case of terminally ill patients with limited time to live; her views on whether the lack of information provided in this case risks undermining public confidence in the transparency of the process; and if she will make a…

284. Deputy Robert O'Donoghue asked the Minister for Health her views on whether informed consent is a fundamental patient right and one of the key protections available within the healthcare system which has also been recognised in decisions of the European Court of Human Rights; her further views on whether informed consent is a fundamental right and, in non-emergency situations, should be clearly distinguished fro…

285. Deputy Robert O'Donoghue asked the Minister for Health if there is evidence of the prioritisation of flu patients ahead of terminally ill cancer patients during periods of high demand; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [27758/26]

286. Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Health whether all funding agreements with non-statutory bodies under her Department require mandatory compliance with the Code of Practice for the Governance of State Bodies; if not, the basis on which voluntary adherence is deemed sufficient; and her plans to introduce binding governance requirements as a condition of funding. [27823/26]

287. Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Health whether her Department requires the production of formal written governance assessment reports for non-statutory bodies in receipt of Exchequer funding; if not, the reason such reports are not required; and if she will outline any plans to introduce a standardised governance assessment framework. [27824/26]

288. Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Health whether funding agreements with non-statutory bodies include defined service-quality standards, measurable performance indicators, and outcome-based metrics; if so, the nature of these metrics; and if not, the rationale for the absence of quantifiable performance benchmarks linked to public funding. [27825/26]

289. Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Health whether her Department requires independent external audit or evaluation of service delivery outcomes for non-statutory bodies it funds; if not, how the Department assures itself that reported outcomes are accurate and reliable; and if she will outline any plans to introduce independent validation mechanisms. [27826/26]

290. Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Health the date on which the current oversight agreement with the Institute of Public Health was formally signed; and the governance and oversight arrangements in place prior to that agreement, including any differences in reporting, compliance, or monitoring structures. [27827/26]

291. Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Health whether her Department operates a formal escalation and enforcement framework where governance or performance concerns arise in respect of funded non-statutory bodies; if so, the steps involved; and if not, how accountability is ensured where deficiencies are identified. [27828/26]

292. Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Health the formal process used by Department officials to review quarterly reports submitted by non-statutory bodies; whether this process includes documented evaluation criteria, scoring, or decision frameworks; and if she will provide details of how compliance is assessed beyond financial reporting. [27829/26]

293. Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Health whether continued funding of non-statutory bodies is explicitly linked to demonstrated performance against agreed objectives; and if so, the mechanisms used to assess performance and determine funding continuation or adjustment. [27830/26]

294. Deputy Michael Cahill asked the Minister for Health for a detailed breakdown of the ophthalmology waiting lists for Kerry patients; the number on the waiting list; the length of time they have been waiting; the number of new referrals; the actions being taken to address these waiting lists; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [27831/26]

295. Deputy Michael Cahill asked the Minister for Health for a detailed breakdown of the colonoscopy waiting lists in University Hospital Kerry; the number on the waiting list; the length of time they have been waiting; the number of new referrals; the actions being taken to address these waiting lists; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [27832/26]

296. Deputy Michael Cahill asked the Minister for Health for a detailed breakdown of the percentage of people who were readmitted to University Hospital Kerry within 30 days following medical treatment during the past five years; the way in which this compared to all other hospitals throughout the country; if a review or an analysis of these figures has been undertaken; and if she will make a statement on the matter.…

297. Deputy Michael Cahill asked the Minister for Health her plans to address overcrowding in the accident and emergency department at University Hospital Kerry and the trolley crisis; if the provision of a significant increase in the number of beds available will be expedited in order to address this longstanding issue; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [27834/26]

298. Deputy Michael Cahill asked the Minister for Health if she will address the overcrowding in the accident and emergency department, and the trolley crisis, at University Hospital Kerry as a matter of priority by expediting the development of the new 108-bed block on the hospital campus; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [27841/26]

299. Deputy Michael Cahill asked the Minister for Health if she will provide a detailed breakdown in respect of the new oncology unit proposed for University Hospital Kerry; the facilities that will be provided onsite; the number of patients it will be able to cater for; the estimated commencement date; the length of time it will take to complete; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [27842/26]

300. Deputy Michael Cahill asked the Minister for Health the steps being taken to address an urgent case (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [27846/26]

301. Deputy Holly Cairns asked the Minister for Health if CH04 is currently accepting adult ADHD assessments; the number of people on the waiting list; the average wait time; if CH04 currently is fully staffed; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [27859/26]