Questions

1008. Deputy Barry Heneghan asked the Minister for Health the current number of emergency ambulances available to serve Dublin city and county; the average response times for life-threatening incidents in the Dublin area, in tabular form ; the measures being taken to address delays and increase ambulance capacity given recent cases where patients waited up to two hours for an ambulance; and if she will make a stateme…

1056. Deputy Barry Heneghan asked the Minister for Health if she will direct that any future regulatory measures proposed by CORU or its registration boards are subject to full proportionality assessment, public consultation, and Ministerial oversight prior to adoption, in accordance with the proportionality regulations; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [61779/25]

1057. Deputy Barry Heneghan asked the Minister for Health if she will ensure that the implementation of new professional standards for counsellors and psychotherapists under CORU is aligned with the national workforce planning objectives for mental health services to avoid unintended reductions in service availability; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [61780/25]

1058. Deputy Barry Heneghan asked the Minister for Health her plans to undertake an assessment of the potential workforce and service-access implications arising from the new standards and criteria for counsellors and psychotherapists, particularly regarding training requirements and practice scope; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [61781/25]

1059. Deputy Barry Heneghan asked the Minister for Health if she will confirm whether a proportionality assessment was undertaken by her Department or by CORU prior to the adoption of the new standards of proficiency and criteria for education and training programmes for counsellors and psychotherapists published on 11 July 2025; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [61782/25]

1093. Deputy Barry Heneghan asked the Minister for Health if she will provide an update on current staffing levels at a hospital (details supplied), including whole-time equivalent posts by staff category and department; if she will confirm whether a full review of workforce capacity and resourcing needs has been undertaken, given the ongoing reports of overstretched staff and increased service demand; and if she wil…

1094. Deputy Barry Heneghan asked the Minister for Health the number of healthcare workers diagnosed with long-Covid who have been deemed unfit to return to work; the current arrangements in place to support them once the temporary Covid-19 illness scheme ends in December 2025; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [61941/25]

1095. Deputy Barry Heneghan asked the Minister for Health if she will consider recognising long-Covid as an occupational illness for healthcare and social care workers, in line with practice across several EU member states; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [61942/25]

1096. Deputy Barry Heneghan asked the Minister for Health the engagement her Department has had with trade unions and healthcare staff representatives regarding the planned cessation of the temporary Covid-19 illness scheme in December 2025; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [61943/25]

1097. Deputy Barry Heneghan asked the Minister for Health the number of appeals or reviews sought by healthcare workers under the temporary Covid-19 illness scheme since its introduction; the proportion of these that were granted, in tabular form; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [61944/25]

1098. Deputy Barry Heneghan asked the Minister for Health if she has considered the serious concerns raised by healthcare workers affected by long-Covid regarding the planned ending of the current illness scheme; the steps she will take to ensure these frontline staff are not left without adequate financial or occupational support; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [61945/25]

489. Deputy Barry Heneghan asked the Minister for Health for an update on the Beaumont Hospital emergency department upgrade; the current design stage, planning status, estimated capital cost, and programmed quarter for completion; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [60917/25]

490. Deputy Barry Heneghan asked the Minister for Health the number of whole-time equivalent psychologists, occupational therapists and speech and language therapists employed in primary care in CHO Dublin north city and county, by grade for each year since 2020, in tabular form; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [60918/25]

1661. Deputy Barry Heneghan asked the Minister for Health the progress of the Working Group on the National Hearing Care Plan; if she has received the report from the Working Group that was due by end of Q2 as per the Terms of Reference; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [57978/25]

1696. Deputy Barry Heneghan asked the Minister for Health if she will consider fully subsidising maintenance and reliever therapy inhalers, recognised as the new gold standard in asthma treatment, on a phased basis to improve adherence, reduce hospitalisations, and support better outcomes for people living with asthma; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [58082/25]

1697. Deputy Barry Heneghan asked the Minister for Health if she will commission and publish a national review of asthma-related deaths in Ireland, similar to the UK's 2014 National Review of Asthma Deaths, to identify preventable factors and inform improvements in care and treatment; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [58083/25]

1698. Deputy Barry Heneghan asked the Minister for Health if she will ensure that each severe asthma clinic in the country has a dedicated advanced nurse practitioner (ANP) post, in recognition of the proven role of ANPs in improving care coordination and patient outcomes; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [58084/25]

1699. Deputy Barry Heneghan asked the Minister for Health if she will consider developing a national asthma strategy to reduce hospitalisation and mortality rates, improve access to modern treatments, and strengthen community-based asthma management; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [58085/25]

1700. Deputy Barry Heneghan asked the Minister for Health the number of asthma-related deaths and hospital admissions recorded in each of the past five years, in tabular form; the steps being taken to bring Ireland's rates in line with the EU average; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [58086/25]

1701. Deputy Barry Heneghan asked the Minister for Health if she will consider measures to ensure that any future review of minimum unit pricing includes consultation with addiction service providers and public health experts, with a view to determining the way in which the policy will better support frontline addiction and prevention services; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [58088/25]

1702. Deputy Barry Heneghan asked the Minister for Health if she will address the growing backlog in access to audiology services, with more than 26,000 people now waiting for treatment and reports of delays of up to three years for hearing assessments and hearing aids, including for children; the urgent actions being taken to expand capacity and reduce waiting times; and if she will make a statement on the matter. […

1703. Deputy Barry Heneghan asked the Minister for Health if she will examine the introduction of a cross-border care arrangement to allow patients waiting excessive length of times for audiology treatment or hearing aids to access timely services abroad, in recognition of the serious communication, developmental, and social impacts prolonged hearing loss can have on both children and adults; and if she will make a s…

1705. Deputy Barry Heneghan asked the Minister for Health if she will engage with an organisation (details supplied) regarding concerns over CORUs proposed changes to psychotherapy training standards, including the reduction of clinical hours, removal of personal therapy requirements, and elimination of mandatory supervision; if she will use her powers under the Health and Social Care Professionals Act 2005 to ensure…

1806. Deputy Barry Heneghan asked the Minister for Health if she will provide an update on the implementation of the National Men’s Health Action Plan 2024–2028; if she will consider allocating an initial €10 million to support its delivery in line with recommendations from a foundation (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [58658/25]

1807. Deputy Barry Heneghan asked the Minister for Health if she will consider commissioning a full cost analysis of the National Men’s Health Action Plan 2024–2028 to ensure that the plan is adequately resourced and implemented across all relevant sectors; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [58659/25]