Questions

2241. Deputy Paul Lawless asked the Minister for Health if she will initiate an urgent review of HSE orthodontic services nationwide, including examination of referral pathways, eligibility thresholds, clinic capacity, staffing levels, waiting times, and overall patient experience; if she will address concerns regarding overcrowded clinics, long waiting times despite scheduled appointments, and the exclusion of child…

2248. Deputy Paul Lawless asked the Minister for Health the measures currently in place to ensure adequate access to essential health services for people with physical impairments, including physiotherapy, occupational therapy, mental health supports and post acute rehabilitation; the current waiting times for these services nationwide; and her plans to address the documented gaps in service provision, particularly f…

746. Deputy Paul Lawless asked the Minister for Health the measures being taken by the Food Safety Authority of Ireland to prevent the misuse of Irish food labelling, including the labelling of imported products as Irish-origin; the number of investigations or enforcement actions taken in respect of misleading food labelling in 2025 and to date in 2026; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [41402/26]

747. Deputy Paul Lawless asked the Minister for Health whether the Food Safety Authority of Ireland has identified specific categories of food products where mislabelling or misleading origin claims are most prevalent; the enforcement mechanisms available to the FSAI in such cases; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [41403/26]

209. Deputy Paul Lawless asked the Minister for Health if she will list the dates upon which she has met with or corresponded with the CEO of the HSE since she took office. [40376/26]

210. Deputy Paul Lawless asked the Minister for Health if she will list the dates upon which she has met with or corresponded with the CEO of HIQA since she took office. [40377/26]

211. Deputy Paul Lawless asked the Minister for Health if she will list the dates upon which she has met with, or corresponded with the CEO of a company (details supplied) since she took office. [40378/26]

381. Deputy Paul Lawless asked the Minister for Health if she is aware that an organisation (details supplied) is facing imminent closure due to a lack of core funding; the immediate actions being taken by her Department or the HSE to prevent the cessation of these services, given that liquidation proceedings are due to commence on 5 June 2026; and if she will approve an emergency, time-limited funding allocation of …

264. Deputy Paul Lawless asked the Minister for Health the emergency or exceptional funding mechanisms available within the HSE or her Department to support community-based mental health organisations at immediate risk of closure; whether such mechanisms can be applied in the case of an organisation (details supplied); and the details of any discretionary or contingency funding streams that could be deployed urgently…

265. Deputy Paul Lawless asked the Minister for Health if she has requested the HSE to engage directly with an organisation (details supplied) to explore options to prevent its closure, including the potential for a short-term service level agreement or direct purchase of counselling services; and whether any such engagement is currently underway. [38097/26]

266. Deputy Paul Lawless asked the Minister for Health if an assessment has been carried out on the impact that the closure of an organisation (details supplied) would have on access to counselling and mental health supports in the west of Ireland, particularly in Galway and Mayo where service provision is already limited; and the contingency plans in place to ensure continuity of care for affected clients. [38098/26…

267. Deputy Paul Lawless asked the Minister for Health her views on the role of community-based counselling services in delivering early intervention and preventative mental health supports; if she acknowledges that the loss of services such as an organisation (details supplied) may lead to increased demand on primary care, CAMHS and acute services; and if her Department will take urgent steps to prevent such service…

268. Deputy Paul Lawless asked the Minister for Health if she is aware that Galway City Council has indicated a commitment of €10,000 in match funding to support an organisation (details supplied), subject to State backing; if she will support the unlocking of this funding through Departmental or HSE intervention; and if this opportunity is being actively progressed as part of efforts to prevent the organisation's cl…

305. Deputy Paul Lawless asked the Minister for Health her views on a patient with a history of osteoporosis who is faced with a wait of over a year for a publicly funded DEXA scan while being offered immediate access on payment of €100 (details supplied); whether this practice undermines the principle of care being provided on the basis of medical need rather than ability to pay; and the action she will take to ensu…

1167. Deputy Paul Lawless asked the Minister for Health if she is aware of a case at Mayo University Hospital (details supplied) where a patient tested positive for ESBL on 6 April 2026, but was not informed of this result for approximately 20 days; if her Department or the HSE has established the reason the patient and the patient’s GP were not notified as indicated on the laboratory report; and if she will make a s…

1168. Deputy Paul Lawless asked the Minister for Health whether appropriate infection-prevention and control measures, including patient notification and isolation protocols, were followed at Mayo University Hospital in respect of a patient who tested positive for ESBL on 6 April 2026 (details supplied); and if not, the corrective actions that are being taken to ensure patient and public safety. [37373/26]

1169. Deputy Paul Lawless asked the Minister for Health the assessment that has been carried out by the HSE regarding any potential risk posed to other patients arising from the failure to notify and appropriately manage a confirmed case of ESBL at Mayo University Hospital (details supplied); and whether a review of potential exposure to other patients has been undertaken. [37374/26]

1170. Deputy Paul Lawless asked the Minister for Health whether she is satisfied that the processes in place ensured the timely and accurate transfer of infection-related clinical information when a patient was transferred from Mayo University Hospital to Sacred Heart Hospital for rehabilitation (details supplied); if shortcomings were identified; and the actions being taken to address them. [37375/26]

1171. Deputy Paul Lawless asked the Minister for Health if guidelines exist regarding patient dignity and access to bathroom facilities for patients with infections such as ESBL; and if she will comment on the differing approaches taken to a patient’s infection-control management and use of facilities at Mayo University Hospital and at Sacred Heart Hospital (details supplied). [37376/26]

1172. Deputy Paul Lawless asked the Minister for Health whether the HSE has initiated or intends to initiate a formal investigation into the handling of a confirmed ESBL case at Mayo University Hospital (details supplied), including failures in communication with the patient and GP, infection-control measures and discharge procedures; and if she will ensure that the patient receives a full written explanation and apo…

1197. Deputy Paul Lawless asked the Minister for Health the reason a family (details supplied) has been left to cover the cost and time of transporting a service user to and from Rehab Care, despite having free travel; whether the HSE will compensate the family for the significant diesel, vehicle and time costs incurred; and if not, to explain the alternative transport arrangements the HSE expects the family to use; …

1305. Deputy Paul Lawless asked the Minister for Health the steps she has taken to address the redundancies at a service (details supplied) in counties Mayo and Galway; the reasons for the withdrawal or loss of Government funding to this organisation; if any transition funding or emergency support was considered to prevent the cessation of services; and the engagement that took place between the Department, the HSE a…

1306. Deputy Paul Lawless asked the Minister for Health the number of clients in Mayo and Galway who were accessing services (details supplied) that will now be transferred to the HSE; the arrangements that have been made for continuity of care for these service users; whether all affected clients have been successfully referred to alternative services; and the estimated waiting times those individuals will now face …

1307. Deputy Paul Lawless asked the Minister for Health the current waiting times for primary care psychology and counselling services in Mayo and Galway; the number of individuals currently on waiting lists in these regions; the additional resources that will be provided to the HSE to absorb the increase in demand following redundancies (details supplied); and whether additional staff are being recruited to address …

1308. Deputy Paul Lawless asked the Minister for Health whether she acknowledges that HSE services are typically limited to short-term interventions, generally between six and 12 sessions; the provisions that exist for individuals requiring long-term or ongoing mental health support; and whether the Department plans to expand access to long-term therapy within public services. [37916/26]