Questions

1634. Deputy Michael Murphy asked the Minister for Health if she will provide an update on progress regarding the proposed new 60-bed community nursing unit Cashel, County Tipperary; if the site option appraisal and architect's report referred to in correspondence to me on 2 September 2025 have now been completed; if a preferred site has been identified; and if she will outline the next steps and indicative timeframe…

2011. Deputy Michael Murphy asked the Minister for Health the current number of filled versus approved healthcare assistant posts within south Tipperary; the number of vacancies outstanding; and the expected timeline for filling these posts. [59649/25]

2012. Deputy Michael Murphy asked the Minister for Health if she will detail the impact of the current recruitment embargo on home support staffing levels in south Tipperary; and if any derogations have been sought or approved for this area. [59650/25]

2013. Deputy Michael Murphy asked the Minister for Health the breakdown of the 71 clients currently awaiting home support services in Clonmel, by category of need, average waiting time to date, and longest current waiting time; and if she will provide details of waiting lists for all of South Tipperary. [59651/25]

391. Deputy Michael Murphy asked the Minister for Health if she is aware of the difficulties in making contact with a service (details supplied), with repeated phone calls and emails from members of the public and public representatives going unanswered; the measures being taken to ensure this vital service is accessible and responsive to patients and their families in the southeast; and if she will make a statement …

392. Deputy Michael Murphy asked the Minister for Health if there have been recent staffing or organisational changes within a service (details supplied) which will explain the recent lack of communication and responsiveness; if she will provide details of the current point of contact for public representatives and constituents seeking assistance with patient transport in the southeast region; and if she will make a …

393. Deputy Michael Murphy asked the Minister for Health the governance and oversight arrangements in place for the HSE Patient Transport Service in the southeast; if she will ensure that there is a dedicated and accountable liaison point for public representatives to raise urgent cases where elderly or vulnerable patients require transport to hospital appointments; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [56…

394. Deputy Michael Murphy asked the Minister for Health the impact that recent communication failures within a service (details supplied) have had on patients awaiting hospital transport in the southeast; and the immediate steps being taken to ensure that no patient misses a hospital appointment due to the inability to reach the service; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [56435/25]

395. Deputy Michael Murphy asked the Minister for Health if she will commit to reviewing the operation of the HSE patient transport service in the southeast with a view to improving response times, accessibility, and communication with the public; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [56436/25]

832. Deputy Michael Murphy asked the Minister for Health if she will provide an update on efforts to secure a suitable long-term residential placement for a person (details supplied); the steps being taken by the HSE to identify or develop appropriate residential care options for individuals with complex psychological needs and acquired brain injury who do not meet existing service criteria; and if she will make a st…

855. Deputy Michael Murphy asked the Minister for Health if she is aware of the critical shortage of health care assistants in the Clonmel and south Tipperary area; the immediate measures being taken to address the waiting lists for home support services for older persons and those requiring post-hospital care.; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [54927/25]

856. Deputy Michael Murphy asked the Minister for Health the current number of individuals in the Clonmel and south Tipperary area who are awaiting allocation of home support hours; the average waiting time for new applicants; and the steps being taken to reduce these waiting lists. [54928/25]

857. Deputy Michael Murphy asked the Minister for Health if additional resources or recruitment initiatives are planned to increase the availability of home support staff in south Tipperary, given the current shortage of health care assistants and rising demand for services. [54929/25]

858. Deputy Michael Murphy asked the Minister for Health to outline the funding allocation for home support services in south Tipperary in each of the past three years; and whether additional funding will be made available in budget 2026 to meet increasing demand. [54930/25]

859. Deputy Michael Murphy asked the Minister for Health if the HSE has undertaken any targeted recruitment campaigns for healthcare assistants in the south-east community healthcare area; and, if so, to provide details of the outcomes and timelines for deployment of additional staff. [54931/25]

860. Deputy Michael Murphy asked the Minister for Health if her Department will consider establishing a specific retention and recruitment initiative to support rural and regional home support services, including in Clonmel, where staff shortages are acute. [54932/25]

308. Deputy Michael Murphy asked the Minister for Health if she will provide an update on the recruitment process to fill the post vacated by a doctor (details supplied); the current interim arrangements in place to ensure continuity of paediatric ophthalmology services for families in south Tipperary; whether patient files have been transferred to Waterford as suggested by the HSE; and the steps being taken to ensur…

582. Deputy Michael Murphy asked the Minister for Health if she will examine the case of a child (details supplied), with spina bifida and autism, whose occupational therapist recommended and fitted her for a specialised car seat to ensure her safety during travel, but whose application for HSE funding for this equipment has been refused; if she will outline the policy and criteria used by the HSE in respect of fundi…

93. Deputy Michael Murphy asked the Minister for Health if she is aware of the decision by the HSE and University Hospital Waterford to discontinue the provision of coronial post-mortems at University Hospital Waterford with effect from 1 January 2026; the alternative arrangements, if any, planned for the south-east region (details supplied); if she will make urgent representations, in consultation with the Minister …

885. Deputy Michael Murphy asked the Minister for Health if she is aware of the case of a child with autism and complex needs (details supplied) in need of a residential placement; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [51577/25]

161. Deputy Michael Murphy asked the Minister for Health if she will review the current policy on the provision and financial support for hearing aids, in view of the case of a person who has had severe hearing loss since birth, who has relied on hearing aids since childhood, and who now, as an adult in full-time employment, faces costs of €2,000–€5,000 per device every four years; if she will consider extending free…

582. Deputy Michael Murphy asked the Minister for Health the current policy regarding access to CAR-T cell therapy for patients over the age of 26 with refractory acute lymphoblastic leukaemia; the rationale for the existing eligibility criteria; whether funding or pathways are available for patients to access this treatment abroad where clinically appropriate; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [49594/2…

1176. Deputy Michael Murphy asked the Minister for Health further to Parliamentary Question No. 552 of 17 July 2025, and her Department’s reply of 23 July 2025 indicating that a successful candidate for the ophthalmologist post in Clonmel would commence duty in August 2025; the reason that no ophthalmologist is currently in place; the steps being taken to immediately fill this critical vacancy; the interim measures b…

2408. Deputy Michael Murphy asked the Minister for Health if a proportionality assessment was carried out prior to the adoption by CORU of the new Standards of Proficiency and Criteria for Education and Training Programmes for Counsellors and Psychotherapists, as required under the Proportionality Regulations (S.I. No. 413 of 2022); the process followed, including consultation with stakeholders; and if she will make …

552. Deputy Michael Murphy asked the Minister for Health further to Parliamentary Question No. 2426 of 29 April 2025, the status of filling the post for an ophthalmologist in Clonmel, the absence of which is causing lengthy waiting times for routine and urgent referrals; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [40442/25]