Questions

2727. Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Health the national policy framework governing the operation of the Treatment Abroad Scheme; to confirm whether this framework explicitly addresses procedures which are not available within the State but which may be subject to differing clinical or ethical considerations; and to clarify how the Department satisfies itself that such activity is subject to appropriate go…

2728. Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Health whether any formal, written eligibility criteria exist governing the approval of funding under the treatment abroad scheme for procedures not available within the State, including gender-related surgical procedures; if such criteria exist, to provide the date of their introduction, the authority under which they were approved, and the body responsible for maintai…

2729. Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Health the definition of “clinical necessity” applied in the context of approvals under the treatment abroad scheme; to specify whether this definition is standardised at national level or determined on a case-by-case basis by referring clinicians; and to confirm whether any national guidance, protocol, or decision-support framework exists to ensure consistency in the a…

2730. Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Health to detail the decision-making and approval process for applications under the treatment abroad scheme; to specify the roles of referring consultants, multidisciplinary teams, the HSE, and any central approval authority in determining whether funding is granted; and to confirm whether final approval decisions are subject to independent clinical or administrative r…

2731. Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Health to outline the audit, review, and oversight mechanisms in place in respect of approvals granted under the treatment abroad scheme; to confirm whether any audits have been conducted specifically examining the appropriateness, consistency, and value for money of approvals for procedures not available within the State; and if so, to provide the dates and findings of…

2732. Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Health the mechanisms in place to ensure consistency of decision-making across the six HSE health regions in respect of applications to the treatment abroad scheme; to confirm whether any central monitoring, benchmarking, or variance analysis is carried out to identify differences in approval rates or referral patterns between regions; and if not, whether she accepts th…

2733. Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Health to confirm whether the HSE collects and maintains a centralised dataset in respect of approvals granted under the treatment abroad scheme; to specify the data fields recorded, including procedure type, cost, jurisdiction, and clinical indication; and if such data is not collected in a structured manner, to outline the steps being taken to address this gap in repo…

2734. Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Health the national policy framework governing the operation of the treatment abroad scheme; to confirm whether this framework explicitly addresses procedures which are not available within the State but which may be subject to differing clinical or ethical considerations; and to clarify how the Department satisfies itself that such activity is subject to appropriate go…

2791. Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Health to provide a breakdown of agency staffing expenditure by Regional Health Authority for 2025 and for the period to date in 2026; and to specify the variance in each region against the expenditure limits set under the HSE National Service Plan 2026. [24290/26]

2792. Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Health the enforcement measures in place where HSE regions exceed agency expenditure limits; the number of instances where such limits were exceeded since July 2025; and the corrective actions taken in each case. [24291/26]

2793. Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Health the estimated cost differential between agency staff and directly employed HSE staff across key grades, including nursing and allied health professions; and whether this differential is incorporated into workforce planning decisions. [24292/26]

2794. Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Health further to the commitment to convert 960 Whole Time Equivalent agency staff to direct HSE employment, to provide a breakdown of the 869 WTE converted to date by grade, region, and service area; and the timeframe for completion of the remaining conversions. [24293/26]

2816. Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Health the standards and criteria required of private companies before the HSE will award a contract to provide home support (home help) services; whether such requirements include Garda vetting of staff and the holding of relevant qualifications; and how the HSE ensures that these standards are maintained by any private company it procures. [24375/26]

2817. Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Health the number of private companies currently procured, at a national level, to provide home support (home help) services on behalf of the HSE; and the total cost of these services to the HSE. [24376/26]

2866. Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Health whether she accepts that the absence of a national minimum training standard or competency requirement for general practitioners in the assessment and management of suicidal ideation and self-harm presentations, including in children and adolescents, constitutes a gap in national patient safety and suicide prevention policy; and if she will outline the basis on w…

2867. Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Health whether her Department intends to introduce a national policy framework setting out minimum competency and training requirements for general practitioners in the assessment and management of suicidal ideation and self-harm presentations; if so, the timeline for its development and implementation; and whether such requirements will be mandatory across all primary …

2868. Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Health to detail the governance, oversight, and funding arrangements in place for the development of the proposed self-harm and suicide prevention training package for trainee general practitioners; to specify whether this programme will be subject to Departmental approval; and whether it is intended to form part of a nationally mandated standard. [24668/26]

2869. Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Health the mechanisms that are in place at Department level to ensure consistency in the assessment and management of suicidal ideation and self-harm presentations in primary care in the absence of a national minimum standard; and whether any risk assessment has been undertaken regarding variation in clinical practice. [24669/26]

2870. Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Health whether her Department collects or requires the collection of data relating to outcomes, referrals, or adverse incidents associated with the management of suicidal ideation and self-harm presentations in primary care; and if she will outline any audit or review processes in place to assess quality and consistency of care. [24670/26]

2874. Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Health the number of beds that have been unavailable for use at Heather House Community Nursing Unit (Daisy Unit) in each month from February 2025 to date; and the number of residents displaced as a result in each month, in tabular form. [24692/26]

2875. Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Health the measures that have been put in place to offset the loss of 25 beds at Heather House Community Nursing Unit since February 2025; and whether additional capacity has been sourced externally, including through private or voluntary providers, as a direct consequence. [24693/26]

2876. Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Health the interim staffing arrangements currently in place to ensure the safe operation of the dementia-specific unit at Heather House Community Nursing Unit pending the finalisation of an approved workforce model; and the current whole-time equivalent staffing levels assigned to that unit. [24694/26]

2877. Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Health the total projected cost, procurement process, and key timeline milestones associated with the fire safety works at Heather House Community Nursing Unit; and whether any delays have arisen since the works commenced. [24695/26]

2878. Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Health the number of residents displaced from Daisy Unit, Heather House Community Nursing Unit, following its temporary closure for fire safety works in late February 2025; the location to which each resident was transferred; and whether any resident was transferred outside Heather House as a consequence of the closure. [24696/26]

2879. Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Health the number of admissions to Heather House Community Nursing Unit that could not proceed, were delayed, or were diverted elsewhere in each month since March 2025 due to the temporary closure of the 25-bed Daisy Unit for fire safety works. [24697/26]