Parliamentary questions

2133. Deputy Carol Nolan asked the Minister for Health the total amount spent on agency healthcare staffing within the international protection accommodation service in each of the past five years; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [42894/26]

2134. Deputy Carol Nolan asked the Minister for Health if her Department intends to publish a national overview of healthcare provision, staffing levels, and associated costs within international protection accommodation service accommodation centres; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [42895/26]

2135. Deputy Sorca Clarke asked the Minister for Health when the current recruitment freeze affecting physician associates will be lifted; and if she will outline plans to establish physician associate posts within the HSE, given ongoing healthcare staffing shortages and waiting list pressures. [42919/26]

2136. Deputy Sorca Clarke asked the Minister for Health if she will provide details of the proposed salary scale and career progression structure for physician associates; and if she acknowledges concerns that reduced salary levels may negatively impact recruitment and retention. [42920/26]

2137. Deputy Sorca Clarke asked the Minister for Health if she will review the proposed scope of practice for physician Associates to ensure that it reflects the training and clinical responsibilities of trained physician associates and that it aligns with international practice. [42921/26]

2138. Deputy Michael Cahill asked the Minister for Health her plans to introduce a publicly funded vaccine programme for Shingles, initially targeted in support at immunocompromised persons;; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [42932/26]

2139. Deputy Michael Cahill asked the Minister for Health when a National Hearing Care Plan will be published; the expected aims and objectives of the plan; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [42933/26]

2140. Deputy Erin McGreehan asked the Minister for Health for an update on allowing pharmacies to consult with patients and prescribe for the free contraception scheme; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [42934/26]

2141. Deputy Erin McGreehan asked the Minister for Health for a report on the delivery of the Endometriosis Action Plan; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [42935/26]

2142. Deputy Aisling Dempsey asked the Minister for Health if it is her intention to bring forward for a new women's health action plan; if there will be an enhanced focus on any particular areas of women's health in the plan; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [42952/26]

2143. Deputy Seán Crowe asked the Minister for Health if the HSE will continue their harm reduction programme of on-site drug analysis and surrender bins at music festivals in 2026. [42959/26]

2144. Deputy Mark Ward asked the Minister for Health the funding opportunities for organisations (details supplied) that provide meditation and mindfulness practices which promote inner peace, reduce stress, and improve mental health; to outline the way they can apply for these supports; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [42961/26]

2145. Deputy Erin McGreehan asked the Minister for Health the number of faecal immunochemical testing tests conducted in each of the 25 sites currently utilising the service, broken down by CHO area and hospital group. [42962/26]

2146. Deputy Erin McGreehan asked the Minister for Health the specific positions Ireland will advocate during negotiations on the EU pharma package regarding incentives for the development and commercialisation of orphan medicines and advanced therapy medicinal products; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [42963/26]

2147. Deputy Erin McGreehan asked the Minister for Health the engagement her Department has had with Irish-based advanced therapy and rare disease stakeholders regarding the proposed changes to regulatory data protection and market exclusivity provisions under the EU pharma package; the concerns identified through this engagement; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [42964/26]

2148. Deputy Erin McGreehan asked the Minister for Health the role Ireland intends to play during its EU presidency in shaping the implementation of the Critical Medicines Act with regard to securing the supply chains for orphan medicines, advanced therapies and biologic medicines; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [42966/26]

2149. Deputy Erin McGreehan asked the Minister for Health the discussions taking place at EU level regarding the inclusion of advanced therapy medicinal products and orphan drugs within strategic stockpiling, procurement or supply resilience mechanisms under the Critical Medicines Act; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [42968/26]

2150. Deputy Erin McGreehan asked the Minister for Health the discussions taking place at EU level, in the context of the EU pharma package and Ireland’s forthcoming EU presidency, regarding greater cooperation between member states on access, pricing, reimbursement and procurement pathways for orphan medicines and advanced therapy medicinal products; and if she will make a statement on the matter…

2151. Deputy Barry Ward asked the Minister for Health further to Parliamentary Question No. 778 of 21 October 2025, the position regarding the use of funding from Budget 2026 to increase the number of lactation consultants; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [42977/26]

2152. Deputy Barry Ward asked the Minister for Health further to Parliamentary Question No. 778 of 21 October 2025, the position regarding the use of funding from Budget 2026 to provide breast pumps for mothers of critically ill newborns and preterm infants; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [42978/26]

2153. Deputy Duncan Smith asked the Minister for Health if she will urgently examine the application for the national treatment purchase fund for a person (details supplied); if the application will be expedited; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [42998/26]

2154. Deputy Darren O'Rourke asked the Minister for Health the steps she is taking to address the continued recruitment freeze of physician associates within the health service (details supplied); the timeline for lifting the recruitment freeze; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [43013/26]

2155. Deputy Darren O'Rourke asked the Minister for Health when she intends to lift the current recruitment freeze on physician associates posts in the HSE; the rationale for maintaining the freeze despite ongoing workforce shortages; the actions being taken to ensure appropriate physician associates posts are established within healthcare services; and if she will make a statement on the matter. …

2156. Deputy Darren O'Rourke asked the Minister for Health the details on the proposed salary scale for physician associates; if she has assessed the impact of a substantially reduced salary structure on the recruitment, retention and the potential emigration of Irish trained graduates; if she will ensure that salary and progression structures reflect the level of postgraduate medical training and…

2157. Deputy Darren O'Rourke asked the Minister for Health if she will review elements of the proposed scope of practice for physician associates, in light of concerns that it does not accurately reflect current training, competencies, or day to day clinical practice in Ireland and internationally; the extent to which the framework will align with evidence based international models; and if she wi…