Parliamentary questions

2458. Deputy David Cullinane asked the Minister for Health the membership, governance structure and operational responsibilities of the CHI Spinal Surgery Management Unit; the budget allocated to the unit since establishment; the key performance indicators assigned to it; and her views on its role in reducing paediatric spinal surgery waiting lists. [44152/26]

2459. Deputy David Cullinane asked the Minister for Health whether CHI’s categorisation of children with scoliosis as “complex” or “non-complex” is governed by a formally approved national clinical policy; whether this categorisation directly impacts access to surgery, waiting list progression, outsourcing pathways or specialist review; the independent governance and oversight mechanisms that exis…

2460. Deputy David Cullinane asked the Minister for Health the paediatric scoliosis and spinal surgery surgical site infection rates recorded at CHI from 2020 to date in 2026, including superficial infections, deep infections and infections requiring revision surgery or implant removal; whether these outcomes are benchmarked against international standards; and if she will explain the data is not …

2461. Deputy David Cullinane asked the Minister for Health if she is aware of the ongoing delays in the provision, assessment, and setup of assistive technology (AT) supports due to a lack of in-house expertise within the HSE; the extent to which HSE staff are trained to assess and implement AT supports without reliance on external agencies such as the Central Remedial Clinic; and if she will outl…

2462. Deputy David Cullinane asked the Minister for Health the current waiting numbers and times for assessment, provision, and set up of assistive technology supports by area, in tabular form. [44166/26]

2463. Deputy David Cullinane asked the Minister for Health to address specific delays experienced by service users, whereby individuals can wait up to six months for an initial AT assessment, followed by an additional delay of approximately two and a half months for equipment setup after provision; the steps being taken to streamline this process; and if she will provide a timeline for improvement…

2464. Deputy David Cullinane asked the Minister for Health to consider the development of dedicated, regionally based assistive technology teams within the HSE to ensure timely assessments, installation, and follow-up supports for people with disabilities. [44168/26]

2465. Deputy David Cullinane asked the Minister for Health the details of minibuses, vans, and SUVs and similar such vehicles owned by the National Ambulance Service, by the year of acquisition, the distance these vehicles have travelled to date and the hours they have been in use since acquisition, in tabular form. [44175/26]

2466. Deputy William Aird asked the Minister for Health the average frequency of appointments offered to service users attending Adult Mental Health Services in County Laois; the number of service users currently waiting more than three months, six months and nine months between appointments; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [44176/26]

2467. Deputy William Aird asked the Minister for Health her assessment of the adequacy of staffing levels within Adult Mental Health Services in County Laois; the current number of approved and filled posts across psychiatry, psychology, nursing, occupational therapy and social work disciplines; the number of vacancies currently unfilled; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [44177/26]

2468. Deputy William Aird asked the Minister for Health the measures being taken to ensure continuity of care for patients attending adult mental health services, particularly young adults transitioning from Child and Adolescent Mental Health Services and Youth Mental Health Services; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [44178/26]

2469. Deputy William Aird asked the Minister for Health the number of young people aged 18 to 25 years attending adult mental health services in County Laois; the supports available to this cohort following their transition from youth mental health services; whether additional resources are being considered to support young adults during this transition period; and if she will make a statement on …

2470. Deputy William Aird asked the Minister for Health if she is aware of concerns regarding the frequency and duration of appointments available through adult mental health services in County Laois; the steps being taken by the HSE to improve access to therapeutic interventions and ongoing clinical support; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [44180/26]

2471. Deputy William Aird asked the Minister for Health whether the HSE has undertaken any review of service provision at the adult mental health services clinic on Bridge Street, Portlaoise; whether issues relating to staffing, waiting times, continuity of care or patient experience have been identified; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [44181/26]

2472. Deputy William Aird asked the Minister for Health the steps being taken to ensure that service users attending adult mental health services are afforded sufficient time during appointments to discuss their treatment, recovery goals and ongoing mental health needs; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [44182/26]

2473. Deputy William Aird asked the Minister for Health the additional funding allocated to adult mental health services in County Laois in each of the past five years; the extent to which this funding has resulted in increased staffing and service capacity; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [44183/26]

508. Deputy Richard Boyd Barrett asked the Minister for Health further to recent comments (details supplied), to provide details of the Strategic Infrastructure Programme to plan for the replacement and expansion at public radiation oncology services currently under development. [40967/26]

509. Deputy Barry Heneghan asked the Minister for Health the current status of the capital approval and funding process for the redevelopment of the emergency department and wider capacity expansion project at Beaumont Hospital; whether the project remains within the National Development Plan capital pipeline; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [40813/26]

510. Deputy Tony McCormack asked the Minister for Health when a person will receive an urgent appointment with an ENT specialist (details supplied). [40852/26]

511. Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Health the number of vape retail outlets operating in the State in each year since 2020; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [40861/26]

512. Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Health if her Department maintains a national register or database of vape retail outlets operating within the State; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [40862/26]

513. Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Health if a public health assessment has been undertaken regarding the concentration or proliferation of vape and smoke retail outlets in Irish cities, towns and villages over the past five years; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [40863/26]

514. Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Health if an assessment has been undertaken regarding youth exposure to nicotine-related advertising, branding or retail visibility arising from the increasing number of vape and smoke retail outlets operating in town and city centres; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [40864/26]

515. Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Health the number of inspections, compliance checks, enforcement actions, fixed penalty notices and prosecutions relating to the sale of vaping or nicotine products to minors in each year since 2020; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [40865/26]

516. Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Health if consideration has been given to introducing a national licensing system for vape and smoke retail outlets; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [40866/26]