Parliamentary questions

253. Deputy Michael Cahill asked the Minister for Health when works will commence on the Killarney minor injuries unit; when works will be completed; when this important facility for Killarney, east, mid and south Kerry will be opened; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [38065/26]

254. Deputy Pádraig O'Sullivan asked the Minister for Health whether the workforce projection model published in December 2025, which projects a shortfall across all modelled professions including nurses, midwives, and medical practitioners by 2040, has been updated to incorporate data from each of the past five years; the professions beyond the seven currently modelled that are expected to be inc…

255. Deputy Pádraig O'Sullivan asked the Minister for Health the measurable targets and timelines that have been set to reduce Ireland's reliance on internationally-educated health workers in line with Ireland's obligations under the WHO Global Code of Practice on the International Recruitment of health personnel; the year in which Ireland is projected to reach the self-sufficiency definition set …

256. Deputy Pádraig O'Sullivan asked the Minister for Health the total expenditure on agency staff for her Department's funded activities in each of the past five years; whether expenditure has reduced from the €734,192,000 recorded in 2024, which professions and care areas account for the highest proportion of agency spend in each of those years; the specific targets that have been set under the …

257. Deputy Pádraig O'Sullivan asked the Minister for Health the number of radiographers and radiation therapists registered with CORU and employed in the public health service in each of the past five years; the vacancy rate for those posts across each of the six HSE Health Regions, noting the acknowledgement in her Department's December 2025 workforce paper of a current shortage of both professi…

258. Deputy Pádraig O'Sullivan asked the Minister for Health the number of healthcare assistants and home support workers employed across the public health service in each of the past five years; the number of people waiting for home support packages in each of those years; the proportion of the long-term care workforce who are foreign-born compared to the OECD average of 20.6%; the progress that …

259. Deputy Pádraig O'Sullivan asked the Minister for Health the total number of whole-time equivalents employed across mental health services in the HSE in each of the past five years; the number of unfilled consultant psychiatry posts and the number of unfilled psychology posts across Child and Adolescent Mental Health Services in each HSE health region; the progress that has been made in establ…

260. Deputy Pádraig O'Sullivan asked the Minister for Health when the next iteration of the Ireland's Future Health and Social Care Workforce planning model will be published; whether supply and demand projections will be extended in that iteration to cover dentists, radiographers, radiation therapists, speech and language therapists, physiotherapists, dietitians, and social care workers, all of w…

261. Deputy Mark Wall asked the Minister for Health if a person undergoing cancer treatment qualifies for a full medical card; if there are specific criteria for such qualification; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [38084/26]

262. Deputy Mark Wall asked the Minister for Health the number of applications for a full medical card by those in treatment for cancer for each year over the past three years; the number that were successful, the number that were not successful; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [38085/26]

263. Deputy Máire Devine asked the Minister for Health for clarification regarding the policy or administrative basis for excluding pelvic gynaecological MRI scans from GP visit card coverage; whether this exclusion is consistent with Sláintecare’s commitment to universal, equitable access to healthcare; whether her Department or the HSE has assessed the financial and clinical impact of this exclu…

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 …

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 affecte…

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 …

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 t…

269. Deputy Pádraig O'Sullivan asked the Minister for Health the number of medical graduates registered with the Medical Council, the number of medical graduates and the number and proportion currently employed in the Irish health service, broken down by Irish nationals, EU-UK nationals and non-EU nationals; the analysis undertaken by her Department on the capacity of the Irish healthcare system t…

270. Deputy Pádraig O'Sullivan asked the Minister for Health the number of nursing graduates registered with the Nursing and Midwifery Board of Ireland, the number of nursing graduates and the number and proportion currently employed in the Irish health service, broken down by Irish nationals, EU/UK nationals and non-EU nationals; the analysis undertaken by her Department on the capacity of the Ir…

271. Deputy Pádraig O'Sullivan asked the Minister for Health the number of dental graduates registered with the Dental Council, the number of dental graduates, and the number and proportion currently employed in the Irish health service, broken down by Irish nationals, EU/UK nationals and non-EU nationals; the analysis undertaken by her Department on the capacity of the Irish healthcare system to …

272. Deputy Pádraig O'Sullivan asked the Minister for Health the number of midwifery graduates registered with the Nursing and Midwifery Board of Ireland, the number of midwifery graduates, and the number and proportion currently employed in the Irish health service, broken down by Irish nationals, EU/UK nationals and non-EU nationals; the analysis undertaken by her Department on the capacity of t…

273. Deputy Pádraig O'Sullivan asked the Minister for Health the number of consultant radiologists registered on the specialist division of the Medical Council, the number newly registered, and the number and proportion currently employed in the Irish health service, broken down by Irish nationals, EU-UK nationals and non-EU nationals; the analysis undertaken by her Department on workforce capacit…

274. Deputy Pádraig O'Sullivan asked the Minister for Health the number of consultant psychiatrists registered on the specialist division of the Medical Council, the number newly registered, and the number and proportion currently employed in the Irish health service, broken down by Irish nationals, EU-UK nationals and non-EU nationals; the analysis undertaken by her Department on workforce capaci…

275. Deputy Pádraig O'Sullivan asked the Minister for Health the total number of registrants on the Medical Council register, the number of new first-time registrants in each year, and the number and proportion employed in the Irish health service in each of those years, broken down by those who obtained their primary medical qualification in Ireland, in the EU and UK, and outside the EU and UK, r…

276. Deputy Barry Ward asked the Minister for Health the position regarding the staffing ratios between midwives and mothers in postnatal wards across Irish maternity hospitals, by hospital; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [38114/26]

277. Deputy Barry Ward asked the Minister for Health the position regarding the number of staff employed in postnatal wards, by role and hospital; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [38115/26]