Parliamentary questions

661. Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Health the number of whole-time equivalent staff employed within the Suicide Crisis Assessment Nurse service in each year from 2020 to 2025, broken down by grade, HSE Health Region, and service location; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [36170/26]

662. Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Health the current staffing levels of the Suicide Crisis Assessment Nurse service nationally and by HSE region, including sanctioned posts, filled posts and vacancies. [36172/26]

663. Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Health the number of referrals received by the Suicide Crisis Assessment Nurse service in 2025 to date, by month and by HSE region. [36173/26]

664. Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Health the percentage of Suicide Crisis Assessment Nurse referrals assessed within the target timeframe of 72 hours in 2025 to date, by HSE region. [36174/26]

665. Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Health the number and percentage of persons referred to the Suicide Crisis Assessment Nurse service who did not receive assessment within the target timeframe in 2025 to date. [36175/26]

666. Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Health whether the HSE has identified any regions where Suicide Crisis Assessment Nurse service KPI targets are not being met; and if so, to provide details. [36176/26]

667. Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Health the average waiting time from GP referral to Suicide Crisis Assessment Nurse assessment in each HSE region in 2025 to date.; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [36177/26]

668. Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Health the number of individuals referred to the Suicide Crisis Assessment Nurse service who subsequently presented to an emergency department within 30 days of referral in 2025 to date.; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [36178/26]

669. Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Health whether any independent audit or external evaluation of the Suicide Crisis Assessment Nurse service has been carried out since the establishment of the programme; and if so, to provide details.; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [36179/26]

670. Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Health the date on which the full national SCAN performance report will be published; whether the report will be laid before the Oireachtas; and whether regional performance data will be included. [36180/26]

671. Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Health whether the HSE centrally records adverse incidents, self-harm re-presentations or deaths by suicide involving persons referred to the Suicide Crisis Assessment Nurse service; and if so, to provide details of the governance arrangements in place. [36181/26]

672. Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Health whether the HSE has conducted any assessment of unmet demand within Suicide Crisis Assessment Nurse services arising from referrals deemed not appropriate for assessment [36182/26]

673. Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Health the estimated number of referrals redirected away from Suicide Crisis Assessment Nurse services in 2025, including referrals redirected to emergency departments, CAMHS, CMHTs or primary care pathways [36183/26]

674. Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Health why a national SCAN dataset was not operational during 2023 and 2024 despite the national model of care having been launched in 2022 [36184/26]

675. Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Health whether any risk assessment or governance review has been undertaken regarding the absence of national SCAN activity data during 2023 and 2024; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [36185/26]

676. Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Health whether the HSE intends to introduce mandatory recording of referrals not accepted for SCAN assessment, including reasons for non-acceptance and onward referral pathways; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [36186/26]

677. Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Health whether the HSE records waiting times from GP referral to SCAN assessment; and if not, whether there are plans to introduce such monitoring. [36187/26]

678. Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Health the number of repeat presentations recorded within the SCAN service in 2025; and whether the HSE has analysed repeat presentation patterns as a marker of service effectiveness or unmet need. [36188/26]

679. Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Health whether the HSE has established national key performance indicators for Suicide Crisis Assessment Nurse services beyond presentation numbers; and if so, to provide details. [36189/26]

680. Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Health whether any national audit has been conducted of referral appropriateness decisions within Suicide Crisis Assessment Nurse services [36190/26]

681. Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Health whether the HSE intends to expand the SCAN database to include referral source routing information involving CAMHS and CMHT services; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [36191/26]

682. Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Health whether the HSE has conducted any centralised assessment of variation in operational or clinical decision-making between the six Health Regions since their establishment; and if she will provide details of any such assessment. [36192/26]

683. Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Health whether any governance framework exists to ensure consistency of service access criteria across the six Health Regions; and if she will provide a copy of that framework. [36193/26]

684. Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Health whether the Department of Health has requested or commissioned any audit, review, or risk assessment regarding regional variation in healthcare decision-making since 2022. [36194/26]

685. Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Health whether the HSE maintains any national register, dashboard, or monitoring mechanism tracking regional inconsistencies in policy implementation, patient access, approvals, or operational practices. [36195/26]