Questions

760. Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Health further to Parliamentary Question No. 66526/26, the date on which the request to replace the clinical nurse specialist post supporting skin cancer follow up at Cork University Hospital was received by the HSE nationally; the unit or committee responsible for that approval; the number of posts across HSE South West currently awaiting national approval after regiona…

839. Deputy Martin Kenny asked the Minister for Health the reason the Lactation Consultant post at Sligo University Hospital has been effectively vacant for close to a year; and whether it is acceptable for a specialist post of this nature to remain unfilled for such a prolonged period of time. [72243/26]

843. Deputy Martin Kenny asked the Minister for Health the measures that were put in place to maintain safe staffing levels at Sligo University Hospital this year while up to 14 midwives were on maternity leave at one time; and whether she is satisfied that the remaining midwifery staff were not placed under undue pressure as a result. [72253/26]

844. Deputy Martin Kenny asked the Minister for Health when the community lactation consultant post serving the Sligo/Leitrim area was advertised; the projected timeline for it being filled; and the interim measures being taken to ensure community based lactation support in the region does not suffer in the meantime. [72252/26]

845. Deputy Martin Kenny asked the Minister for Health the specific measures she intends to introduce to ensure that specialist posts in maternity, midwifery, and perinatal mental health services are not left vacant for prolonged periods. [72254/26]

551. Deputy Donna McGettigan asked the Minister for Health if a replacement has been recruited for a senior psychologist from Ennis Day Hospital who retired in 2025; the number of psychologists of each grade currently in Ennis Day Hospital; the number of vacancies there are; and when vacancies are likely to be filled. [69845/26]

554. Deputy Darren O'Rourke asked the Minister for Health the number of WTE consultant paediatric gastroenterologists and WTE paediatric gastroenterologist registrar posts filled at CHI Temple Street as of 28 September 2026, in tabular form. [69860/26]

558. Deputy Peadar Tóibín asked the Minister for Health the current staffing complement of the 22q11 Clinic at Children's Health Ireland, Crumlin (details supplied); the staffing levels recommended for the service; whether any sanctioned posts remain vacant; the funding allocated to the clinic in each of the past five years; and if additional resources will be provided to meet increasing patient demand. [69760/26]

574. Deputy Peadar Tóibín asked the Minister for Health the number of doctors working as specialists in Irish hospitals that are not on the specialist register; the number of doctors working as specialists in the HSE or employed by the HSE that are not on the specialist register; the number of GPs working in the out-of-hours services that are not on the specialist register; and the number of doctors working in the ca…

576. Deputy Mairéad Farrell asked the Minister for Health if the recruitment freeze in Galway University hospital will be lifted in order to fill the 23 vacant midwifery posts; and the way in which she plans to retain recently qualified midwives in Ireland while a recruitment ban is in place. [69975/26]

604. Deputy Pádraig O'Sullivan asked the Minister for Health the number of nursing and midwifery posts at Cork University Maternity Hospital currently vacant, in view of INMO figures cited on 29 September 2026 of over 80 such vacancies at the hospital; whether midwives from the DOMINO scheme have been redeployed to cover these vacancies; and whether sanction will be given to fill the posts needed to restore the schem…

625. Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Health the number of midwifery posts currently vacant at Cork University Maternity Hospital; the number of those posts awaiting HSE approval to fill; the number of DOMINO midwives being redeployed and the areas to which they are being redeployed; if her Department will guarantee the full resumption of the DOMINO service in January 2027; the current status of the home bir…

628. Deputy Peadar Tóibín asked the Minister for Health whether the deficiencies identified in the recent HSE internal audit relating to the recruitment of international doctors have been examined on a national basis; if similar audits have been conducted in other HSE regions and hospitals; and if she will publish the findings of all such reviews. [70184/26]

632. Deputy Peadar Tóibín asked the Minister for Health whether a disciplinary, administrative or management review has been initiated following findings that mandatory recruitment checks were not fully completed or documented in certain hospitals; and to outline the actions taken to date. [70206/26]

633. Deputy Peadar Tóibín asked the Minister for Health the number of doctors working in HSE and publicly funded hospitals that commenced employment before Garda vetting, overseas police clearance, English-language competency verification or occupational health clearance had been completed; and the measures being taken to protect patient safety in light of the findings of the recent HSE internal audit. [70208/26]

634. Deputy Peadar Tóibín asked the Minister for Health whether the Medical Council's registration processes are relied upon by HSE employers in lieu of independently obtaining evidence of English-language competency and other pre-employment checks; and if she will clarify the respective responsibilities of the Medical Council and HSE employers in this regard. [70207/26]

637. Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Health the number of approved consultant dermatologist posts at Cork University Hospital; the number currently vacant; the current waiting list and longest wait for a dermatology outpatient appointment at the hospital; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [70293/26]

644. Deputy Michael Healy-Rae asked the Minister for Health the number of newly qualified nurses and midwives in Cork that have been placed on recruitment panels but have not been offered positions. [70337/26]

645. Deputy Michael Healy-Rae asked the Minister for Health the plans in place to provide employment for newly qualified nurses and midwives who have just completed their internships in Cork. [70340/26]

646. Deputy Michael Healy-Rae asked the Minister for Health the reason newly qualified nurses and midwives are being directed towards staff bank work, rather than being offered positions where vacancies exist. [70339/26]

647. Deputy Paul Lawless asked the Minister for Health the number of nurses who have left their jobs at a hospital (details supplied) in each of the past ten years, and to date in 2026. [70346/26]

648. Deputy Michael Healy-Rae asked the Minister for Health the number of permanent staff nurse and midwife vacancies that exist in the hospitals across Cork. [70338/26]

649. Deputy Paul Lawless asked the Minister for Health the number of nurses recruited to work in University Hospital Galway in each of the past ten years and to date in 2026; and the number that had completed their studies / placement in University Hospital Galway. [70348/26]

163. Deputy Mairéad Farrell asked the Minister for Health if her attention has been drawn to the recruitment freeze on midwives at Galway University Hospitals, despite 23 vacant midwifery posts; if she will clarify the basis for the current recruitment freeze; to provide clarity for recently qualified midwives of the employment opportunities they can avail of; the expected timeframe for the current recruitment freeze…

164. Deputy Peter 'Chap' Cleere asked the Minister for Health the number of WTE consultant plastic surgeons and specialist registrar in plastic surgery posts filled at St Luke's Hospital, Kilkenny as of 23 September 2026; and if she will provide the same figures as of 30 September 2023, in tabular form. [69000/26]