Parliamentary questions

1072. Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Health the number of HSE capital projects since 2020 involving fire safety remediation works; the total expenditure on such works; and whether fire safety costs are systematically tracked and reported across the HSE estate. [32664/26]

1073. Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Health the original planned commencement and completion dates for the Heather House Community Nursing Unit refurbishment project; the current projected completion date; and the reasons for any delays arising. [32665/26]

1074. Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Health whether interim or final fire safety certification has been issued in respect of the Heather House Community Nursing Unit project; if so, to provide the dates of such certification and the certifying authority involved. [32666/26]

1075. Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Health whether any defects, compliance issues, or remedial works relating to fire safety have been identified during the course of the Heather House Community Nursing Unit project; and if so, to provide details of same and any associated additional costs. [32667/26]

1076. Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Health whether independent oversight, audit, or inspection has been carried out in respect of the Heather House Community Nursing Unit project, particularly in relation to fire safety compliance; if so, to provide details and findings [32668/26]

1077. Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Health the actual average cost per WTE of agency staff compared with directly employed staff across key grades, including staff nurse, clinical nurse specialist, consultant, and allied health professionals, for each of the years 2023, 2024, 2025 and to date in 2026. [32676/26]

1078. Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Health the total expenditure on agency staff within the HSE for each of the years 2023, 2024, 2025 and to date in 2026, and the estimated additional cost incurred due to agency premiums when compared to equivalent directly employed staffing. [32677/26]

1079. Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Health whether a formal cost-benefit analysis has been conducted comparing long-term direct employment versus agency staffing within the public health service; if so, to provide details and findings. [32678/26]

1080. Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Health whether the indicative 30% agency premium referenced by the HSE is formally incorporated into workforce planning, budget allocations, or recruitment strategy; and if not, why not. [32679/26]

1081. Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Health the proportion of agency staff engaged under framework agreements versus off-framework arrangements, and the cost differential between these categories. [32680/26]

1082. Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Health the total estimated additional annual cost to the Exchequer arising from the use of agency staff, based on the HSE's stated average premium of 30%, and the total agency spend for each of the years 2023, 2024, 2025 and to date in 2026. [32681/26]

1083. Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Health whether the HSE maintains any grade-specific cost comparison between agency and directly employed staff, including nursing, medical and allied health grades; if so, to provide same; if not, the reason such analysis is not undertaken. [32682/26]

1084. Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Health whether workforce planning decisions within the HSE are informed by a quantified comparison of agency versus direct employment costs; and if no such model exists, whether one will be developed. [32683/26]

1085. Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Health the proportion of agency staff engaged under framework agreements versus off-framework arrangements for each of the years 2023 to 2026, and the average cost differential associated with each. [32684/26]

1086. Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Health whether any internal audit, external audit, or review by the Comptroller and Auditor General has examined the cost-effectiveness of agency staffing within the HSE since 2020; if so, to provide details and findings. [32685/26]

1087. Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Health whether any analysis has been undertaken by the HSE or individual hospitals, including South Infirmary Victoria University Hospital, on the effectiveness of international recruitment channels, including online advertising and publications such as the British Medical Journal; if so, to provide the number of applications received, interviews con…

1088. Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Health whether the HSE has a formal international recruitment strategy targeting specific jurisdictions such as the United Kingdom for nursing, medical and health and social care professional roles; if so, to outline the strategy, targets and outcomes; and if not, whether such a strategy will be developed. [32687/26]

1089. Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Health the total number of applicants for positions at South Infirmary Victoria University Hospital in 2025 and to date in 2026, broken down by country of origin; the number of those applicants who progressed to interview and appointment; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [32688/26]

1090. Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Health whether a national policy exists requiring that a transition plan for housing and care supports be developed for persons with an intellectual disability before reaching adulthood; if so, the details of this policy; and if not, whether such a policy is under consideration. [32691/26]

1091. Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Health whether a policy commitment exists to achieve pay parity between staff employed in Section 38 and Section 39 organisations and those employed directly by the HSE in disability services; and the timeline, if any, for achieving such parity. [32695/26]

1092. Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Health whether a formal interdepartmental framework exists between her Department, the Department of Housing and the HSE for the planning and delivery of housing and care supports for adults with an intellectual disability; and the governance structure underpinning such coordination. [32697/26]

1093. Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Health to provide a detailed breakdown of the €10.69 million projected cost of the fire safety and refurbishment works at Heather House Community Nursing Unit, including the original approved budget, the current projected outturn cost, the value of all additional works identified during construction, and the total cost variance arising to date. [3270…

1094. Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Health the original planned completion dates for each phase of the refurbishment works at Heather House Community Nursing Unit, the revised completion dates, the total duration of any delays incurred, and the specific causes of such delays. [32706/26]

1095. Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Health to provide details of the procurement process for the works at Heather House Community Nursing Unit, including the number of tenderers, the contract award value, the successful contractor, and whether any post-award variations have altered the contract value. [32707/26]

1096. Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Health to outline the governance and oversight arrangements in place for the capital works at Heather House Community Nursing Unit, including reporting structures, risk management processes, and whether any issues identified during construction were escalated to the Department. [32708/26]