Questions

747. Deputy David Cullinane asked the Minister for Health the training available to HSE primary care therapists in County Waterford in the assessment, prescription, provision and ongoing management of specialist equipment and assistive technology for people with complex needs; any training gaps identified; the plans and timelines to address these through training and continuing professional development. [71575/26]

748. Deputy David Cullinane asked the Minister for Health the extent to which HSE primary care services in county Waterford rely on external providers for specialist equipment and assistive technology assessments; the number of referrals and expenditure in 2025 and 2026 to date; the current waiting times for assessment, equipment provision and follow-up support; and the measures being taken to reduce delays. [71576/2…

749. Deputy Darren O'Rourke asked the Minister for Health if she is aware that a number of survivors of industrial schools have been unable to access the healthcare services to which they are entitled under their newly issued enhanced medical cards, as some service providers are not recognising or accepting the cards; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [71625/26]

750. Deputy David Cullinane asked the Minister for Health her plans to recruit additional primary care therapists in county Waterford, by discipline, including the number of posts approved, funded and being recruited; the expected appointment timelines; and the arrangements for relief staff to cover maternity leave, sick leave and other absences. [71577/26]

751. Deputy David Cullinane asked the Minister for Health the measures planned to increase capacity and reduce waiting lists in HSE primary care therapy services in County Waterford, particularly for people with complex and long-term needs; how continuity of treatment and follow-up support will be ensured; and the funding, delivery timelines and waiting-list reduction targets for these measures. [71578/26]

752. Deputy Cathy Bennett asked the Minister for Health if the four wards in Monaghan Hospital are occupied 12 months of the year; and if any wards are temporarily closed for a period of weeks/months throughout the year. [71716/26]

753. Deputy Malcolm Byrne asked the Minister for Health for an update on the National Children's Hospital, the scheduled opening date, the expenditure to date and the projected expenditure. [71702/26]

754. Deputy Malcolm Byrne asked the Minister for Health for an update on the new National Maternity Hospital, the scheduled opening date, the expenditure to date and the projected expenditure. [71703/26]

755. Deputy Micheál Carrigy asked the Minister for Health the steps being taken to address the ongoing shortage of orthodontic services at the Longford orthodontic clinic; if she is aware that persons awaiting essential orthodontic treatment including those categorised as category 5 have had critical treatment-plan appointments cancelled (details supplied); the measures the HSE is implementing to clear the regional b…

756. Deputy Marie Sherlock asked the Minister for Health the number of individuals who availed of specialist perinatal mental health services in 2024, 2026, and to date in 2026; the number on waiting lists to access SPMHS; and the average wait time on the wait list per service. [71727/26]

757. Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Health further to Parliamentary Question No. 52837/26, the number of funded and filled whole time equivalent primary care posts in the Cork Kerry Community Healthcare area in 2024 by discipline; the resulting vacancy rate; the amount of the primary care pay underspend applied against adverse variances in non pay and income in the same year; the care groups and services t…

758. Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Health further to Parliamentary Question No. 70922/26, the reason the number of public only consultant contract work plans uploaded to DIME exceeds the number of post matched consultants in most health regions; the number of such consultants at Cork University Hospital, and the number of those with planned Saturday and extended day activity, in tabular form; and if she w…

759. Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Health further to Parliamentary Question No. 70922/26, the means by which the HSE verifies that Saturday and extended day activity planned in consultant work plans under the Public Only Consultant Contract 2023 is actually delivered; the number of Saturday sessions delivered by such consultants in each health region to date in 2026; and if she will make a statement on th…

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…

761. Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Health further to Parliamentary Question No. 65820/26, the date on which the mole mapping and melanoma surveillance service at Cork University Hospital ceased; the date of the last surveillance appointment held; the date by which all 98 affected patients will have been contacted; the alternative surveillance pathway being offered to each; the number of those patients who…

762. Deputy Paul Nicholas Gogarty asked the Minister for Health the steps being taken to recruit and retain public health nurses to support the school vaccination programme; and whether a workforce assessment has been undertaken to determine the number of additional nurses required to ensure the timely delivery of school-based immunisations nationwide. [71761/26]

763. Deputy Paul Nicholas Gogarty asked the Minister for Health the extent to which shortages of public health nurses have affected the delivery of the school vaccination programme, including the HPV, Tdap, MenACWY and other routine school-based vaccinations, in each of the past three school years; and the number of schools where vaccination clinics were postponed or delayed due to staffing shortages. [71760/26]

764. Deputy Jen Cummins asked the Minister for Health her plans to reduce accident and emergency wait times. [71752/26]

765. Deputy Jen Cummins asked the Minister for Health the supports she plans to put in place for pregnant women who go to accident and emergency departments and face long wait times. [71751/26]

766. Deputy Paul Nicholas Gogarty asked the Minister for Health the number of sanctioned public health nurse posts that are currently vacant, by CHO7 health region; the number of vacancies specifically affecting the delivery of the school immunisation programme; and the measures being taken to address staffing shortages. [71763/26]

767. Deputy Paul Nicholas Gogarty asked the Minister for Health if she will provide a breakdown, by HSE CHO7 region, of the number of public health nurses assigned to the school vaccination programme; the recommended staffing levels for each region; and the current staffing deficit. [71762/26]

768. Deputy Eoin Ó Broin asked the Minister for Health the reason lung transplant patients are not reimbursed for vaccinations they must have before undergoing transplant surgery (details supplied); and if consideration will be given to extending reimbursement to this cohort given the significant cost of the vaccinations required. [71742/26]

769. Deputy Seán Ó Fearghaíl asked the Minister for Health the estimated full year costs of fully resourcing five additional HSE crisis resolutions teams. [71775/26]

770. Deputy Seán Ó Fearghaíl asked the Minister for Health the number of persons on the waiting list to see a consultant cardiologist for a first appointment at the Mater Hospital; and the average waiting time for same. [71774/26]

771. Deputy Willie O'Dea asked the Minister for Health when the HSE will fill the occupational therapist vacancy at a HSE facility (details supplied), a position which has been vacant since March 2026. [71772/26]