Parliamentary questions

2792. Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Health the enforcement measures in place where HSE regions exceed agency expenditure limits; the number of instances where such limits were exceeded since July 2025; and the corrective actions taken in each case. [24291/26]

2793. Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Health the estimated cost differential between agency staff and directly employed HSE staff across key grades, including nursing and allied health professions; and whether this differential is incorporated into workforce planning decisions. [24292/26]

2794. Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Health further to the commitment to convert 960 Whole Time Equivalent agency staff to direct HSE employment, to provide a breakdown of the 869 WTE converted to date by grade, region, and service area; and the timeframe for completion of the remaining conversions. [24293/26]

2795. Deputy Michael Cahill asked the Minister for Health to expedite the development of the new 108-bed block on the campus of University Hospital Kerry (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [24294/26]

2796. Deputy Niamh Smyth asked the Minister for Health if a hospital appointment will be expedited for a person (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [24296/26]

2797. Deputy David Cullinane asked the Minister for Health if her attention has been drawn to the barriers currently faced by patients in Ireland living with lipoedema (details supplied); the steps her Department and the HSE are taking to address these issues; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [24297/26]

2798. Deputy David Cullinane asked the Minister for Health whether the HSE working group established in 2023 to develop a national care pathway for lipoedema has completed its work; when the pathway is expected to be published; and whether patient advocacy organisations, including an organisation (details supplied) will be included in the development and implementation of this pathway. [24298/26]

2799. Deputy David Cullinane asked the Minister for Health if her Department intends to review the operation of private health insurers in relation to coverage for medically indicated liposuction procedures for lipoedema patients, in light of concerns regarding inconsistent decision-making, the use of criteria designed for lymphoedema rather than lipoedema, and practices that may result in patient…

2800. Deputy Colm Burke asked the Minister for Health if her Department plans to introduce amendments to the Dentists Act 1995, which would put in place a more robust and structured framework for registering dentists in Ireland; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [24321/26]

2801. Deputy Colm Burke asked the Minister for Health the engagement that has taken place between her Department and the Department of Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science with a view to increasing the number of places in each of the dental colleges both in Trinity College Dublin and University College Cork, with a view to increasing the number of places for dental traini…

2802. Deputy Colm Burke asked the Minister for Health if her Department has carried out any research with a view to making it attractive for dentists to provide service, and in particular for medical card patients in rural towns; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [24323/26]

2803. Deputy Colm Burke asked the Minister for Health the additional measures being taken by her Department to encourage all graduates both Irish, European and Non-European to practice in Ireland after qualifying, in view of the fact that a recent survey in University College Cork established that over 25% of all graduates intended taking time out from practicing; and if she will make a statement …

2804. Deputy Colm Burke asked the Minister for Health the action her Department plans on taking to provide the necessary support to the Dental Council to address the current challenges posed by persons who are practicing dentistry in Ireland but who are not suitably qualified; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [24325/26]

2805. Deputy Colm Burke asked the Minister for Health the action her Department intends on taking to assist in the recruitment of suitably qualified candidates from outside of Ireland in order to deal with the current workforce shortages in view of the current shortage of suitably qualified dentists for the demands that exist in Ireland; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [24326/26]

2806. Deputy Colm Burke asked the Minister for Health the action her Department intends taking to address the regulatory gaps regarding the Dental Council's ability to act in instances of malpractice within dental services; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [24327/26]

2807. Deputy Colm Burke asked the Minister for Health the level of engagement that has taken place between her Department, the HSE and the Dental Council to collaborate in ensuring that dental practices are registered and compliant with the required regulatory standards; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [24328/26]

2808. Deputy Rory Hearne asked the Minister for Health if she will respond to matters raised in correspondence (details supplied);; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [24337/26]

2809. Deputy Michael Healy-Rae asked the Minister for Health to provide an update on an application for medication for a person (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [24338/26]

2811. Deputy Pádraig O'Sullivan asked the Minister for Health to provide an update on the implementation of the revised pharmaceutical framework agreements; the way in which the HSE intends to operate the clock-stop procedures; whether all dates relevant to clock stops will be published via a reimbursement; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [24359/26]

2812. Deputy Pádraig O'Sullivan asked the Minister for Health the changes to the reimbursement system forthcoming on foot of the new pharmaceutical framework agreements; the assurances that can be given to patients that decisions on medicines will be made faster; and if the governance of the reimbursement system will ensure this; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [24360/26]

2813. Deputy Barry Heneghan asked the Minister for Health to set out comprehensively all the medical card entitlements under the Supports for Survivors of Residential Institutional Abuse Act 2025; to include whether or not prescription charges are waived for holders of this Act's medical card; and the dental and orthodontic benefits attaching to this Act's medical card [24361/26]

2814. Deputy Michael Cahill asked the Minister for Health to provide additional public nursing home beds in County Kerry; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [24365/26]

2815. Deputy Michael Cahill asked the Minister for Health to provide a career pathway for healthcare assistants (carers); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [24366/26]

2816. Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Health the standards and criteria required of private companies before the HSE will award a contract to provide home support (home help) services; whether such requirements include Garda vetting of staff and the holding of relevant qualifications; and how the HSE ensures that these standards are maintained by any private company it procures. [24375/2…

2817. Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Health the number of private companies currently procured, at a national level, to provide home support (home help) services on behalf of the HSE; and the total cost of these services to the HSE. [24376/26]