Parliamentary questions

547. Deputy Mark Wall asked the Minister for Health the way in which funding will be allocated within the proposed regional structures under the draft National Drugs Strategy 2026–2029; whether deprivation, social exclusion and patterns of entrenched drug-related harm will be formally weighted alongside population in determining resource allocation; and if she will publish the criteria to be used …

548. Deputy Mark Wall asked the Minister for Health the specific measures which will be put in place to protect the independent, community-led role of Local Drug and Alcohol Task Forces under the proposed regional governance arrangements in the draft National Drugs Strategy 2026–2029; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [17971/26]

549. Deputy Mark Wall asked the Minister for Health whether, under the proposed regional structures in the draft National Drugs Strategy 2026–2029, all public funding for community-based drug services, including Local Drug and Alcohol Task Forces, will be pooled at HSE Health Region level; the safeguards which will be put in place to prevent dilution of funding to areas of high deprivation; and if…

550. Deputy Noel McCarthy asked the Minister for Health further to Parliamentary Question No. 253 of 25 February 2026, to provide further clarity on the reason such pain relief is not considered under the drugs payment scheme; the current assessment of Versatis plasters is under the scheme; if there have been any exceptional circumstances where these plasters have been approved for unlicensed use;…

551. Deputy Louis O'Hara asked the Minister for Health if her attention has been drawn to the recent change that means that newly qualified paramedics are no longer being offered permanent positions within the National Ambulance Service (details supplied); whether the Department of Health was made aware of this change; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [17992/26]

552. Deputy Willie O'Dea asked the Minister for Health if her attention has been drawn to the problems encountered by recently qualified paramedics in gaining employment with the National Ambulance Service; if she believes that the paramedic qualification should effectively remain tied to a single employer; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [17993/26]

553. Deputy Fionntán Ó Súilleabháin asked the Minister for Health if she will engage with the National Ambulance Service (NAS) following reports that approximately 80 newly qualified paramedics received an email from the NAS instructing them to sign a 16-week contract extension in order to remain in employment long enough to apply for a permanent position; the reason no prior engagement or warning…

554. Deputy Máire Devine asked the Minister for Health further to the publication of the draft National Drugs Strategy 2026–2029, to outline the proposed governance, funding flows and accountability arrangements for the regional structures within the HSE health regions; whether local drug and alcohol task forces will retain independent governance and decision-making authority over locally delivere…

555. Deputy Máire Devine asked the Minister for Health the way funding will be allocated within the proposed regional structures under the draft National Drugs Strategy 2026–2029; whether deprivation, social exclusion and patterns of entrenched drug-related harm will be formally weighted alongside population in determining resource allocation; and if she will publish the criteria to be used by HSE…

556. Deputy Máire Devine asked the Minister for Health the specific measures she will be put in place to protect the independent, community-led role of local drug and alcohol task forces under the proposed regional governance arrangements in the draft National Drugs Strategy 2026–2029; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [17999/26]

557. Deputy Máire Devine asked the Minister for Health whether, under the proposed regional structures in the draft National Drugs Strategy 2026–2029, all public funding for community-based drug services, including local drug and alcohol task forces, will be pooled at HSE Health Region level; the safeguards which will be put in place to prevent dilution of funding to areas of high deprivation; and…

558. Deputy John Paul O'Shea asked the Minister for Health further to the publication of the draft National Drugs Strategy 2026–2029, the proposed governance, funding flows and accountability arrangements for the regional structures within the HSE health regions; whether local drug and alcohol task forces will retain independent governance and decision-making authority over locally delivered progr…

559. Deputy John Paul O'Shea asked the Minister for Health the way in which funding will be allocated within the proposed regional structures under the draft National Drugs Strategy 2026–2029; whether deprivation, social exclusion and patterns of entrenched drug-related harm will be formally weighted alongside population in determining resource allocation; if she will publish the criteria to be us…

560. Deputy John Paul O'Shea asked the Minister for Health the specific measures that will be put in place to protect the independent, community-led role of local drug and alcohol task forces under the proposed regional governance arrangements in the draft National Drugs Strategy 2026–2029; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [18030/26]

561. Deputy John Paul O'Shea asked the Minister for Health whether under the proposed regional structures in the draft National Drugs Strategy 2026–2029, all public funding for community-based drug services, including local drug and alcohol task forces, will be pooled at HSE Health Region level the safeguards that will be put in place to prevent dilution of funding to areas of high deprivation; an…

562. Deputy Michael Cahill asked the Minister for Health the number of people currently awaiting a dementia specific bed at Killarney Community Hospital; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [18033/26]

563. Deputy Noel McCarthy asked the Minister for Health her plans to introduce amendments to regulate nicotine pouches in the forthcoming Public Health (Tobacco Products and Nicotine Inhaling Products) (Amendment) Bill 2026 given that the European Commission has indicated its intention to publish its evaluation of the Tobacco Products Directive in the first half of 2026 (details supplied); and if …

564. Deputy Shónagh Ní Raghallaigh asked the Minister for Health her plans to institute a mandatory transition pathway from CAMHS to AMHS for patients with diagnosed eating disorders, given that many patients currently experience a lapse in care in moving between the services; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [18040/26]

565. Deputy Shónagh Ní Raghallaigh asked the Minister for Health the number of specialist WTE posts dealing with eating disorders are currently vacant across the HSE; where those posts located; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [18041/26]

566. Deputy Shónagh Ní Raghallaigh asked the Minister for Health her plans to expand existing services to tackle eating disorders, especially with a view to achieving an equitable regional distribution in service provision; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [18042/26]

567. Deputy Shónagh Ní Raghallaigh asked the Minister for Health her plans to review the 2018 Model of Care treating Eating Disorders; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [18043/26]

568. Deputy Shónagh Ní Raghallaigh asked the Minister for Health if she will collect comprehensive national data on patients presenting with eating disorders, including those at emergency departments and at GP clinics; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [18044/26]

569. Deputy Donna McGettigan asked the Minister for Health to make acarizax available under the drug payment scheme; to recommend a course of action for a family facing unmanageable prescription charges due to having to pay for it, in addition to other medications which are on the drug payment scheme, but still cost €80; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [18051/26]

570. Deputy Edward Timmins asked the Minister for Health the action being taken to resolve the situation in south Kildare and west Wicklow, where the health service is operating with a staffing vacancy rate of 44%, there is insufficient capacity to meet current clinical demand , and a routine referral to see a physiotherapist in south Kildare and west Wicklow is currently a 77-week waiting time; a…

571. Deputy Matt Carthy asked the Minister for Health the percentage of those studying medicine in higher education institutions in the State at present and in each of the past five years who are non-EU students; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [18056/26]