Parliamentary questions

597. Deputy Erin McGreehan asked the Minister for Health whether hearing care will be incorporated into Ireland's Healthy Ageing Strategy, given the strong links between untreated hearing loss, social isolation, mental ill health, and loss of independence. [18179/26]

598. Deputy Erin McGreehan asked the Minister for Health if she will explore partnerships with community based providers to deliver timely hearing assessments and hearing aid fittings, noting that early diagnosis and support can reduce isolation, improve mental well-being and lower the risk of dementia. [18180/26]

599. Deputy Erin McGreehan asked the Minister for Health the breakdown of the number of adults currently on waiting lists for audiology services in each CHO area; the average and longest waiting times in each area; and the number waiting more than six, 12 and 18 months, in tabular form. [18181/26]

600. Deputy Erin McGreehan asked the Minister for Health the number of adults and children awaiting audiology assessment or treatment in hospital-based audiology services and community-based audiology services, by CHO area; and the steps being taken to address regional disparities, in tabular form. [18182/26]

601. Deputy Erin McGreehan asked the Minister for Health to provide a breakdown, of current staffing levels and vacancies in audiology services in each CHO area; the number of posts filled and unfilled for senior audiologists, staff grade audiologists, clinical specialists, ENT linked audiology posts, and administrative support roles, in tabular form. [18185/26]

602. Deputy Erin McGreehan asked the Minister for Health the way staffing shortages in audiology services are contributing to the waiting lists and capacity pressures; and to provide a plan to address recruitment and retention challenges. [18186/26]

237. Deputy Fionntán Ó Súilleabháin asked the Minister for Health when the ten-bed specialised community mental health unit will be delivered for County Wexford; if this unit will provide service to adults and minors; if this unit will specialise in mental health crisis care; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [17255/26]

238. Deputy Richard O'Donoghue asked the Minister for Health the reason a respite centre, has been closed to families receiving respite care (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [17257/26]

239. Deputy Sorca Clarke asked the Minister for Health the number of opticians currently providing services in the HSE in Mullingar; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [17259/26]

240. Deputy William Aird asked the Minister for Health if she will include the shingrix (shingles) vaccine in the HSE’s covered vaccine schedule, particularly for immunocompromised patients; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [17262/26]

241. Deputy William Aird asked the Minister for Health the steps being taken to expand the delivery of hearing and eye care services in community settings; her plans to increase the role of primary and community care providers in improving access to these services; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [17263/26]

242. Deputy William Aird asked the Minister for Health the assessment that has been made of the barriers faced by older people and other vulnerable groups in accessing hearing care services, including cost, waiting times and geographic availability; the actions planned to address these barriers; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [17264/26]

243. Deputy William Aird asked the Minister for Health if she intends to establish the joint working group proposed at the Joint Oireachtas Committee on Health, comprising CORU, organisations (details supplied), academic institutions, service users to examine improvements to CORU regulatory standards; if community-based therapy providers, including section 39 and section 56 organisations funded by…

244. Deputy William Aird asked the Minister for Health the number of WTE consultant orthopaedic surgeons based at Portlaoise Regional Hospital as of 26 February 2026, in tabular form; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [17266/26]

245. Deputy William Aird asked the Minister for Health the staffing budget for Midlands Regional Hospital Portlaoise in 2024, 2025 and 2026, in tabular form; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [17267/26]

246. Deputy William Aird asked the Minister for Health the number of agency staff employed by Midlands Regional Hospital, Portlaoise across all departments, in tabular form; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [17268/26]

247. Deputy William Aird asked the Minister for Health the number of WTE consultant psychiatrists attached to Laois mental health services as of 26 February 2006; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [17269/26]

248. Deputy William Aird asked the Minister for Health if she will include acarizax on the reimbursement list of medicines; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [17270/26]

249. Deputy Ciarán Ahern asked the Minister for Health the reason Skyclarys has not yet been approved for reimbursement despite being authorised for use by the European Medicines Agency; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [17273/26]

250. Deputy Ciarán Ahern asked the Minister for Health the specific steps being taken to ensure the HSE considers the "time-critical" nature of FA during the current price negotiations for Skyclarys; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [17274/26]

251. Deputy Ciarán Ahern asked the Minister for Health the way in which the commitments in the National Rare Disease Strategy 2025-2030 and the 2026 IPHA Framework Agreement which aims for a 180-day decision timeline are being applied to the HSE’s consideration of Skyclarys, to prevent further delays; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [17275/26]

252. Deputy Sean Fleming asked the Minister for Health the number of patients/residents in a location and the number of staff associated with the long stay patient unit at Abbeyleix Community Nursing Home, Abbeyleix, County Laois; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [17281/26]

253. Deputy Ryan O'Meara asked the Minister for Health further to Parliamentary Question No. 1147 of 10 February 2026, which advised that “there are currently no plans to establish a SATU in Limerick”, the data and information used to establish this position; the way in which demand for SATU is generally monitored; and the way in the case of Limerick and the surrounding area local demand is monito…

254. Deputy Ryan O'Meara asked the Minister for Health further to Parliamentary Question No. 1147 of 10 February 2026, given options for storage of evidence are not provided in Limerick’s local out-of-hours Forensic Medical Examination (FME) service, the way in which individuals in the area who wish to store evidence to give them time to consider their reporting intentions are facilitated, as ther…

255. Deputy Ryan O'Meara asked the Minister for Health further to Parliamentary Question No. 1147 of 10 February 2026, given health checks are not provided in Limerick’s local out-of-hours Forensic Medical Examination (FME) service, the way in which individuals who wish to receive a health check are facilitated in the area, as there is no dedicated SATU service in the area; and if she will make a …