Parliamentary questions

977. Deputy Colm Burke asked the Minister for Health the way in which Ireland can lead European Union conversation on cardiovascular health during the upcoming Presidency of the Council of the European Union; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [17238/26]

978. Deputy Colm Burke asked the Minister for Health the issues in healthcare her Department plans to champion specifically within the upcoming Presidency of the Council of the European Union. [17239/26]

979. Deputy Sorca Clarke asked the Minister for Health the number of occupational therapist posts within primary care services in Longford and Westmeath; the number of these posts that are currently vacant; the steps being taken to fill these vacancies in order to reduce waiting lists for occupational therapy services; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [17332/26]

475. Deputy Michael Cahill asked the Minister for Health if she will expedite the provision of a new maternity unit at University Hospital Kerry given the clinical risks to both mother and baby due to the location of the existing unit, which is quite a distance from the operating theatre; if this urgent and necessary facility be progressed in 2026; and if she will make a statement on the matter. […

476. 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, which will significantly help address the overcrowding in the accident and emergency department, along with the trolley crisis at the hospital; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [15661/26]

477. Deputy Michael Cahill asked the Minister for Health to give a detailed progress report with regard to the provision of a new permanent oncology and haematology unit at University Hospital Kerry, and if she will prioritise this new oncology unit for Kerry patients; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [15668/26]

478. Deputy Ruth Coppinger asked the Minister for Health her current plans to ensure that those on the standard public service sick leave scheme due to contracting Long Covid can gain access to other HSE schemes; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [15670/26]

479. Deputy Erin McGreehan asked the Minister for Health if she will provide an update on the commitment contained in the HSE Service Plan, published in December 2025, which states that a community neuro-rehabilitation team will be established in the Dublin North East region in 2026; the current status of planning and resourcing for this team; the expected timeline for recruitment and service comm…

480. Deputy Charles Ward asked the Minister for Health the total number of beds which are currently closed in all community hospitals in Donegal, in tabular form; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [15672/26]

481. Deputy Charles Ward asked the Minister for Health the number of additional staff, including nurses, care assistants and other staff are needed in each community hospital, in order to safely staff all currently closed beds in these community hospitals in Donegal, in tabular form; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [15673/26]

482. Deputy Willie O'Dea asked the Minister for Health if a site has been identified yet for the new hospital in Limerick; If not, the timeframe; the proposed new Board to progress the project which been constituted yet; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [15679/26]

483. Deputy David Cullinane asked the Minister for Health when the Government changed the policy on the co-location of the Rotunda Maternity Hospital with the Mater Misericordiae University Hospital; if she now recognises the current location as the long-term location of the Rotunda in effective co-location with the Mater; if she is now ruling out re-location to the Rotunda to the Temple Street si…

484. Deputy David Cullinane asked the Minister for Health following the dissolution of the CervicalCheck Tribunal, the full costs of the Tribunal from inception to dissolution, by cost type by year; the number of eligible claims; the number of claims made; the number of decisions made; the number of settlements or awards made; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [15683/26]

485. Deputy David Cullinane asked the Minister for Health the plans which have been established to fund the implementation of the National Review of Cardiac Services; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [15692/26]

486. Deputy David Cullinane asked the Minister for Health the funding which has been made available for the national stroke strategy; what the funding is being used for; the actions being implemented in 2026 and 2027 as part of the national stroke strategy; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [15693/26]

487. Deputy David Cullinane asked the Minister for Health the costs of ensuring adequate national capacity to deliver cardiac rehabilitation to all patients for whom it is recommended, ensuring that staffing and resources are protected; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [15694/26]

488. Deputy David Cullinane asked the Minister for Health the plans which have been established to fund the implementation of the new cardiac rehabilitation model of care; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [15695/26]

489. Deputy David Cullinane asked the Minister for Health the status of the expansion of cardiac rehabilitation services for HSE West and North-west; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [15696/26]

490. Deputy Peadar Tóibín asked the Minister for Health further to Parliamentary Questions Nos. 427 and 428 of 13 November 2025, if she will advise on the outcome of the review conducted by her officials in relation to the proposed sale of the property; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [15714/26]

491. Deputy Paul McAuliffe asked the Minister for Health to provide an update on an appointment for a person (details supplied). [15717/26]

492. Deputy David Cullinane asked the Minister for Health if she will provide an update on the work of the non-statutory inquiry into the licensing and use of sodium valproate in women of child-bearing potential in the State; the details of the stages of the inquiry; the remaining timeline for the inquiry; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [15728/26]

493. Deputy Sorca Clarke asked the Minister for Health if she will confirm the current number of mental health inpatient beds in each RHA; the additional beds that have been promised to meet shortfalls; the location of the shortfalls; and the timelines attached to delivering those additional beds. [15737/26]

494. Deputy Shane Moynihan asked the Minister for Health the progress that has been made in developing a national eye health workforce strategy under Sláintecare; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [15738/26]

495. Deputy Shane Moynihan asked the Minister for Health if she will introduce independent prescribing legislation for qualified optometrists [15739/26]

496. Deputy Shane Moynihan asked the Minister for Health the steps her Department is taking in preparation in the context of 50% of the global population being short-sighted by 2050; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [15740/26]