Parliamentary questions

1058. Deputy Keira Keogh asked the Minister for Health the measures her Department is taking to reduce financial hardship for healthcare workers who had to leave work due to contracting Covid, and subsequently Long Covid, in view of the fact that the special scheme has come to an end; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [14928/26]

1059. Deputy Barry Heneghan asked the Minister for Health the allocation of theatre time by speciality, together with details of the utilisation of that allocated time for University Hospital Limerick; if every allocated hour of theatre time is being fully utilised by each speciality; if any recorded periods during which allocated theatre time was not used, including the duration and reason where …

1060. Deputy Ruth Coppinger asked the Minister for Health further to Parliamentary Question No. 2610 of 8 September 2025, the reason none of the urgent recommendations of the private psychiatry needs assessment a person (details supplied) was asked to supply by the HSE has not been implemented yet; if she will recognise the urgency of the situation, take steps to resolve it; and if she will make a…

1061. Deputy Ruth Coppinger asked the Minister for Health further to Parliamentary Questions No. 2610 of 8 September 2025, the reason four safeguarding reports have yet to be acted upon relating to a person (details supplied) who is in need of access to social work and OT; and if her Department will take urgent steps to correct this in light of the seriousness of the concerns raised in the reports…

1062. Deputy Ruth Coppinger asked the Minister for Health if she will meet with a person (details supplied) who has been awaiting support for access to mental health services, occupational therapy and social work to resolve and help progress the situation. [14935/26]

1063. Deputy Martin Daly asked the Minister for Health if there is currently an assessment of needs officer in place in County Galway [14936/26]

1064. Deputy Martin Daly asked the Minister for Health if there is currently an assessment of needs officer in place in County Roscommon [14937/26]

1065. Deputy Sean Fleming asked the Minister for Health for an update on the upcoming national obesity strategy and the cardiovascular strategy (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [14940/26]

1066. Deputy Sean Fleming asked the Minister for Health her views on whether her Department is considering expanding funding for Level 2 obesity services under the HSE’s obesity model of care; if this will be considered in the upcoming National Obesity Strategy; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [14941/26]

1067. Deputy Sean Fleming asked the Minister for Health if she will fully implement the recommendations of the National Clinical Trials Oversight Group that by early 2026, her Department will establish a clinical trials advisory council; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [14942/26]

1068. Deputy Robert O'Donoghue asked the Minister for Health if she has any updates on incentives to expand and improve access to GP care in rapidly developing towns, such as Skerries; if she has any plans to reassess the existing cap on GMS or GP visit cards in light of recent population growth not meeting the demand for GP care; if she is aware of any existing or future mitigation measures for r…

1069. Deputy David Cullinane asked the Minister for Health there is a model of care for allergies; if one will be developed; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [14965/26]

1070. Deputy Barry Heneghan asked the Minister for Health the allocation of theatre time by speciality, together with details of the utilisation of that allocated time for University Hospital Galway; if every allocated hour of theatre time is being fully utilised by each speciality; the recorded periods during which allocated theatre time was not used; the duration and reason where available, in t…

1071. Deputy Pádraig O'Sullivan asked the Minister for Health if she will outline the steps to ensure that an organisation (details supplied) continues to be supported into the future, given its role in delivering oral health prevention programmes for vulnerable groups across Ireland; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [14989/26]

1072. Deputy Pádraig O'Sullivan asked the Minister for Health if she recognises the importance of the oral health prevention programmes delivered by an organisation (details supplied) in DEIS primary schools, work with the traveller community and with Men’s Sheds; and if she will outline whether additional funding or resources will be made available to enable the foundation to expand its work with…

1073. Deputy Mark Ward asked the Minister for Health the number of public health nurses in Rowlagh health centre; the number of vacancies; the areas they cover; the areas that are without a public health nurse service; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [14991/26]

1074. Deputy Robert Troy asked the Minister for Health if she will urgently expedite an appointment for surgery for a person (details supplied). [14993/26]

1075. Deputy Pádraig Rice asked the Minister for Health if other HSE Inclusion Health Clinics have been opened (details supplied); if so, the locations; if there are plans to establish further HSE Inclusion Health Clinics; if so, the proposed locations; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [14999/26]

1076. Deputy Pádraig Rice asked the Minister for Health if screening for spinal muscular atrophy will be included in the national newborn bloodspot screening programme before the end of March 2026, as cited by a leading paediatric clinician in recent media coverage (details supplied); the preparations currently underway to ensure this timeline is met, given that more than two years has elapsed sin…

1077. Deputy Paul Nicholas Gogarty asked the Minister for Health whether there are notable regional variations in approval rates for a primary medical certificate; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [15014/26]

1078. Deputy Paul Nicholas Gogarty asked the Minister for Health the approximate percentage in recent years of applicants for a primary medical certificate suffering with Parkinson’s Disease (details supplied), which have been granted at initial stage or on appeal; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [15015/26]

1079. Deputy Pádraig Rice asked the Minister for Health the status of the funding application for the Cork city homeless hub (details supplied); the reason for the delay in a decision; the timeline for funding; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [15016/26]

1080. Deputy Robert Troy asked the Minister for Health if it can be ensured that occupational, or older persons, services in CHO8 supply a suitable wheelchair to a person (details supplied). [15018/26]

1081. Deputy Cathal Crowe asked the Minister for Health the action being taken to reduce waiting times for dermatology outpatient appointments; the number of patients seen on average at outpatient clinics per week; if dermatology treatment is eligible for coverage under the NTPF; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [15035/26]

1082. Deputy Marie Sherlock asked the Minister for Health the reason access to the interpretation service for GPs has been cut and to set out the size of the funding reduction for each IHA. [15057/26]