Parliamentary questions

1126. Deputy Pádraig Rice asked the Minister for Health if she plans to establish a national system for professional interpreting services in the HSE (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [8261/26]

1127. Deputy Alan Kelly asked the Minister for Health the number of WTE consultant paediatric gastroenterologists based at Cork University Hospital as of 28 January 2026. [8295/26]

1128. Deputy Alan Kelly asked the Minister for Health the number of WTE HSE-employed podiatrists, by grade, working within older persons services in CHO3 as of 28 January 2026, in tabular form. [8296/26]

1129. Deputy Mark Wall asked the Minister for Health if there are any plans to end the local and regional drug and alcohol task forces; if she plans to reform the 24 current locations and set ups; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [8316/26]

1130. Deputy Ruth Coppinger asked the Minister for Health further to Parliamentary Question No. 11 of 22 January 2026, the date of and the matters discussed in the meeting with pro-life groups she referred to in the response; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [8318/26]

1131. Deputy Mark Wall asked the Minister for Health the total funding that will be allocated for respite for older people in 2026. [8327/26]

1132. Deputy Fionntán Ó Súilleabháin asked the Minister for Health if there are plans to provide a mental health crisis unit in County Wexford; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [8331/26]

1133. Deputy Fionntán Ó Súilleabháin asked the Minister for Health the reason many patients receiving mental health treatment, have received cancellations from St. Otteran's Hospital Campus, John's Hill, Waterford, noting that this clinic provides service to many patients from County Wexford; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [8332/26]

1134. Deputy Peadar Tóibín asked the Minister for Health of the 620 people taking legal action against the State as a result of the cyber-attack on the health service have accepted the offer of compensation; if the number of persons taking legal action has increased following publicity around the compensation offer; the number of persons currently taking legal action against the State as a result …

1135. Deputy Catherine Ardagh asked the Minister for Health the rationale for the proposed establishment of regional structures under the National Drugs Strategy; the governance, funding and accountability arrangements for these structures; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [8357/26]

1136. Deputy Catherine Ardagh asked the Minister for Health the way in which population-based planning, that will be used for new National Drugs Strategy structures, will address deprivation and local need; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [8358/26]

1137. Deputy Catherine Ardagh asked the Minister for Health the consultation which has taken place with local drug and alcohol task forces and communities ahead of the proposed regional structures under the National Drugs Strategy; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [8359/26]

1138. Deputy Catherine Ardagh asked the Minister for Health the way in which the independent, community-led nature, and preventative role, of Task Forces will be protected in the new proposed regional structures under the National Drugs Strategy; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [8360/26]

1139. Deputy Claire Kerrane asked the Minister for Health the reason Birr First Responder Group was not alerted to an incident at a location (details supplied) on 27 January 2026; the reason the fire service was dispatched instead; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [8367/26]

1140. Deputy Seán Ó Fearghaíl asked the Minister for Health the number of WTE dietitians, by grade posts, filled at each primary care centre within CHO7 as of 27 January 2026, in tabular form; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [8371/26]

1141. Deputy Seán Ó Fearghaíl asked the Minister for Health the number of WTE consultant in geriatric medicine based at St James's Hospital as of 27 January 2026; the average waiting times to see these consultants for the first time; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [8372/26]

1142. Deputy Barry Ward asked the Minister for Health if her attention has been drawn to cases related to the fair deal scheme (details supplied); her views on how best for people in these circumstances to proceed; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [8384/26]

1143. Deputy Pat Buckley asked the Minister for Health to outline her approach to long-Covid; the funding allocations made to research and counteract long-term side effects; and the steps being taken to address this issue. [8408/26]

1144. Deputy Paul Murphy asked the Minister for Health whether she is concerned that more than two years on from the exposure of the spinal surgery implant scandal at Temple Street Hospital, the Medical Council who were requested to investigate the surgeon at the centre of the scandal (details supplied), appear to have issued the same surgeon a certificate of good standing to practice in the US; i…

1145. Deputy Sorca Clarke asked the Minister for Health the reason the HSE does not collect and monitor data relating to adult waiting lists and times for dental treatment provided under the dental treatment service scheme, or data relating to private patients; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [8424/26]

1146. Deputy Grace Boland asked the Minister for Health the status of the proposed national rollout of the iSIMPATHY medication safety programme, which demonstrated improved patient outcomes and cost savings during its HSE pilot; the timeline for national implementation; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [8432/26]

1147. Deputy Grace Boland asked the Minister for Health her plans to strengthen national medication safety initiatives in line with the WHO “Medication Without Harm” programme; if she will report on progress in ensuring that every patient has access to clear medication information, including the medicines list recently incorporated into the Health App; and if she will make a statement on the matte…

1148. Deputy Grace Boland asked the Minister for Health the current status of the AMRIC antimicrobial resistance programme; the additional supports or resources allocated to sustain this work in 2026; if she will provide assurances that the programme will remain a priority given its patient safety importance; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [8434/26]

1149. Deputy Grace Boland asked the Minister for Health the way in which patient empowerment and health literacy will be embedded within the new health regions; the structures in place to ensure meaningful engagement with patient advocacy groups, including an organisation (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [8435/26]

1150. Deputy Grace Boland asked the Minister for Health if her Department will commit to formal, ongoing engagement with an organisation (details supplied) as part of the implementation of the WHO Global Patient Safety Action Plan 2021–2030; the current channels of engagement between her Department, the HSE and the organisation; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [8436/26]