Parliamentary questions

435. Deputy Thomas Gould asked the Minister for Health whether a family practice specialist can sit on the board of a practice and allow them to qualify for a GMS contract. [7098/26]

436. Deputy Cathal Crowe asked the Minister for Health when those who have children through surrogacy will have legal standing as parents under Irish law; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [7122/26]

437. Deputy Ryan O'Meara asked the Minister for Health if she will considerusingthe Women’s Health Fund and theSláintecareIntegration Fund tosubsidiseessentialpost-diagnosis care for women with cardiovascular disease, including medication,transportand rehabilitation; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [7124/26]

438. Deputy Claire Kerrane asked the Minister for Health the measures being taken to ensure that healthcare professionals in primary and secondary care receive training on sex-specific cardiovascular symptoms and risk factors; and how this will be integrated into accreditation and continuing professional development. [7131/26]

439. Deputy Barry Heneghan asked the Minister for Health further to Parliamentary Question No. 536 of 15 January 2026, whether as part of the ongoing review of access criteria for publicly funded assisted human reproduction treatment, her Department is examining the continued use of relationship status as a proxy for stability in eligibility assessments; whether consideration is being given to mor…

440. Deputy Michael Cahill asked the Minister for Health if a bed in a nursing home will be provided for a person in their own county (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [7203/26]

441. Deputy Michael Cahill asked the Minister for Health if a better system will be introduced that will cease the practice of providing nursing home beds that involve up to a five hour-plus round trip for families, friends and neighbours to visit loved ones in County Kerry; if the practice of sending Kerry patients to nursing homes outside the county could also cease immediately; and if she will …

442. Deputy Michael Cahill asked the Minister for Health the number of children waiting for mental health services in County Kerry from 2020 to the end of 2025, in tabular form; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [7228/26]

443. Deputy Michael Cahill asked the Minister for Health the length of time children waited for mental health services in County Kerry from 2020 to the end of 2025, in tabular form; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [7229/26]

444. Deputy Seán Ó Fearghaíl asked the Minister for Health if she will address concerns regarding general practitioner services raised in correspondence (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [7230/26]

445. Deputy Denise Mitchell asked the Minister for Health the steps being taken to ensure that clinical guidelines and cardiovascular risk assessment tools, reflect, sex-specific differences in women's cardiovascular policies; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [7237/26]

446. Deputy Carol Nolan asked the Minister for Health the details of any overspending identified in the Health Service Executive's budget for the fiscal year including the specific areas of overspend and the total amount exceeded; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [7263/26]

447. Deputy Carol Nolan asked the Minister for Health the steps taken to address the procurement irregularities highlighted by witnesses during the Oireachtas Public Accounts Committee debate on 22 January 2026, including any investigations initiated and sanctions applied; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [7264/26]

448. Deputy Carol Nolan asked the Minister for Health the breakdown of the costs associated with agency staffing in the health sector; the measures in place to reduce reliance on such staffing to ensure value for public money; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [7265/26]

449. Deputy Carol Nolan asked the Minister for Health the actions implemented following the audit findings on capital project overruns, particularly regarding major infrastructure developments; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [7266/26]

450. Deputy Carol Nolan asked the Minister for Health the mechanisms for holding senior HSE officials accountable for financial decisions including any performance metrics or oversight protocols; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [7267/26]

451. Deputy Carol Nolan asked the Minister for Health the total public funds allocated to private contractors in the health sector for the period 2020-to date; the criteria used to ensure competitive tendering and cost-effectiveness; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [7268/26]

452. Deputy Carol Nolan asked the Minister for Health if she will outline the internal controls introduced to prevent future financial discrepancies similar to those examined in the Oireachtas Public Accounts Committee debate on 22 January 2026; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [7269/26]

453. Deputy Carol Nolan asked the Minister for Health the rationale behind any supplementary funding requests made by the HSE in 2024 and 2025; the way in which such requests align with overall fiscal responsibility; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [7270/26]

454. Deputy Carol Nolan asked the Minister for Health the timeline for implementing the recommendations from the Comptroller and Auditor General's report discussed in the Oireachtas Public Accounts Committee debate on 22 January 2026, with particular emphasis on enhancing transparency in public expenditure; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [7271/26]

455. Deputy Malcolm Byrne asked the Minister for Health the number of older persons in County Wexford awaiting a home help package, by area and by length of time waiting; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [7286/26]

456. Deputy Malcolm Byrne asked the Minister for Health the number of older persons in County Wicklow awaiting a home help package, by area and by length of time waiting; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [7287/26]

457. Deputy Marie Sherlock asked the Minister for Health the funding allocation for general practice nurses; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [7299/26]

458. Deputy Marie Sherlock asked the Minister for Health the funding opportunities available for general practice nurses in upskilling and training; the amount that has been spent in providing training and upskilling for GP nurses; how any such funds are distributed; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [7300/26]

459. Deputy Donna McGettigan asked the Minister for Health if she is aware that a child aged 9 years-of-age or over travelling on public transport with a medical card is entitled to an accompanying adult who travels for free, but the child themselves does not travel for free; if she will ensure both child and accompanying adult will travel for free; and if she will make a statement on the matter. …