Parliamentary questions

546. Deputy Peter 'Chap' Cleere asked the Minister for Health for an update on the pathfinder service for Carlow and Kilkenny; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [5312/26]

547. Deputy Brendan Smith asked the Minister for Health if the provision of a new service will be considered (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [5378/26]

548. Deputy Malcolm Byrne asked the Minister for Health the status of the old health clinic at Tinahely, County Wicklow; the number of years remaining on any lease; the plans for the disposal of the property; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [5379/26]

549. Deputy Pádraig Rice asked the Minister for Health the status of the Strategic Review of General Practice; to provide a firm timeline for competition of the Strategic Review; the reason for the delay in its completion; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [5380/26]

550. Deputy Robert O'Donoghue asked the Minister for Health her views on whether the marketing, packaging and prominent retail display of vapes and snuff products are designed to attract children and young people; if she will introduce legislation requiring these products to be kept out of sight in retail outlets, similar to tobacco products; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [5396/2…

551. Deputy Marie Sherlock asked the Minister for Health the reason the HSE National Service Plan 2026 is only committing to 134 additional net new acute hospital beds, which is a significant drop on the HSE National Service Plan 2025 commitment for an additional 297 acute beds; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [4913/26]

263. Deputy Barry Ward asked the Minister for Health the position regarding the report published by the Online Health Taskforce in December 2025; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [4709/26]

264. Deputy Barry Ward asked the Minister for Health the position regarding the implementation of the recommendations of the report published by the Online Health Taskforce in December 2025; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [4710/26]

265. Deputy Barry Ward asked the Minister for Health the position regarding the implementation of any recommendations related to protecting children online as part of the report published by the Online Health Taskforce in December 2025; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [4711/26]

266. Deputy Ruth Coppinger asked the Minister for Health when a person will be given a date for a marriage of convenience interview (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [5087/26]

267. Deputy Peadar Tóibín asked the Minister for Health further to Parliamentary Question No. 2608 of 29 July 2025, if a county-by-county, or CHO area breakdown can be provided on these figures; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [4513/26]

268. Deputy Brendan Smith asked the Minister for Health if measures will be introduced to increase the provision of places in dental schools in view of the shortage of dentists; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [4516/26]

269. Deputy Brendan Smith asked the Minister for Health if measures will be introduced to ensure the availability of more places for Irish students in dental schools; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [4517/26]

270. Deputy Pádraig O'Sullivan asked the Minister for Health if she will include enhanced flu vaccines for older people in the procurement process for the next flu season, as recommended by the NIAC; and if she will clarify whether both types of enhanced flu vaccine routinely available in other European countries, including adjuvated and high dose vaccines, will be considered for inclusion in this…

271. Deputy Pádraig O'Sullivan asked the Minister for Health whether she will request that the NIAC update its recommendation on enhanced influenza vaccination for older persons, given the large number of hospitalisations for flu this season, and the fact the existing recommendation has not been updated since 2021. [4520/26]

272. Deputy William Aird asked the Minister for Health the steps being taken to introduce a formal compassionate use programme in Ireland for orphan drugs, in light of the fact that several EU member states already have such programmes allowing patients early access to potentially life-saving treatments prior to full market authorisation; when such a programme will be established to ensure patient…

273. Deputy William Aird asked the Minister for Health if she will review the criteria for medical card eligibility to allow for an audiology-only medical card, or similar entitlement, for individuals with congenital deafness who face unavoidable and lifelong costs for essential hearing aids; if she will consider removing or modifying means-testing in cases where the medical need is permanent and …

274. Deputy William Aird asked the Minister for Health the actions being taken to reduce the current reliance on locum consultants, given that 16.5% of consultant posts are filled on a locum basis; the reason for delays in advertising and filling permanent posts, including where advance notice of retirements is available; her assessment of the impact of high locum use on continuity of care, servic…

275. Deputy William Aird asked the Minister for Health the steps being taken to improve supports for people with food allergies in public settings; the plans to develop a national allergy strategy; and the actions being considered to enhance emergency preparedness, staff training and access to treatments such as anaphylaxis kits and oral immunotherapy; and if she will make a statement on the matte…

276. Deputy William Aird asked the Minister for Health the way in which the newly published paper,’ Ireland’s Future Health and Social Care Workforce’, will guide long-term workforce planning across the health and social care sectors; the way its evidence-based projections will support the delivery of Programme for Government commitments and Sláintecare 2025+; and if she will make a statement on t…

277. Deputy William Aird asked the Minister for Health if she will outline her Department’s approach to supporting quality and consistency in community-based counselling and psychotherapy services, including workforce development; whether her Department recognises the role of national quality initiatives such as the Community Therapy Ireland Badge of Excellence in promoting professional, person-ce…

278. Deputy William Aird asked the Minister for Health to detail the expected workforce shortfalls identified in the ESRI-informed modelling; the proposed actions, particularly the expansion of domestic education and training capacity, which will ensure Ireland can meet the health needs of a growing and ageing population over the next 15 years; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [4528…

279. Deputy William Aird asked the Minister for Health to set out how the cross-Government approach, including collaboration with the Departments of Further and Higher Education, Children, Disability and Equality, and Education and Youth, will support the recruitment, retention and development of a sustainable health and social care workforce aligned with WHO workforce planning principles; and if …

280. Deputy William Aird asked the Minister for Health if she will provide any research or Departmental analysis on the health and wellbeing benefits associated with remote working, including reduced stress, increased physical activity and lower mortality risk; whether these findings will inform future public health planning; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [4530/26]

281. Deputy William Aird asked the Minister for Health if she will outline the Government’s position on ensuring equitable access to orphan medicines given the current restrictions and the consequences for those affected; if she will provide timelines for the publication and funding of the new national rare disease plan; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [4531/26]