Parliamentary questions

572. Deputy Ann Graves asked the Minister for Health if she will give consideration to providing a number of free sessions with registered therapists or counsellors, to improve mental health. [3225/26]

573. Deputy Ann Graves asked the Minister for Health when the Donabate Primary Care Centre tender will proceed, considering the massive population growth in Donabate; if she will confirm there are plans to expand the local GP service, dental service, chronic care for older persons or the service for CAMHS. [3226/26]

574. Deputy Peadar Tóibín asked the Minister for Health if she anticipates strengthening the delegation in consideration of the framework for safeguarding. [3233/26]

575. Deputy Peadar Tóibín asked the Minister for Health the status of the Confidential Recipient annual report, as the last report was issued in 2022. [3234/26]

576. Deputy Peadar Tóibín asked the Minister for Health with the establishment of regional health areas in the HSE, if the Confidential Recipient is satisfied that the level of communication with the regional executive officers and other senior managers is providing an effective line of communication. [3235/26]

577. Deputy Peadar Tóibín asked the Minister for Health if the six REO’s understand the independent role of the Confidential Recipient; the powers delegated to the Confidential Recipient; the independence and confidentiality of the office; and if the professional communication between the relevant parties is working effectively. [3236/26]

578. Deputy Peadar Tóibín asked the Minister for Health if the CEO of the HSE has ensured that the Confidential Recipient has met with the six REO’s and the CEO to ensure collaborative working. [3237/26]

579. Deputy Peadar Tóibín asked the Minister for Health if service users can be confident that when they contact the Confidential Recipient, that the service is confidential and independent without interference or undue influence from the HSE and its internal operations. [3238/26]

580. Deputy Peadar Tóibín asked the Minister for Health if the Confidential Recipient has a role to play in ensuring the safety and protection of vulnerable adults, where concerns are reported to the Confidential Recipient and the HSE fails to act. [3239/26]

581. Deputy Peadar Tóibín asked the Minister for Health if a matter (details supplied) being upheld and maintained to ensure the Confidential Recipient can carry out their duties fully in the manner intended to protect all vulnerable people. [3240/26]

582. Deputy Peadar Tóibín asked the Minister for Health if it is easy for the Confidential Recipient to contact the CEO of the HSE where serious concerns arise and the HSE fails to act appropriately; and the procedure for doing so. [3241/26]

583. Deputy Peadar Tóibín asked the Minister for Health if she will meet with the Confidential Recipient. [3242/26]

584. Deputy Marie Sherlock asked the Minister for Health the rate of accrual for access to the public sector pension for those signing POCC23. [3251/26]

585. Deputy Marie Sherlock asked the Minister for Health the number signing up to POCC23 for each of the years 2023, 2024 and 2025. [3252/26]

586. Deputy Marie Sherlock asked the Minister for Health the number of consultants aged over 55 years who signed the POCC23 by the end of 2025. [3253/26]

587. Deputy Marie Sherlock asked the Minister for Health the number of consultants aged between 45 and 55 years who signed the POCC23 by the end of 2025. [3254/26]

588. Deputy Michael Murphy asked the Minister for Health for an update on progress regarding the proposed new 60-bed community nursing unit for Cashel, County Tipperary; if the site option appraisal and architect’s report referred to in correspondence to this Deputy on 2 September 2025 have now been completed; if a preferred site has been identified; and the next steps and indicative timeframe for…

589. Deputy Michael Healy-Rae asked the Minister for Health if baby formula can be obtained from the UK through a scheme (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [3267/26]

590. Deputy Erin McGreehan asked the Minister for Health the expected completion date for the new hospice facility in Drogheda; whether an interim community palliative care model will be funded and operational in the Ardee–Drogheda–Dundalk corridor pending its opening; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [3280/26]

591. Deputy Erin McGreehan asked the Minister for Health to provide a regional breakdown of palliative care service availability, staffing levels, and operating hours showing Ardee, Dundalk, and the Drogheda catchment areas, including comparison with national averages; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [3281/26]

592. Deputy Erin McGreehan asked the Minister for Health the current level of out-of-hours and weekend community palliative nursing provision available in counties Louth, Meath, Cavan and Monaghan; how this compares with national standards and other regions; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [3282/26]

593. Deputy Erin McGreehan asked the Minister for Health the number of emergency department attendances and unplanned hospital admissions in the northeast, in the past three years, that were clinically attributable to the absence of out-of-hours community palliative care, broken down by county; and the steps being taken to reduce these admissions. [3283/26]

594. Deputy Erin McGreehan asked the Minister for Health the way in which the continued absence of out-of-hours community palliative care in the northeast is consistent with commitments under Sláintecare, the National Adult Palliative Care Policy, and the Programme for Government to shift care from hospitals into the community. [3284/26]

595. Deputy Mark Wall asked the Minister for Health the progress made to date in advancing the Programme for Government commitment to increase ring-fenced home care hours and funding for dementia intensive home care packages; the breakdown of the number of dementia intensive home care hours delivered nationally in 2024 and 2025, respectively; the number of recipients of these intensive home suppor…

596. Deputy Niamh Smyth asked the Minister for Health to provide a list of funding open to first responders groups in order to facilitate training and the upkeep of such a vital service; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [3289/26]