Parliamentary questions

2478. Deputy Grace Boland asked the Minister for Health whether the funding of employee legal costs in litigation against the employing body could give rise to governance, accountability, or value for money concerns; whether her Department has issued any guidance in this regard; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [2095/26]

2479. Deputy Grace Boland asked the Minister for Health whether her Department has reviewed, or intends to review, the practice of Departments, and bodies under their aegis, funding legal costs in employment disputes involving those same bodies; and if so, the outcome or timeline for such a review; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [2113/26]

2480. Deputy Grace Boland asked the Minister for Health whether arrangements to fund legal costs in employment disputes involving her Department, or bodies under its aegis, require the prior approval of her Department or the Department of Public Expenditure, Infrastructure, Public Service Reform and Digitalisation; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [2131/26]

2481. Deputy Marie Sherlock asked the Minister for Health the total number of new acute hospital beds that are to be delivered through the National Development Plan 2026-2030; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [2139/26]

2482. Deputy Marie Sherlock asked the Minister for Health the total amount that is to be spent from the NDP sectoral plan for 2026-2030 funding of €9.25 billion on new acute hospital bed capacity; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [2140/26]

2483. Deputy Erin McGreehan asked the Minister for Health the reason for the current pause in recruitment of physician associates within the HSE; when the review of the profession will be concluded; and when recruitment is expected to resume. [2142/26]

2484. Deputy Erin McGreehan asked the Minister for Health the number of physician associate graduates affected by the current recruitment pause; whether the HSE intends to honour its undertaking to employ graduates whose training was fully funded by the State; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [2143/26]

2485. Deputy Erin McGreehan asked the Minister for Health how the role of physician associates fits within current and future healthcare workforce planning, particularly in acute hospitals experiencing staff shortages and long waiting lists. [2144/26]

2486. Deputy Marie Sherlock asked the Minister for Health when she expects the target of 446 beds, as committed to in the strategic multi-year plan to expand adult critical care capacity published in 2020, will be reached; the timeframe to reach that target of 446 critical care beds; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [2156/26]

2487. Deputy Marie Sherlock asked the Minister for Health the total number of acute inpatient hospital beds across all voluntary and public hospitals as of 31 December 2025; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [2196/26]

2488. Deputy Sorca Clarke asked the Minister for Health the number of referrals to CAMHS in 2025; the number of children waiting longer than recommended timeframes for assessment and treatments; the average waiting time by CHO, the number of posts vacant at year-end. [2201/26]

2489. Deputy Colm Burke asked the Minister for Health if she has engaged with the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage regarding the potential impact of proposed tenancy reforms (particularly the six-year tenancy requirement) on families participating in the fair deal nursing home loan scheme; if she accepts that the proposed legislation may create unintended financial hardship for …

2490. Deputy Jen Cummins asked the Minister for Health her plans to roll out the RSV vaccine to people over 70 years; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [2229/26]

2491. Deputy Jen Cummins asked the Minister for Health her plans to make the shingles vaccine free for over 70 year-olds; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [2230/26]

2492. Deputy Jen Cummins asked the Minister for Health her plans to expand BreastCheck to those over 70 years old; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [2231/26]

2493. Deputy Jen Cummins asked the Minister for Health her plans to expand CervicalCheck to over 70 year-olds; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [2232/26]

2494. Deputy Jen Cummins asked the Minister for Health her plans to reduce the age for cervical check below 25 years-of-age; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [2233/26]

2495. Deputy Jen Cummins asked the Minister for Health her plans to reduce the age of BreastCheck; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [2236/26]

2496. Deputy Robert Troy asked the Minister for Health if a more urgent appointment can be offered to a person (details supplied). [2237/26]

2497. Deputy Richard Boyd Barrett asked the Minister for Health if her Department is using artificial intelligence tools for any graphic design or similar work in place of artists, designers or videographers; and, if so, to outline which projects or units of the Department are affected. [2249/26]

2498. Deputy Richard Boyd Barrett asked the Minister for Health whether any agencies or other bodies under her remit are using artificial intelligence tools for any graphic design or similar work in place of artists, designers or videographers; and, if so, to outline which projects or units of the organisation are affected. [2267/26]

2499. Deputy Christopher O'Sullivan asked the Minister for Health her views on giving special status to the Castletownbere ambulance due to its geographical location (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [2281/26]

2500. Deputy Naoise Ó Cearúil asked the Minister for Health for an update on the introduction of spinal muscular atrophy screening to the national newborn heel-prick programme, further to its approval for inclusion; the expected timeline for rollout; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [2282/26]

2501. Deputy Eoghan Kenny asked the Minister for Health the number of people waiting and the length of time currently waiting for home help care, by county, in tabular form; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [2288/26]

2502. Deputy Pa Daly asked the Minister for Health whether she is aware of the case of a person (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [2296/26]