Parliamentary questions

868. Deputy Barry Heneghan asked the Minister for Health the number of cases which Part 5 applications for the making of Decision Making Representation Orders under the Assisted Decision Making Acts have been provided with independent advocacy support from the following organisations /and services, in tabular form (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [49333/26]

869. Deputy Maurice Quinlivan asked the Minister for Health to review the case of a child (details supplied) awaiting an orthodontist procedure; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [49334/26]

870. Deputy Darren O'Rourke asked the Minister for Health if she will allocate an additional €30,000 in funding to a centre (details supplied) in line with the request by an organisation in their Pre-Budget Submission 2027; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [49353/26]

871. Deputy Michael Murphy asked the Minister for Health if she will provide an update on the multidisciplinary working group established to address the absence of community ophthalmology services in south Tipperary; the date on which the group was established; its membership; the number of meetings held to date; the recommendations made by the group; and if she will make a statement on the matter…

872. Deputy Michael Murphy asked the Minister for Health for an update on the engagement between the HSE and the Royal Victoria Eye and Ear Hospital, Dublin regarding support for ophthalmology services in south Tipperary; the nature of the support sought; the arrangements agreed; the number of patients referred or treated under such arrangements; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [49…

873. Deputy Michael Murphy asked the Minister for Health for an update on the discussions undertaken by the HSE with a private provider regarding ophthalmology services for south Tipperary; whether the scoping exercise referred to in replies to Dáil Éireann has been completed; the findings of that exercise; whether any contractual arrangements have been entered into; the anticipated cost of any su…

874. Deputy Michael Murphy asked the Minister for Health for an update on the targeted ophthalmology "blitz" clinic initiative referred to in replies in Dáil Éireann relating to south Tipperary; whether the initiative has commenced; the number of clinics held to date; the number of children assessed or treated; the impact on waiting lists; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [49361/26…

875. Deputy Naoise Ó Muirí asked the Minister for Health the current status of the recruitment freeze on physician associates within the HSE; the reason this pause remains in place despite the publication of the PA review; when newly qualified graduates will be permitted to take up posts within the Irish health service; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [49393/26]

876. Deputy Naoise Ó Muirí asked the Minister for Health when she expects the recruitment freeze on physician associates to be lifted; if a formal implementation timeline has been agreed between her Department and the HSE; if she will make that timeline publicly available; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [49394/26]

877. Deputy Naoise Ó Muirí asked the Minister for Health the way in which her Department intends to ensure value for money in circumstances where the State has invested approximately €24,000 per physician associate students in training, yet graduates remain unable to take up employment within the health service due to the ongoing recruitment pause; and if she will make a statement on the matter. […

878. Deputy Naoise Ó Muirí asked the Minister for Health if her Department has assessed the number of recently qualified physician associates who remain unemployed, underemployed or reliant on jobseeker's supports due to the recruitment freeze; if she will provide updated figures; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [49396/26]

879. Deputy Naoise Ó Muirí asked the Minister for Health if she will review the proposed salary scale for physician associates, in view of concerns that the suggested structure represents a significant reduction compared with existing PA salaries and international norms; and if she will ensure that any finalised scale reflects the level of postgraduate medical training and clinical responsibility …

880. Deputy Naoise Ó Muirí asked the Minister for Health if her Department has carried out an assessment of the way in which the proposed salary scale for physician associates may affect recruitment, retention and the risk of emigration among Irish trained graduates; if she will publish the findings; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [49398/26]

881. Deputy Naoise Ó Muirí asked the Minister for Health the way in which the proposed scope of practice for physician associates aligns with the current training, competencies and clinical experience of Irish trained PAs; whether her Department plans to revise the framework to reflect evidence-based international practice; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [49399/26]

882. Deputy Naoise Ó Muirí asked the Minister for Health if consultant-led teams, clinical educators and existing PA supervisors were consulted in the development of the proposed scope of practice; and if she will publish the consultation feedback received. [49400/26]

883. Deputy Naoise Ó Muirí asked the Minister for Health when a full implementation plan for the physician associate review will be published; the milestones it will include; the way in which her Department intends to ensure timely integration of PAs into the health service; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [49403/26]

884. Deputy Naoise Ó Muirí asked the Minister for Health the way in which the continued inability of physician associates to enter the workforce aligns with national workforce planning objectives, hospital staffing pressures and efforts to reduce waiting lists; and the actions being taken to address this contradiction. [49404/26]

885. Deputy Martin Daly asked the Minister for Health whether the HSE has completed an assessment of the potential use of St. Vincent’s Care Centre, Athlone, as a dedicated step-down, rehabilitation or intermediate-care facility; whether a business case has been prepared; and the discussions that have taken place with the HSE Midlands Region regarding the future use of the site. [49429/26]

886. Deputy Martin Kenny asked the Minister for Health if the primary care speech and language therapy, SLT, role for counties Sligo and Leitrim, south Donegal and west Cavan is vacant; if so, the length of time this role has been vacant; when it is expected to be filled the role; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [49432/26]

887. Deputy Pádraig O'Sullivan asked the Minister for Health the number of children awaiting dental treatment under general anaesthetic (details supplied); the number waiting more than 12 months; the median waiting time; the corresponding figures for special care patients of all ages, given the position that data on special care patients is not consistently collected; the number of acute hospital …

888. Deputy Pádraig O'Sullivan asked the Minister for Health the national data her Department and the HSE hold on the incidence of pregnancy loss (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [49490/26]

889. Deputy Pádraig O'Sullivan asked the Minister for Health the number of public nursing home beds funded by the nursing homes support scheme in each of the years 2021 to 2025, and to date in 2026, in tabular form; the net change in the number of such beds in each of those years; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [49491/26]

890. Deputy Pádraig O'Sullivan asked the Minister for Health the number of miscarriages recorded in each maternity hospital and unit, by hospital and unit, in each of the years 2021 to 2025, and to date in 2026, in tabular form; the source and basis on which these figures are compiled; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [49492/26]

891. Deputy Pádraig O'Sullivan asked the Minister for Health , further to the Labour Court Recommendation LCR23209 issued in January 2026, which directed that the revised medical scientist pay scale applied from 1 January 2024, be applied to perfusionists with retrospective effect from that date, whether that recommendation has been implemented; if not, the reason it has not been implemented; whet…

892. Deputy Pádraig O'Sullivan asked the Minister for Health the number of cardiac surgeries and other procedures cancelled or postponed at Cork University Hospital as a result of the perfusionist industrial action on 9 June 2026; the number of paediatric procedures affected; whether any of those procedures have since been rescheduled; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [49494/26]