Parliamentary questions

1043. Deputy Sorca Clarke asked the Minister for Health the availability of dual-diagnosis services across the State; the number of regions lacking dedicated services; and the implementation progress of the national dual-diagnosis strategy. [72136/25]

1044. Deputy Alan Kelly asked the Minister for Health the number of WTE consultant ophthalmic surgeons based at Nenagh Hospital in the years of 2023, 2024 and to-date in 2025, in tabular form. [72164/25]

1045. Deputy Alan Kelly asked the Minister for Health the number of WTE dentists and dental nurse staff, by grade, based at Tyone health centre, County Tipperary in the years of 2024 and to-date in 2025, in tabular form. [72165/25]

1046. Deputy Alan Kelly asked the Minister for Health the number of cataract surgeries carried out at Nenagh Hospital in the years of 2024 and to-date in 2025, in tabular form. [72166/25]

1047. Deputy Sorca Clarke asked the Minister for Health the number of psychiatric liaison teams operating in emergency departments nationwide; the hospitals where no such team is in place; and the plan to ensure every major emergency department has dedicated mental-health liaison staffing. [72178/25]

1048. Deputy Sorca Clarke asked the Minister for Health the number of mental-health crisis presentations to emergency departments in which An Garda Síochána were involved in transport or initial assessment; the guidance provided to emergency departments on managing these situations; and the steps being taken to reduce reliance on Gardaí in clinical mental-health emergencies. [72179/25]

1049. Deputy Sorca Clarke asked the Minister for Health the average waiting time for mental-health patients awaiting an inpatient bed in emergency departments; the hospitals with the longest delays; and the actions being taken to improve patient flow and reduce prolonged stays. [72180/25]

1050. Deputy Pádraig O'Sullivan asked the Minister for Health the progress made over the past 12 months on each of her Department’s programme for Government commitments, in tabular form; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [72198/25]

1051. Deputy Rose Conway-Walsh asked the Minister for Health the number of WTE consultant vascular surgeons based at Galway University Hospital in 2023, 2024 and to-date in 2025, in tabular form. [72216/25]

1052. Deputy Rose Conway-Walsh asked the Minister for Health the number of consultant neurologists working in the public health service; her plans to expand this number; the international recommended best practice ratio for consultant neurologist to population; and Ireland’s current ratio. [72217/25]

1053. Deputy Rose Conway-Walsh asked the Minister for Health the number of hip replacement surgeries carried out at Mayo University Hospital in the years 2024 and to date in 2025. in tabular form. [72218/25]

1054. Deputy Rose Conway-Walsh asked the Minister for Health the addiction services that are available in Mayo for young people and children aged under 18; the number of patients serviced; and the current waiting list for these services. [72219/25]

1055. Deputy Pádraig O'Sullivan asked the Minister for Health if her Department carried out an assessment of the financial or clinical impact of introducing a blister pack charge, particularly for older people; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [72225/25]

1056. Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Health the number of applications for a full medical card from persons aged 70 years and over that were refused in each of the years 2020 to 2025, and the income thresholds applied in each year that formed the basis for refusal. [72240/25]

1057. Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Health the median and upper-quartile income of applicants aged 70 years and over who were refused a Medical Card in each of the years 2020 to 2025, and the proportion whose means exceeded the threshold by fifty euro per week or less. [72241/25]

1058. Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Health if her Department has undertaken any review since 2020 of the adequacy of the medical card income thresholds for persons aged 70 years and over in light of cumulative inflation and rising living costs; and the findings of any such review. [72242/25]

1059. Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Health if her Department has assessed whether the continued rise in GP Visit Cards issued automatically to applicants aged 70 years and over indicates unmet need for full medical card coverage within this population; and the actions taken in response at policy level. [72243/25]

1060. Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Health if her Department has reviewed the administrative process required of persons aged 70 years and over when applying for a medical card, and whether any reforms are planned to streamline or reduce the documentation burden for older applicants. [72244/25]

1061. Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Health the current number of whole-time equivalent vacancies for social workers, social care workers and dietitians in the HSE South/South-West region; the average duration of these vacancies; and the projected contribution of apprenticeship schemes to reducing these vacancies in 2025 and 2026. [72250/25]

1062. Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Health the cost per apprentice for social work, social care work and dietetics; the budget provided to support these apprenticeships in 2025 and 2026; and the assessment used to determine whether current intake levels are sufficient to meet workforce needs. [72251/25]

1063. Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Health if her Department has set performance indicators or workforce targets for apprenticeships within the South/South-West region; and if so, the targets and the reporting schedule for monitoring progress. [72252/25]

1064. Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Health if an evaluation has been carried out on the effectiveness of apprenticeships in retaining qualified staff in the region; and to provide the findings of any such evaluation. [72253/25]

1065. Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Health the timeline for approval of the proposed social care worker apprenticeship; the planned intake numbers once approved; and how this aligns with projected shortages in disability services in the South/South-West. [72254/25]

1066. Deputy Pádraig O'Sullivan asked the Minister for Health the number and grades of additional clinical staff identified as necessary to increase patient access to orthodontic services; when recruitment for these posts will commence; the projected impact this staffing increase is expected to have on current waiting lists; and whether funding for these additional posts has been ring-fenced; and …

1067. Deputy Pádraig O'Sullivan asked the Minister for Health the details of the proposed once-off orthodontic grant of €3,000 for eligible patients; the criteria that will be used to determine eligibility; the way in which the allocation of the grant will operate in practice; whether this measure is intended to permanently supplement public capacity or serve as a temporary intervention to address…