Parliamentary questions

669. Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Health the number of whole-time equivalent consultants in pain medicine, by hospital group; and the number of unfilled or approved posts currently vacant. [68066/25]

670. Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Health the number of community-based chronic pain programmes in operation nationwide; and the way in which the findings of the iPainCentre pilot have informed national service planning. [68067/25]

671. Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Health the current vacancy figures for occupational therapy posts in Cork, by network and grade; and the expected timeline for filling these posts. [68068/25]

672. Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Health her Department’s formal targets for reducing occupational therapy waiting times in Cork; and when waiting times in each network are projected to fall below 12-weeks. [68069/25]

673. Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Health the funding allocation for occupational therapy services in Cork for 2026, including development posts, replacement posts and planned waiting-list initiatives. [68070/25]

674. Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Health the number of occupational therapists who left HSE posts in Cork in 2024, and to date in 2025; and the recorded reasons for exit. [68071/25]

675. Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Health the current vacancy rate across the South South-West Hospital Group and Cork Kerry Community Healthcare, by hospital and specialty, including the number of approved posts versus filled posts. [68072/25]

676. Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Health the number of staff recruited in 2024 and to date in 2025 in the South South-West Hospital Group and Cork Kerry Community Healthcare under the Department’s recruitment and retention initiatives, including graduate retention, targeted campaigns and agency conversions. [68073/25]

677. Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Health the national spend on chronic pain services in each of the past five years; and when full and consistent reporting for chronic pain services will be in place across all hospital groups and community healthcare organisations. [68074/25]

678. Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Health to publish the current waiting times for chronic pain assessment and treatment in each hospital group, including the longest waits recorded, and the actions planned to reduce these delays. [68075/25]

679. Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Health the current number of consultants in pain medicine working in the HSE; the number of approved posts that remain vacant, and the steps planned in 2025 and 2026 to strengthen the workforce for chronic pain services. [68076/25]

680. Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Health to list all community-based chronic pain programmes funded by the HSE; the budget for each; and the date on which the evaluation of the iPainCentre pilot will inform national service planning. [68077/25]

681. Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Health the current number of unfilled occupational therapy posts in Cork, by network and grade; and the expected dates for filling these posts. [68078/25]

682. Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Health the targets set for reducing occupational therapy waiting times in Cork; and the date by which each network is expected to reach a waiting time of under 12 weeks. [68079/25]

683. Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Health the level of funding assigned to occupational therapy services in Cork for 2026, including new posts, replacement posts and resources for waiting list work. [68080/25]

684. Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Health the number of staff who left occupational therapy posts in Cork during 2024 and 2025; and the recorded reasons for their exit. [68081/25]

685. Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Health the number of vacant community health posts in Cork, by discipline and whole-time equivalent; and the expected recruitment timeline for each. [68082/25]

686. Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Health the current vacancy rate in the South South-West Hospital Group and Cork Kerry Community Healthcare, by service and grade; and the number of approved posts and filled posts as of the most recent reporting period. [68083/25]

687. Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Health to publish the current waiting times for occupational therapy, physiotherapy and speech and language therapy in Cork, broken down by network; the number of unfilled posts across these services; and the targets and timeline for bringing waiting times below 12-weeks in 2026. [68084/25]

688. Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Health the vacancy rate across all community health disciplines in Cork, including occupational therapy, physiotherapy, speech and language therapy, social work and social care work; the number of approved posts versus filled posts; and the recruitment timelines for 2026. [68085/25]

689. Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Health the number of staff recruited in 2024 and 2025 within the South South-West Hospital Group and Cork Kerry Community Healthcare; the number of staff who left during the same period; the number of posts currently dependent on agency workers; and the actions planned for 2026 to increase permanent staffing and reduce reliance on agency contracts. [6…

690. Deputy Pádraig Rice asked the Minister for Health if she will reverse the proposed changes to phased dispensing under the new community pharmacy agreement, which are due to come into operation on 1 January 2026; if her Department or the HSE assessed the impact of these changes on vulnerable patients to safely manage their medications; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [68087/25]

691. Deputy Pádraig Rice asked the Minister for Health if she will suspend implementation of the proposed changes to phased dispensing under the new community pharmacy agreement pending full consultation with front-line clinicians; if she will undertake a risk impact assessment, specifically examining effects on vulnerable groups; if she will commit to co-designing revised criteria for phased disp…

692. Deputy Pádraig Rice asked the Minister for Health if funding will be provided for an updated neurosurgical robot used in deep brain stimulation surgery (details supplied); if an immediate decision will be made given the urgent need for additional capacity; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [68090/25]

693. Deputy Marie Sherlock asked the Minister for Health the number of HSE employees who do not have contracts of employment with the HSE, and to account for why no contracts are in place for those employees. [68091/25]