Parliamentary questions

810. Deputy Michael Murphy asked the Minister for Health the status of engagement between her Department, the HSE and the Department of Justice, Home Affairs and Migration regarding the withdrawal of coronial post-mortem provision at University Hospital Waterford; the outcomes of any meetings held since November 2024 when the issue was formally notified; the responsibilities being assumed by each …

811. Deputy Michael Murphy asked the Minister for Health the way in which the HSE intends to ensure that the modern mortuary facilities at University Hospital Waterford continue to be utilised for coronial post-mortems after January 2026; whether external pathologists could be deployed or contracted to operate on-site; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [65217/25]

812. Deputy Michael Murphy asked the Minister for Health the impact on diagnostic and surgical pathology waiting times at UHW arising from the workload pressures described in the HSE response; whether the unmet requirement for 18 WTE diagnostic pathologists has affected cancer pathways, turnaround times, or patient outcomes; and the plan to bring the service into compliance with safe staffing leve…

813. Deputy Michael Murphy asked the Minister for Health the national strategy being developed to address the shortage of appropriately qualified autopsy pathologists, as highlighted in the response relating to UHW; whether the HSE intends to develop dedicated autopsy pathology posts separate from diagnostic roles; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [65219/25]

814. Deputy Michael Murphy asked the Minister for Health the actions her Department and the HSE are taking to ensure coroners, funeral directors and bereaved families in Waterford, Wexford, Kilkenny, Carlow and Tipperary are fully informed about the changes to post-mortem arrangements from January 2026; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [65220/25]

815. Deputy Seán Canney asked the Minister for Health her views on whether CORU’s recently published standards for training and practice in psychotherapy represents a decrease in standards, as the proposed regulation would see the removal for personal therapy in training, the elimination of mandatory clinical supervision during training, a dramatic reduction in clinical training hours, the removal…

816. Deputy John McGuinness asked the Minister for Health if the full-time care package for a person (details supplied) promised by the HSE will be put in place immediately; if the disposable sheets and pads required will be provided by the HSE; and if a positive response will be expedited. [65232/25]

817. Deputy Brian Stanley asked the Minister for Health to ensure applications for European health insurance cards for travelling can be done by way of a paper form, as well as online, to facilitate persons who are not computer literate and may not have access to a computer; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [65236/25]

818. Deputy Richard Boyd Barrett asked the Minister for Health further to Parliamentary Question No. 679 of 23 September 2025, whether the ongoing development of radiation oncology services is in line with the National Plan for Radiation Oncology, considering that it is now 2025 and that this plan notes that there will be a need for a further phased increase to 38 linear accelerators by 2015. [652…

819. Deputy Richard Boyd Barrett asked the Minister for Health further to Parliamentary Question No. 679 of 23 September 2025, to clarify that there is a distinction between 'ongoing development programmes' and 'replacement programmes', in the context of radiation therapy equipment. [65238/25]

820. Deputy John Paul O'Shea asked the Minister for Health for an update on the waiting lists for home support in each CHO area for 2025; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [65239/25]

821. Deputy Marie Sherlock asked the Minister for Health her plans to extend the public fertility scheme to same-sex couples who are currently excluded from the scheme; the timeline for any such changes; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [65252/25]

822. Deputy Tom Brabazon asked the Minister for Health the number of occupational therapists and physiotherapists, by grade posts filled at Coolock primary care centre in 2023, 2024 and to date in 2025, in tabular form. [65269/25]

823. Deputy Sorca Clarke asked the Minister for Health for an update on the establishment of the Traveller mental health specialist group; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [65280/25]

824. Deputy Seamus Healy asked the Minister for Health the number of WTE consultant nephrologists at Cork University Hospital in the years of 2023, 2024 and to date in 2025, in tabular form. [65334/25]

825. Deputy Seamus Healy asked the Minister for Health the number of WTE consultant psychiatrist posts filled, based at each primary care centre within CHO5 in the years of 2024 and to date in 2025, in tabular form. [65335/25]

826. Deputy Seamus Healy asked the Minister for Health the number of WTE family support worker and community development worker posts that were filled at mid-western regional drugs and alcohol task force in 2024 and to date in 2025, in tabular form. [65336/25]

827. Deputy Malcolm Byrne asked the Minister for Health the access which is available for young adults to mental health services in Gorey and North County Wexford; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [65340/25]

828. Deputy Malcolm Byrne asked the Minister for Health the access which is available for young adults to mental health services in Arklow and South County Wicklow; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [65341/25]

829. Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Health the current HSE policy on providing elective, non-medical circumcision procedures in public hospitals, and the decision pathway used to approve or decline such requests. [65347/25]

830. Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Health the number of elective, non-medical circumcisions performed in public hospitals in each of the past five years, by hospital, and the number of theatre sessions allocated for these procedures. [65348/25]

831. Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Health whether any national clinical guidelines exist for the provision of non-medical circumcision in public hospitals, and if so who approved those guidelines, when they were approved, and whether the HSE reviewed their budget or theatre-time implications. [65349/25]

832. Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Health whether public hospitals are authorised to offer non-medical circumcision without a medical indication, and the oversight or audit process in place to track such procedures. [65350/25]

833. Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Health the estimated cost to the HSE of providing non-medical circumcision in public hospitals in each of the past five years, including consultant time, theatre use, anaesthesia, and post-operative care. [65351/25]

834. Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Health the criteria used to determine whether a procedure without medical indication may be carried out in a public hospital, and whether this includes cultural or religious requests, and if so how the HSE ensures these procedures do not displace medically necessary care. [65352/25]