Parliamentary questions

558. Deputy Danny Healy-Rae asked the Minister for Health the funding and measures in place for sick and elderly people who live alone and are being discharged from acute hospital settings, and who need sufficient care to manage in their home. [64999/25]

559. Deputy Liam Quaide asked the Minister for Health if she plans to conduct an equality and human rights impact assessment (EHRIA) of a proposal by the HSE to develop a centralised 50-bed residential mental health service on the grounds of St. Stephen’s Hospital, Glanmire (details supplied); the details of when an EHRIA in this instance will be carried out; and by whom. [62686/25]

560. Deputy Eamon Scanlon asked the Minister for Health if she will give an update on the 15,000 free counselling sessions to men being provided as part of an integrated series of initiatives to ensure people with mental health difficulties are able to access the appropriate range of supports; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [64166/25]

561. Deputy Eamon Scanlon asked the Minister for Health her plans to regulate the sale of nicotine products for oral consumption; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [64167/25]

562. Deputy Peter Roche asked the Minister for Health her Department's perspective on the CORU revised standards and criteria for counsellors and psychotherapists (details supplied); and the reason the revised standards also reduce the requirements for clinical supervision of therapists, which is an essential component of safe practice and if she will make a statement on the matter. [64639/25]

563. Deputy Peter Roche asked the Minister for Health her Department's plans to expand access to mental health services for young people, including school-based supports and early intervention programmes; whether consideration has been given to strengthening community mental health teams in rural areas; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [64640/25]

564. Deputy Sorca Clarke asked the Minister for Health the number of outpatient and diagnostic appointments that have been offered, accepted, and recorded as did not attend/no show, in both the Regional Hospital Mullingar and the Regional Hospital Tullamore for the most recent full year; the number of patients currently on waiting lists in each hospital for MRI scans; the number of patients who ha…

565. Deputy Sorca Clarke asked the Minister for Health the number of MRI appointments carried out in the Regional Hospital Mullingar in the past three years; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [64642/25]

566. Deputy Sorca Clarke asked the Minister for Health the current number of children awaiting ASD assessments across the midlands, including a breakdown, by county and the average waiting time for assessment; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [64652/25]

567. Deputy Sorca Clarke asked the Minister for Health the total cost incurred by the HSE in outsourcing ASD assessments for children to private providers in the past five years; the number of children referred externally for assessment during that period; the average cost per outsourced assessment; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [64653/25]

568. Deputy Paul Donnelly asked the Minister for Health given cochlear implants are provided free of charge to deaf people, if there is potential for a change in policy in order that hearing aids can be made available free of charge, or at least with significantly greater financial support, to deaf people who need them. [64656/25]

569. Deputy Grace Boland asked the Minister for Health the number of psychology posts that have been approved nationally; the number currently vacant; the number of posts specifically allocated to Balbriggan; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [64657/25]

570. Deputy Grace Boland asked the Minister for Health the expected timeline for the recruitment and appointment of psychologists to fill the approved but vacant posts, including those in Balbriggan; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [64658/25]

571. Deputy Grace Boland asked the Minister for Health the contingency plans in place should recruitment efforts for psychology posts continue to face delays or stall, particularly in areas such as Balbriggan; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [64659/25]

572. Deputy Brian Stanley asked the Minister for Health when an occupational therapist will be recruited for primary care services in Laois; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [60014/25]

573. Deputy Brian Stanley asked the Minister for Health when an occupational therapist will be put in place in Laois to provide services to the elderly; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [60013/25]

574. Deputy Brian Stanley asked the Minister for Health when a psychologist cognitive behavioural therapist and a social worker will be put in place in County Laois; if the recruitment process is open; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [60016/25]

575. Deputy Paul Lawless asked the Minister for Health the number of individuals who have passed away while awaiting a hospital appointment or admission following a GP referral in each of the years from 2020 to date, in tabular form. [64671/25]

576. Deputy Paul Lawless asked the Minister for Health the breakdown, by hospital group and/or clinical specialism of the number of individuals who have passed away while on an outpatient or inpatient waiting list following a referral from a general practitioner, in each of the past five years. [64672/25]

577. Deputy Paul McAuliffe asked the Minister for Health to provide an update on the timeline of implementation for the expansion of community neurorehabilitation teams nationally, following funding allocations in Budget 2026; the expected timeline of implementation for a community neurorehabilitation team in Dublin northwest; the expected funding amount for a community neurorehabilitation team i…

578. Deputy Paul McAuliffe asked the Minister for Health the catchment areas for community neurorehabilitation teams in Dublin; the best possible options for constituents of Dublin northwest; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [64674/25]

579. Deputy Barry Heneghan asked the Minister for Health the interim actions being taken by her Department and the HSE to reduce audiology waiting times ahead of the publication of the National Hearing Care Plan in Q1 2026, including any temporary staffing supports or targeted initiatives to clear the current backlog; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [64679/25]

580. Deputy Barry Heneghan asked the Minister for Health whether the HSE plans to expand short-term access to private or community based audiology services, including options in Northern Ireland, in order to reduce delays for hearing assessments and hearing aids while the National Hearing Care Plan is being finalised; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [64680/25]

581. Deputy Emer Currie asked the Minister for Health the financial difference for a person currently on the special scheme for long-Covid, following the conclusion of the current special scheme on 31 December 2025, in comparison to the available schemes following the deadline of the final extension (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [64681/25]

582. Deputy Paul Lawless asked the Minister for Health the number of general practitioners operating, per capita, in Ballyhaunis. [64684/25]