Parliamentary questions

487. Deputy Emer Currie asked the Minister for Health whether pilot partnership initiatives with commercial providers have been established since the publication of the national strategy for accelerating genetic and genomic medicine in Ireland in 2022; if not, the reason; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [62601/25]

488. Deputy Emer Currie asked the Minister for Health the way the HSE is measuring delivery against the objective of the national strategy for accelerating genetic and genomic medicine in Ireland to ensure patient and public involvement, PPI, in genomic service development; if any formal evaluation has been published; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [62602/25]

489. Deputy Emer Currie asked the Minister for Health the number of clinical geneticists, genetic counsellors and genetic resource associates who have been recruited since an initial €2.7 million funding allocation in 2022; the additional number required to meet national demand; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [62603/25]

490. Deputy Emer Currie asked the Minister for Health the number of new genomic medicine clinical trials that have been initiated in Ireland since 2022; whether any were supported through partnerships with indigenous industry or indigenous private clinical facilities; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [62604/25]

491. Deputy Emer Currie asked the Minister for Health the specific deliverables from the national strategy for accelerating genetic and genomic medicine in Ireland that have been completed since its launch in 2022; the commitments that remain outstanding; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [62605/25]

492. Deputy Emer Currie asked the Minister for Health the current status of plans to establish a multidisciplinary HSE central laboratory, as outlined in the HSE's strategy for laboratory services 2025-2029; the key milestones achieved to date; the expected timeline for delivery; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [62606/25]

493. Deputy Emer Currie asked the Minister for Health if full funding has been ring-fenced for the implementation of the HSE Strategy for Laboratory Services 2025-2029; if not, which components remain unfunded; and the associated risk to the delivery timeline. [62607/25]

494. Deputy Emer Currie asked the Minister for Health if a location has been selected for the proposed HSE's central laboratory, as outlined in the HSE's strategy for laboratory services 2025-2029; the criteria used in site selection; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [62608/25]

495. Deputy Emer Currie asked the Minister for Health the projected staffing and skills requirements for the establishment and operation of the proposed HSE's central laboratory, under the HSE's strategy for laboratory services 2025-2029; the recruitment timeline; the action being taken to ensure the necessary workforce is in place given current shortages in laboratory science and related discipli…

496. Deputy Malcolm Byrne asked the Minister for Health the measures in place to support nursing homes in transitioning to using renewable sources of energy. [62614/25]

497. Deputy Michael Murphy asked the Minister for Health if his Department has reviewed potential models for enhanced North–South cooperation in healthcare delivery, including cross-Border hospital and emergency care arrangements. [62637/25]

498. Deputy Naoise Ó Muirí asked the Minister for Health the reasons the shingles vaccine is not currently subsidised or included in the national immunisation programme, despite its proven effectiveness in preventing shingles and post-herpetic neuralgia, particularly among older adults and immunocompromised individuals; if her Department is currently considering any scheme to make the vaccine more…

499. Deputy Paul Lawless asked the Minister for Health the number of vacant and derelict buildings in County Mayo owned by her Department that are vacant or rented, by the region/towns location of the buildings, in tabular form. [62674/25]

500. Deputy Liam Quaide asked the Minister for Health the timeframe for the completion of remaining works on a property on O'Dwyer's Road, Midleton; and the estimated opening date for a new HSE residential mental health service accommodating three people. [62687/25]

501. Deputy Emer Currie asked the Minister for Health whether the HSE Central Laboratory will operate under ISO 15189 accreditation standards; the accreditation pathway being pursued; whether this accreditation will be in place prior to commencing clinical operations; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [62710/25]

502. Deputy Emer Currie asked the Minister for Health the expected benefits of the Central Laboratory, as outlined in the HSE Strategy for Laboratory Services 2026 to 2036, in terms of turnaround times, resilience and sustainability; whether a value-for-money assessment has been carried out; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [62711/25]

503. Deputy Emer Currie asked the Minister for Health the capital equipment requirements identified for the establishment of the proposed HSE Central Laboratory under the HSE Strategy for Laboratory Services 2026–2036; the estimated cost of procuring and commissioning this equipment; the funding allocated to date; the expected phasing of investment over the lifetime of the strategy; and if she wil…

504. Deputy Gillian Toole asked the Minister for Health the status of the examination of a protected disclosure (details supplied) circulated to senior Cabinet members in July 2025 and asked as a Leader’s Questions on 22 October 2025; and if correspondences will be issued; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [62715/25]

909. Deputy Martin Daly asked the Minister for Health the number of persons availing of private health insurance by age group (details supplied). [60904/25]

910. Deputy John McGuinness asked the Minister for Health the plans to review the need for lifetime community rating on private health insurance; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [60905/25]

911. Deputy Niamh Smyth asked the Minister for Health to expedite an appointment for a person (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [60906/25]

912. Deputy Mattie McGrath asked the Minister for Health the current status of the recruitment campaign for an ophthalmologist in south Tipperary; the number of applications received; the number called for interview; the timeframe now for the position to be offered; the status of the recruitment campaign for an optometrist; when this position will be filled; and if she will make a statement on the…

913. Deputy Cathal Crowe asked the Minister for Health when a child (details supplied) will receive a very urgent appointment at UHL; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [60930/25]

914. Deputy Albert Dolan asked the Minister for Health the number and value of contracts that underwent post-award variations; the net value change as a percentage of original awards, by CPV/category; and the three most common drivers of variation identified, for 2022–2024. [60944/25]

915. Deputy Martin Daly asked the Minister for Health the total number of staff in each public and voluntary hospital on a whole-time equivalent basis at the end of September 2025; the number of medical and dental staff on a whole-time equivalent basis and the number of nursing and midwifery staff on a whole-time equivalent basis in each public and voluntary hospital at the end of September 2025, …