Questions

164. Deputy Naoise Ó Muirí asked the Minister for Health for an update on the provision of public health nurses in north Dublin as compared to baseline capacity for 2026; the number of developmental checks carried out in north Dublin; and the steps being taken to increase recruitment. [72889/26]

683. Deputy Naoise Ó Muirí asked the Minister for Health the arrangements in place to ensure newly qualified nurses who completed their four-year general nursing degree in 2026 can secure employment within the HSE; if she is aware of graduates who had understood that employment would be available upon qualification but are now unable to secure posts; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [70564/26]

877. Deputy Naoise Ó Muirí asked the Minister for Health the way in which her Department intends to ensure value for money in circumstances where the State has invested approximately €24,000 per physician associate students in training, yet graduates remain unable to take up employment within the health service due to the ongoing recruitment pause; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [49395/26]

878. Deputy Naoise Ó Muirí asked the Minister for Health if her Department has assessed the number of recently qualified physician associates who remain unemployed, underemployed or reliant on jobseeker's supports due to the recruitment freeze; if she will provide updated figures; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [49396/26]

879. Deputy Naoise Ó Muirí asked the Minister for Health if she will review the proposed salary scale for physician associates, in view of concerns that the suggested structure represents a significant reduction compared with existing PA salaries and international norms; and if she will ensure that any finalised scale reflects the level of postgraduate medical training and clinical responsibility undertaken by PAs; a…

880. Deputy Naoise Ó Muirí asked the Minister for Health if her Department has carried out an assessment of the way in which the proposed salary scale for physician associates may affect recruitment, retention and the risk of emigration among Irish trained graduates; if she will publish the findings; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [49398/26]

881. Deputy Naoise Ó Muirí asked the Minister for Health the way in which the proposed scope of practice for physician associates aligns with the current training, competencies and clinical experience of Irish trained PAs; whether her Department plans to revise the framework to reflect evidence-based international practice; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [49399/26]

882. Deputy Naoise Ó Muirí asked the Minister for Health if consultant-led teams, clinical educators and existing PA supervisors were consulted in the development of the proposed scope of practice; and if she will publish the consultation feedback received. [49400/26]

883. Deputy Naoise Ó Muirí asked the Minister for Health when a full implementation plan for the physician associate review will be published; the milestones it will include; the way in which her Department intends to ensure timely integration of PAs into the health service; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [49403/26]

884. Deputy Naoise Ó Muirí asked the Minister for Health the way in which the continued inability of physician associates to enter the workforce aligns with national workforce planning objectives, hospital staffing pressures and efforts to reduce waiting lists; and the actions being taken to address this contradiction. [49404/26]

1745. Deputy Naoise Ó Muirí asked the Minister for Health for an update on the provision of public health nurses in north Dublin, as compared to baseline capacity for 2026; the number of developmental checks done in north Dublin; the actions being taken to increase recruitment; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [18724/26]

2215. Deputy Naoise Ó Muirí asked the Minister for Health for an update on a review (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [20779/26]

1105. Deputy Naoise Ó Muirí asked the Minister for Health the current status of the HSE’s pause on the recruitment of physician associates; the reason for the continued delay in completing the review of the PA role; the expected timeline for publication of this review; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [9855/26]

1106. Deputy Naoise Ó Muirí asked the Minister for Health the number of physician associate graduates from the 2024 and 2025 cohorts who remain unable to take up employment in the HSE due to the recruitment pause; the measures being considered to support these graduates pending the completion of the review; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [9856/26]

1107. Deputy Naoise Ó Muirí asked the Minister for Health the way in which the pause in physician associate recruitment aligns with current workforce planning needs, including pressures on emergency departments, waiting lists, and consultant and NCHD staffing shortages; the role envisaged for PAs in addressing these challenges; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [9857/26]

407. Deputy Naoise Ó Muirí asked the Minister for Health if she will outline the process through which people availing of the special long-Covid sick pay scheme for healthcare workers will be supported as they transition to the public service sick leave scheme; the way in which these people may be eligible for ill health retirement; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [33335/25]

2270. Deputy Naoise Ó Muirí asked the Minister for Health if her Department will determine the professional pathways for an occupation (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [20033/25]

2271. Deputy Naoise Ó Muirí asked the Minister for Health if she will consider introducing a framework for certain positions (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [20034/25]