Parliamentary questions

872. Deputy Pádraig Rice asked the Minister for Health further to Parliamentary Question No. 1237 of 19 May 2026, if there are any plans to develop a whole-of-Government national strategy on fetal alcohol spectrum disorder (FASD) (details supplied); the timeline being worked towards; if any work has been carried out to date to implement Action 1 of the 2022 HSE Position Paper on FASD prevention; a…

873. Deputy Pádraig Rice asked the Minister for Health if she has received confirmation that consultants on the public-only consultant contract are covered by the State's clinical indemnity scheme for private work carried out in public hospitals, in breach of their contracts; to confirm if the scheme applies to entire hospitals rather than individual consultants; and if she will make a statement o…

874. Deputy Pádraig Rice asked the Minister for Health if Parkinson's, brain health and neurodegenerative conditions will be specifically included in Ireland's health briefs and agenda for the Presidency of the Council of the European Union; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [45116/26]

875. Deputy Pádraig Rice asked the Minister for Health the total number of consultants in each maternity hospital and unit broken down by those who switched to the public-only consultant contract (POCC) since its introduction, those who remained on a non-POCC, and those who entered the HSE since 2023 under the POCC, by site and speciality, in tabular form. [45117/26]

876. Deputy Pádraig Rice asked the Minister for Health further to Parliamentary Question No. 519 of 7 May 2026, the way in which the external expert panel will assess the pathway by which children came to be considered for surgery if certain matters are not reviewed (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [45118/26]

877. Deputy Michael Cahill asked the Minister for Health if she will ensure Skyclarys is covered by the HSE as it is the only drug approved to treat Friedreich's ataxia; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [45121/26]

878. Deputy Michael Cahill asked the Minister for Health to extend an emergency medical card to a patient who is terminally ill (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [45124/26]

879. Deputy Malcolm Byrne asked the Minister for Health to provide an update on plans to increase the number of dental hygienists in Ireland and to allow them to make a greater contribution to oral healthcare in Ireland. [45147/26]

880. Deputy Malcolm Byrne asked the Minister for Health if she is satisfied that all consultants on public only consultant contracts are only carrying out public work; if any hospital apart from the Rotunda Hospital has advised her that this was not the case; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [45148/26]

881. Deputy Malcolm Byrne asked the Minister for Health the current average waiting time for access to home help supports in each county; and the number of persons currently on waiting lists in each county. [45149/26]

882. Deputy Malcolm Byrne asked the Minister for Health the reasons that are contributing to the waiting lists, and the allocation of home help supports across the State; the specific measures to seek to reduce those waiting lists; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [45150/26]

883. Deputy Malcolm Byrne asked the Minister for Health to outline her Department's approach to raising awareness of schizophrenia; the supports in place for those with schizophrenia; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [45151/26]

884. Deputy Mark Ward asked the Minister for Health if givinostat will be made available for children with Duchenne muscular dystrophy; to provide an update on steps taken by the HSE since a commercial proposal was received from a company (details supplied); when this therapy will be made available to the public; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [45156/26]

885. Deputy Albert Dolan asked the Minister for Health whether for procurement spend, a purchase order can be raised within her Department's financial management systems without reference to a contract, framework agreement, procurement process or other authorising arrangement; if so, the circumstances in which this may occur [45167/26]

886. Deputy Albert Dolan asked the Minister for Health whether an invoice can be paid by her Department without an associated purchase order having first been raised; if so, the circumstances in which this may occur; the number and value of payments made during quarter one of 2026 which were not associated with a purchase order; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [45185/26]

887. Deputy Sorca Clarke asked the Minister for Health the total expenditure on mental health services in each of the past five years; and the percentage of the overall health budget allocated to mental health during that period. [45194/26]

888. Deputy Sorca Clarke asked the Minister for Health the number of vacant mental health posts currently approved but unfilled, including psychiatrists, psychologists, mental health nurses, social workers, and counsellors. [45195/26]

889. Deputy Sorca Clarke asked the Minister for Health the average waiting time for CAMHS in each RHA; and the number of children waiting longer than three, six, and twelve months. [45196/26]

890. Deputy Sorca Clarke asked the Minister for Health the number of presentations to emergency departments involving mental health crises in each of the past five years. [45197/26]

891. Deputy Sorca Clarke asked the Minister for Health the number of individuals who have accessed free or publicly funded counselling services in each of the past five years; and the associated waiting times. [45198/26]

892. Deputy Sorca Clarke asked the Minister for Health the measures being taken to improve mental health supports in rural communities; and the funding allocated to those measures. [45199/26]

893. Deputy Sorca Clarke asked the Minister for Health the amount spent on youth mental health initiatives in each of the past five years; and the outcomes used to assess effectiveness. [45200/26]

894. Deputy Sorca Clarke asked the Minister for Health the steps being taken to reduce inequalities in mental health outcomes among disadvantaged communities; and the funding committed to those initiatives. [45201/26]

895. Deputy Sorca Clarke asked the Minister for Health the number of people discharged from inpatient mental health care without a follow-up appointment within seven days, in each of the past five years. [45202/26]

896. Deputy Sorca Clarke asked the Minister for Health the current staffing levels of CAMHS teams compared with recommended staffing levels; and the measures being taken to address shortfalls. [45203/26]