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with special needs and adults who require anaesthesia to access treatment suffer from a lack of services. There is a two-year waiting list in hospitals for such treatment. I have had representations at my constituency office about this. Patients often present with serious levels of tooth decay … health issues. That needs to be fixed. In the Dublin and midlands health region, there are 654 children and 102 adults on waiting lists for hospital treatment. That matter requires urgent attention. The Irish Dental Association has highlighted the fact that 500 additional dentists are needed immediately

commitment now to ending insourcing, a very controversial measure to try to reduce waiting lists, albeit it has reduced waiting lists in some hospitals. The other thing is that some people have made a lot of money out of the use of State assets and HSE-directly employed … eloquently been on the record calling this out and raising concerns, but the critical issue for those hospitals that have been relying on the NTPF money to reduce their waiting lists is what will happen to that funding. There is a separate question with regard to Naas

need because people can access them in Cavan hospital, but despite this, hundreds of people are on waiting lists, and waiting times in Cavan hospital are unacceptable. I ask the Minister again for a feasibility study and for this to happen in Cavan and Monaghan hospital so that … travel to Cavan and Drogheda to be seen and not have such long waiting lists? Why are we being treated by this? I am utterly convinced of the need to restore services to Monaghan hospital that were stripped away by previous Governments but the Minister can make

which has a six-year-old boy who has been diagnosed with undescended testes. He has been on the waiting list to be seen in Cork University Hospital even though he is classed as urgent. He is in a lot of pain, which is causing him to fall … wanted her son to remain on the waiting list. We have a constituent who is in his mid-50s and caring for his elderly parents at home. They both have dementia. Recently, his mother was in hospital and, upon discharge, she required a wheelchair and commode at home

situation is beyond alarming now. There are no orthodontists in Clare. Patients are referred to St. Camillus Hospital, Limerick, and languish on the waiting list there. Recently, a constituent of mine was told her daughter would have to wait from three to four years to have braces fitted … dentists was taking on new patients with medical cards. That is another of the Government's failures. Another is chronic overcrowding at University Hospital Limerick, which is also impacting on this problem. Some dental patients require anaesthesia for extractions, and when the hospital is forced by overcrowding

proud of the excellent service they provide despite the challenges they face every day in our hospitals, healthcare centres and community programmes. The health service is challenged by growing waiting lists, longer waiting times, an undersupply of key workers and low morale. Almost every part of the health … respect of surgical cancer and nursing homes. Those are just some examples. The list is endless. Those scandals are all happening while we wait for the opening of the €2.24 billion national children's hospital. This is no way to run a healthcare system. It is not good

measures that are being taken to alleviate overcrowding. Reducing emergency department overcrowding and reducing waiting lists is a priority for this Government. Many patients are still waiting too long for hospital appointments and treatments. UHL has one of the busiest emergency departments in Ireland. Presentations totalled

hospital's own facilities were being used. If it were a private facility, that would be fair enough. If a private hospital wants to operate, let it operate. That is grand. I do not have any particular grá for privatised health services but if a private hospital wants … long-term financial problems. It restricts the public information. We must have full transparency to see how hospitals and services are performing and to get a better insight into waiting lists. Without that, public trust will be eroded. I know the Minister was unavoidably absent this morning

hospital has an average of zero people on hospital trolleys in 2024 and 2025. It has also had a 44% increase in staff, but with a different outcome compared to Kerry hospital. If I take St. Vincent’s University Hospital, which is the closest model 4 hospital … hospital, which I visited last week, has been good enough on its accident and emergency management. It is the rest of the hospital’s responsibility to support the accident and emergency department. A couple of weeks ago, however, it was one of the hospitals on a list

accident and emergency department is regularly at capacity, requiring the hospital to enable surge capacity. This has knock-on effects such as outpatient appointments being cancelled. That is not to mention people on trolleys and waiting lists. Dundalk and Drogheda are two of the largest towns

told, for example, that 15 or 20 people are on the waiting list and the person does not have a hope of getting in there. They might pass away before they get the chance. One stunning hospital we have is in Schull. I would be delighted

receive infusions every 12 weeks to help manage the pain. I regularly need admissions to hospital where I am treated with dignity and care over here. I'm now on the waiting list for another surgery, which will be more complex and will involve the urology and colorectal

recommendation has been made for the Deputy's hospital but I will certainly pass this on to the Minister for Health because I know the availability of surgical hubs makes a really big difference to waiting lists and, more importantly, to the health of those

local health services, like Portiuncula Hospital in Galway and community care hubs in east Galway, the flexibility they need? Will funding allocations truly reflect the demographic demands of rural regions like east Galway, which has an ageing population and growing waiting lists for inpatient and outpatient care? Accountability … will be an emergency or an outbreak. From experience and from my knowledge of how the HSE, particularly in the context of University Hospital Galway, Merlin Park and other hospitals in Galway, deals with these scenarios, I have to compliment and thank those workers. It is important

Finbarr's Hospital campus in Cork city. There is no service west of Clonakilty. It is questionable that children who should be seen urgently are being put on a routine list. There are children in west Cork who have been put on the routine list at 14 years … time they come to be seen they are aged over 18. They are then in the adult dental service and go onto another waiting list. When I was growing up, there was a dental service in every town and village. In the name of God, what has gone

country. I met with a family in Cork the other day. They had to pay €1,900 because the dental hospital turned them away as it was a weekend. They were lucky enough to be able to get credit and money from the credit union … despite having a medical card. I meet parents every day of the week whose children are on six-year waiting lists for orthodontist services. Most of them have gone off those lists because what happens when they hit 16, 17 or 18 years of age, and still have

because of the overcrowding in the accident and emergency department. They were waiting to see if they could deliver their patients to the hospital. They could not and had to stay there. There was no ambulance available in Monaghan, Cavan, Louth or Meath for the whole night … waiting list, for the waiting list is the business model of these insourcing businesses. The Minister is going to have to get to grips with this issue. We cannot have that conflict of interest where a consultant operating on a public list is scheduling and creating rotas

review of insourcing and outsourcing, which I welcome. The report confirms that the health service is over-reliant on these arrangements to reduce waiting lists. Despite the huge sums of public money involved, proper oversight has been severely lacking, leading to alarming and shocking abuses of the National … phased out by June 2026, we also need to end the over-reliance of the health service on outsourcing to private hospitals and other external companies. This aim is referenced in the review, but there is no timeline or action set out. Obviously, this cannot be done overnight

what TDs are asking about. They are asking about medical cards, delays in delivery, appointments not being filled, people on waiting lists waiting far beyond an acceptable time limit, complaints within the health service, the delivery of capital programmes and so on. As long as those questions … regions or nationally. That is an undeniable fact. People will measure this by the delivery of services. When older people are in hospital beds waiting to be discharged to go home, their families are given a care plan. They are told they will be looked after from Monday

particular about St. Luke's Home in my area of Mahon, Cork. There are other such organisations, including Cobh Community Hospital and Valentia hospital in Kerry, which Deputy Cahill has also been raising. St. Luke's Home is a voluntary not-for-profit organisation providing essential care … services, as well as other services. It is a critical organisation and, as the Minister of State will appreciate, it has a waiting list because of the great service it provides. Unfortunately, its more than 200 staff members have not benefited from the Workplace Relations Commission, WRC, agreements

distress and the psychological impact of the condition, a psychologist has been appointed to support the supra-regional service at Cork University Maternity Hospital with further expansion of the service under consideration; — the diagnostic criteria for endometriosis are determined by clinical experts in the field, the clinical guidelines … NWIHP has advised that on average 72 per cent of women waiting on specialist services were seen within six months of referral; — women affected by endometriosis may also be waiting on general gynaecology waiting lists, as of 26th June, 2025, 79 per cent of women waiting on gynaecology

raised it since joining the House – it is my 15th year here – is that an acquaintance of mine wound up nearly dying in hospital because of poor dental health. Poison got into his system. He was a fine hardy fellow and it almost killed him. It really underlined … consider they need under the dental treatment benefit scheme. It is something the Minister of State may consider. I mentioned the six-year waiting list for orthodontic services. Nothing happens during school term in primary. Nothing happens during secondary. They then come out the other

first health legislation to be taken on Second Stage since the general election last November. This is one of only two health Bills listed for priority publication yet it was only published last Friday, just shy of the summer recess. Nevertheless, it is worthwhile and modest legislation … corporate plan also makes a vague commitment to improving access to emergency and routine dental care. When will this happen? Public dental care waiting lists are at breaking point. The medical card scheme is haemorrhaging dentists but one would not think it from reading the corporate plan. Where

Galway and in Lee Road clinic. They are all operating and taking referrals. Women are receiving care through Galway and the National Maternity Hospital. There is more work to do on the structuring of those clinics. We now have clinical guidelines in relation to this. GPs are encouraged … important for me to put those facts on the record of the House. Women with endometriosis may be on other gynaecology waiting lists. That is also important. There was an increase of 108% in general gynaecology referrals over the past number of years. I hope in part that

waiting list to the next in the first place is that the services are so restricted that they are attempting to manage their waiting lists by becoming rigid in their inclusion criteria. There is no getting away from the need for proper workforce planning and investment in primary … over years and in some cases over decades. As many as possible were being moved into long-stay wards in St. Stephen’s Hospital, Glanmire, an institutional setting removed from anything resembling community living, surrounded by fields, without even a footpath to the nearest service station, which

Deputy Pádraig Mac Lochlainn asked the Minister for Health the number of people with diabetes on a waiting list by hospital group, in the years 2022, 2023 and 2024; the number of those waiting less than six months, between 6-12 months, and more than 12 months

waiting list elective in-patient and day-case surgeries at Galway University Hospital and Portiuncula University Hospital, for the years 2020, 2021, 2022, 2023, 2024 and 2025; the amount of money paid to private hospitals via the national treatment purchase fund from the outsourcing of waiting list elective … years 2020, 2021, 2022, 2023, 2024 and 2025; the amount of money paid to private hospitals via the national treatment purchase fund from the outsourcing of waiting list elective in-patient and day-case surgeries at Merlin Park University Hospital for the years

Deputy Alan Kelly asked the Minister for Health the paediatric dental waiting lists in Nenagh Hospital, by year from 2020 to 1 July 2025, in tabular form. [39155/25

Deputy Ciarán Ahern asked the Minister for Health the number of people waiting for elective surgery in Tallaght University Hospital; the average time spent on a waiting list for elective surgery in Tallaght University Hospital in each of the past five years, in tabular form

Deputy Aindrias Moynihan asked the Minister for Health the number of individuals currently wait listed for Cork University Maternity Hospital for a gynaecology appointment, by length of time waiting that is, up to 6, 12, 18 and over 18 months, in tabular form; and if she will make

Deputy Pádraig Mac Lochlainn asked the Minister for Health the number of people with diabetes on a waiting list to see a podiatrist by hospital group; the number of those waiting less than six months, between 6-12 months, and more than 12 months; and if she will

Deputy Donnchadh Ó Laoghaire asked the Minister for Health the waiting list for ophthalmology in Cork University Hospital and Mercy Hospital, broken down by people waiting by 2, 3, 4 and 5 years. [44401/25

Deputy Donnchadh Ó Laoghaire asked the Minister for Health the waiting list for neurology in Cork University Hospital and the Mercy Hospital, broken down by people waiting by 2, 3, 4 and 5 years. [44402/25

Deputy Donnchadh Ó Laoghaire asked the Minister for Health the waiting list for orthopaedics in Cork University Hospital and the Mercy Hospital, broken down by people waiting by 2, 3, 4 and 5 years. [44403/25

Deputy Donnchadh Ó Laoghaire asked the Minister for Health the waiting list for ophthalmology in Cork University Hospital and Mercy Hospital, broken down by whether they are waiting by 3, 6, 9, 12, 18 and 24 months. [44400/25

Deputy Donnchadh Ó Laoghaire asked the Minister for Health the waiting list for dentistry services in Cork University Hospital and Cork South Lee, broken down by people waiting by two, three, four and five years. [44404/25

Deputy Donnchadh Ó Laoghaire asked the Minister for Health the waiting list for dentistry services in Cork University Hospital and Cork South Lee, broken down by whether they are waiting by three, six, nine, 12, 18 and 24 months. [44405/25

Deputy Pa Daly asked the Minister for Health the amount of money paid to private hospitals via the national treatment purchase fund from the outsourcing of waiting list elective in-patient and day-case surgeries at Kerry University Hospital, for the years

Deputy Donnchadh Ó Laoghaire asked the Minister for Health the waiting list for rheumatology in Cork University Hospital and the Mercy University Hospital, by three, six, nine, 12, 18 and 24 months. [44369/25

Deputy Donnchadh Ó Laoghaire asked the Minister for Health the waiting list for neurology in Cork University Hospital and the Mercy University Hospital, by three, six, nine, 12, 18 and 24 months. [44374/25

Deputy Donnchadh Ó Laoghaire asked the Minister for Health the waiting list for pain management in Cork University Hospital and the Mercy University Hospital, by three, six, nine, 12, 18 and 24 months. [44368/25

Deputy Pa Daly asked the Minister for Health the average waiting time for adults special care needs GA waiting list for routine dental care in each hospital, in tabular form. [40089/25

Deputy Carol Nolan asked the Minister for Health if she is aware that waiting lists for access to pain medicine are approximately 24-months at Tallaght University Hospital; the measures she is taking to address this waiting time; and if she will make a statement on the matter

Lochlainn asked the Minister for Health the number of people with diabetes on a waiting list to see a podiatrist by in each HSE enhanced community care specialist ambulatory care hub hospital group; the number of those waiting less than six months, between 6-12 months, and more

asked the Minister for Health the timeline for the delivery of new elective-only hospitals in Dublin, Cork, and Galway; how these will contribute to the Government’s objective of eliminating waiting lists over 12 months; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [43379/25

suspended for surgery initiative from Children’s Health Ireland’s spinal surgery waiting list; the number scheduled for treatment in the UK or US; and the number scheduled for treatment in Irish private hospitals (details supplied), in tabular form. [42826/25

relation to reports that CHI orthopaedic surgeons performed hip surgeries at University Hospital Kerry in recent years, who approved sending CHI orthopaedic doctors to Kerry; if this was part of an official waiting list initiative or NTPF arrangement; if the same oversight and patient selection standards applied there

Children’s Health Ireland to provide consultant weekend cover and/or waiting list initiatives in Kerry since 2019; to list the names of the companies and the funds provided to the companies, broken down by year and by hospital, in tabular form; and if she will make a statement