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blow to them. With geopolitical uncertainty threatening foreign direct investment, now is the time to double down on supporting domestic industries. Hospitality and personal service remain among the largest indigenous employers in Ireland. We welcome the VAT reduction but will continue to fight for its swift implementation … childcare. Where are the election promises? They are not there. It promised false promises. On healthcare, the promises ring hollow. Waiting lists grow. Services are stretched. Rural hospitals are under threat. We need investment in community care, GP access and mental health services, not just headline figures

that the HSE was working both locally and nationally to resume the clinic as soon as possible. I am very conscious of the waiting list that the Deputy called out of 450 patients, 168 of whom have had the initial appointment. That is a significant waiting list. Currently … people are referred to the memory clinic either by their general practitioner or through acute hospitals or community specialist teams. Increasing service demand, combined with staffing challenges, has led to longer waiting lists in the memory clinic, as the Deputy alluded to. The HSE has approved the appointment

ensure the new elective hospital in Cork is delivered. The project needs to be fast-tracked. The waiting lists in Cork are absolutely scandalous. The need for this elective hospital and for elective surgeries is absolutely huge. In Sarsfield Court, we have a perfect site of nearly

Donegal and waiting lists are growing. These are older people who need essential care and their families need respite. The knock-on effect of this is that we also have a profound crisis in our major acute hospital, Letterkenny University Hospital. Beds in that hospital could be freed … every single week but because of the growing waiting list, we have a knock-on crisis. If there is a failure in recruiting the necessary numbers of home care assistants and a lack of beds in community hospitals, there will be a bottleneck at the emergency department

priority is given to those in the community with acute needs and those assessed and waiting in acute hospitals who are able to return home with support. Higher waiting lists are known to be directly related to the availability of carers in the region. The Government has recognised

must focus our emphasis. Our tests and assessments must be based on waiting times, which are coming down but which need to come down further. Our Sláintecare targets are ten and 12 weeks. The Waiting List Action Plan 2025, which I published earlier this month, is another milestone … waiting relates to access to urgent and emergency care and, in particular, that most visible element of it, the trolley count we see, with people unacceptably waiting on trolleys to get access to our healthcare services. The number of patients waiting on trolleys in hospitals

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

afford their groceries or get an appointment with the doctor. They also tell me that they cannot get a hospital appointment or are left on a waiting list for a very long time. Children and young people with mental health difficulties cannot get an opportunity to meet staff … really at a loss as to why we do not use that wind power to power our schools, homes, businesses and hospitals. Every day, I am contacted by families worried about costs. As education spokesperson, I really do have to say that although we have primary and secondary

teachers, gardaí, social workers, occupational therapists and bus drivers. When a school has enough teachers to function and a hospital has enough nurses to clear its waiting lists, we lower the structural cost of living in a sustainable manner. Instead, we are adding to costs by failing

respite places for them. We have few respite places in Kerry. We need to address those matters. There are waiting lists for people to get into Tralee hospital, into the district hospital in Killarney, into the facilities in Kenmare, Dingle and Cahersiveen and into St. Columbanus Home

services in Dublin, and that advice was reportedly sought due to concern over issues around scoliosis surgery waiting lists, delays in appointments and outrageous overspends with the national children’s hospital. Now, we have these recent very serious revelations. Can the Taoiseach give assurances that there will

addition, CHI manages and delivers paediatric dermatology services across the three paediatric hospitals in Dublin. CHI is currently focused on reducing the numbers waiting, as well as reducing the waiting times, on the dermatology outpatient lists. I acknowledge the impact on patients and their families who have … quality patient-centred care and best practice remains at the centre of all hospital activity. Having said that, I see exactly the point he is making. I checked this morning and the waiting lists are extremely high, especially for children seeking dermatology supports. There has been a small

seen. I referred earlier to the case of John, a young man in my constituency who has been on the urgent outpatient waiting list since 2025. He still cannot get a date to see an orthopaedic consultant and his pain has become so severe that he was referred … expected to wait indefinitely. I ask the Minister of State to ensure that the HSE South West and hospital management put forward a clear timeframe to reduce this waiting list with measurable targets and provide regular updates

health and I compliment the mental health teams. The CAMHS teams there have turned around the complete waiting list and are now operating much better. I also visited University Hospital Limerick and met with the regional executive officer, Sandra Broderick, and senior management. I visited

financial benefit and provides savings to the State as well vis-à-vis the cost of nursing homes and hospitals. There are about 5,000 people on waiting lists for home care supports. The provision of home care is, unfortunately, a postcode lottery. There is a significant division

thank the Minister for that information and join her in congratulating the Lourdes hospital for getting on top of the issue of waiting lists and for the good work all the staff are doing, led by the new general manager. It goes to show that when there … good management, will and the ability to reduce waiting lists, we can make progress. As the Minister pointed out, they are doing nearly 20% more elective surgeries than last year but the level of staffing is the same. While this is a great success story, I wonder

cardiology sessions. Endoscopies are being done on Saturdays and in the evenings in University Hospital Kerry. We are seeing Saturday lists in scoliosis in Children's Health Ireland, which is reducing outpatient waiting times to nearly three months. Those Saturday lists will continue to grow … terms of inpatient day cases. We have increased the budget of our hospitals by well over 50% and our staffing by 13%, and activity has gone up by 16%. I wait for the day this year where we have that analysis of what ideas can come from different

raise the urgent issue of waiting lists for orthopaedic surgery, especially hip and knee replacements, at Midland Regional Hospital Tullamore. In recent months, I have received numerous queries from constituents who are in severe pain and unable to engage in day-to-day life while they wait … still waiting more than eight months, and longer in some cases, without any confirmed date for surgery. This is not acceptable. It is also very frustrating for patients to learn that the same treatment is available across the Border with almost no waiting list. People

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

insurance, that is, approximately half of all children in this country, are being forced to wait much, much longer for essential surgery. Hospital consultants are prioritising private patients over those on public lists. It shows that children who need urology surgery are waiting up to a year longer

over the last number of years through the multi-annual waiting list action plan, including €420 million this year. As I said, this investment, together with additional significant investment across our health budget, means our acute hospitals are delivering higher levels of activity than ever before … Beaumont Hospital have increased significantly during a five-year period. However, despite the increased level of activity, we are seeing a growing and an ageing population, which is leading to an increased demand and unprecedented levels of additions to our waiting times and waiting lists. As the Deputy

being developed in north Dublin, south Dublin, Limerick, Cork, Waterford and Galway. Surgical hubs eliminate day-care waiting lists and take the pressure off various departments in hospitals. I am disappointed that there is no surgical hub for the area north of the Dublin-Galway line. The programme

because it was not giving good value for money for what the taxpayer was investing in our hospitals. Can the Minister ensure that those people waiting on the waiting list will get access to the orthopaedic surgeries that they need

name of the Member in each case: Deputy John Paul O'Shea - To discuss the waiting list for orthopaedic procedures in the South Infirmary Victoria University Hospital in Cork. Deputy Michael Cahill - To discuss measures to tackle the huge increases in energy prices. Deputy Malcolm Byrne - To discuss

prioritise additional funding and workforce supports specifically for orthopaedic services at the South Infirmary Victoria University Hospital. A focused plan must be developed to reduce outpatient waiting lists and restore confidence in the system. I do not see this plan at the moment, which worries me. Pain should

Deputy Cathy Bennett asked the Minister for Health to provide the current waiting list times in Drogheda hospital for dermatology services from 2019 to date in 2025, per year, in tabular form; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [74436/25

Deputy Naoise Ó Cearúil asked the Minister for Health the number of patients from Kildare north currently on an outpatient waiting list at Naas General Hospital; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [64190/25

Deputy Martin Kenny asked the Minister for Health if a dermatology consultant has been appointed to deal with the enormous waiting list in Sligo University Hospital; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [52013/25

Deputy Sorca Clarke asked the Minister for Health the number of patients currently on the outpatient gynaecology waiting list at Mullingar Regional Hospital; and of these the number awaiting investigation or treatment for endometriosis. [45675/25

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

number of procedures carried out as a result of a blitz or insourcing of services at weekends as part of waiting lists initiatives in public hospitals in 2022, 2023 and 2024, broken down by hospital and by day; and if she will make a statement on the matter

Deputy Brian Stanley asked the Minister for Health the length of the waiting list in Crumlin Childrens Hospital dental section; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [24066/25

Deputy Eoghan Kenny asked the Minister for Health the number of public patients from 2024 to 2025 on waiting lists for neurology treatment across Cork hospitals who have received care via the HSE and not via insourcing or outsourcing activities; the extent to which this has activity reduced

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 Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Health the number of approved consultant dermatologist posts at Cork University Hospital; the number currently vacant; the current waiting list and longest wait for a dermatology outpatient appointment at the hospital; and if she will make a statement

Deputy Sorca Clarke asked the Minister for Health the number of patients currently on a waiting list for a pacemaker at the Regional Hospital Mullingar; the average waiting time for the procedure; the number of patients waiting longer than 3, 6,12 and 18 months respectively

Deputy Sorca Clarke asked the Minister for Health the number of persons on the waiting list for cataract surgery at the Mater Hospital; and the average waiting times for this type of procedure. [20023/26

Deputy Cathal Crowe asked the Minister for Health the details of the number of kidney patients on waiting lists to see a vascular surgeon, by hospital and the average waiting times; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [74177/25

Sullivan asked the Minister for Health the current number of children and adolescents on the orthodontic assessment and treatment waiting list at St. Finbarr's Hospital Cork, given that HSE South-West data as of May 2026 confirms a total of 2,980 patients waiting; the reason specialist

Deputy Louis O'Hara asked the Minister for Health the current waiting list time for the complex menopause clinic in Galway University Hospital; if there are plans to expand this clinic and reduce waiting lists given that many patients have complex and urgent medical needs

with an oncologist, to be requested from each statutory and voluntary public hospital as required, for existing patients currently on lists, by hospital; and the average waiting time and the longest waiting time for patients who received an appointment in each year 2022 to 2025, in tabular form

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 ophthalmology in CUH and Mercy Hospital, broken down by people waiting by 2, 3, 4, and 5 years. [23456/26

Deputy Eoghan Kenny asked the Minister for Health the number of public patients from 2024 to 2025 on waiting lists for neurology treatment in Cork University Hospital who have received care via the HSE and not via insourcing or outsourcing activities; the extent to which this has activity

Deputy Donnchadh Ó Laoghaire asked the Minister for Health the waiting list for ophthalmology in CUH and Mercy Hospital, broken down by whether they are waiting by three, six, nine, 12, 18 and 24 months. [23453/26

asked the Minister for Health the number of patients currently on waiting lists for day case procedures in hospitals operated by the Health Service Executive, broken down by hospital and by length of time waiting less than three months; three to six months; six to twelve month; more

Deputy Tom Brabazon asked the Minister for Health the number of persons on the waiting list to see a consultant neurosurgeon at Beaumont Hospital; and the average waiting time for same. [22775/26

Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Health the number of patients removed from orthopaedic outpatient waiting lists through administrative validation in 2025, broken down by hospital, waiting-time band and reason for removal. [39036/26

Flynn asked the Minister for Health the number of patients removed from orthopaedic inpatient or day-case waiting lists through administrative validation in 2025, broken down by hospital, waiting-time band and reason for removal. [39037/26