Health Services Staff

1999. Deputy Michael Murphy asked the Minister for Health the position regarding the new community nursing unit in Clonmel; to provide information around a handover date and progress on registration with the relevant regulatory bodies; the position regarding the recruitment of staff for the new unit; when she expects patients from the existing St. Anthony's unit to be transferred and when the unit…

2032. Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Health whether the HSE can confirm that employees in Section 38 organisations are classified as public servants for pay purposes while employees in Section 39 organisations are not; whether any legal or policy review has been undertaken regarding disparities in pay, conditions, pension entitlement, or recruitment impact between directly employed HSE …

2033. Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Health whether the Department or HSE has undertaken any workforce impact assessment regarding recruitment and retention difficulties arising from pay and conditions disparities between Section 38, Section 39, and directly employed HSE disability service staff; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [42446/26]

2034. Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Health whether any formal national policy objective exists to achieve parity of pay and conditions between directly employed HSE disability staff and staff employed by Section 39-funded organisations delivering equivalent publicly funded services; whether costings have been prepared; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [42447/26]

2035. Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Health the estimated annual Exchequer cost of extending full public sector pay parity, pension arrangements, and conditions to all Section 39 disability service staff funded by the HSE; whether modelling or scenario analysis has been carried out; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [42448/26]

2036. Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Health whether the HSE or Department of Health maintains a national breakdown of working hours, paid breaks, unpaid breaks, and average rostered hours across all public health service staff categories; if so, to provide details by staff category and service area; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [42449/26]

2037. Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Health whether any categories of public health service staff currently work roster patterns or contracted arrangements which bring average weekly working hours close to or above the limits set out under the Organisation of Working Time Act 1997; whether any exemptions, derogations, or compliance concerns have been identified; and if she will make a s…

2038. Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Health whether the HSE has conducted any audit, compliance review, or governance assessment regarding adherence to Organisation of Working Time Act 1997 obligations across HSE-funded services, including Section 38 and Section 39 organisations; if so, to provide details and findings; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [42451/26]

2039. Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Health whether unpaid break arrangements across public health service grades have been assessed in terms of their impact on recruitment, retention, fatigue management, and workforce wellbeing; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [42452/26]

2040. Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Health whether any national policy differences exist regarding working hours, rest breaks, or overtime arrangements between directly employed HSE staff and employees in Section 38 and Section 39 organisations providing publicly funded disability services; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [42453/26]

2070. Deputy Conor Sheehan asked the Minister for Health the number of vacant WTE posts in CAMHS eating disorder teams, broken down by CHO, in tabular form; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [42537/26]

2071. Deputy Conor Sheehan asked the Minister for Health when the MidWest CHO 3 will receive approval from her Department to establish an adult eating disorder team; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [42538/26]

2093. Deputy Louis O'Hara asked the Minister for Health the WTE vacancies, by job title currently at HSE fertility hub in Galway; and the expected timeframe for filling each of those vacancies, in tabular form. [42638/26]

2108. Deputy Naoise Ó Cearúil asked the Minister for Health the current staffing levels within the primary care occupational therapy service in Celbridge; whether there are plans to enhance capacity in this area to help meet local demand; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [42710/26]

2135. Deputy Sorca Clarke asked the Minister for Health when the current recruitment freeze affecting physician associates will be lifted; and if she will outline plans to establish physician associate posts within the HSE, given ongoing healthcare staffing shortages and waiting list pressures. [42919/26]

2136. Deputy Sorca Clarke asked the Minister for Health if she will provide details of the proposed salary scale and career progression structure for physician associates; and if she acknowledges concerns that reduced salary levels may negatively impact recruitment and retention. [42920/26]

2137. Deputy Sorca Clarke asked the Minister for Health if she will review the proposed scope of practice for physician Associates to ensure that it reflects the training and clinical responsibilities of trained physician associates and that it aligns with international practice. [42921/26]

2151. Deputy Barry Ward asked the Minister for Health further to Parliamentary Question No. 778 of 21 October 2025, the position regarding the use of funding from Budget 2026 to increase the number of lactation consultants; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [42977/26]

2154. Deputy Darren O'Rourke asked the Minister for Health the steps she is taking to address the continued recruitment freeze of physician associates within the health service (details supplied); the timeline for lifting the recruitment freeze; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [43013/26]

2155. Deputy Darren O'Rourke asked the Minister for Health when she intends to lift the current recruitment freeze on physician associates posts in the HSE; the rationale for maintaining the freeze despite ongoing workforce shortages; the actions being taken to ensure appropriate physician associates posts are established within healthcare services; and if she will make a statement on the matter. …

2156. Deputy Darren O'Rourke asked the Minister for Health the details on the proposed salary scale for physician associates; if she has assessed the impact of a substantially reduced salary structure on the recruitment, retention and the potential emigration of Irish trained graduates; if she will ensure that salary and progression structures reflect the level of postgraduate medical training and…

2157. Deputy Darren O'Rourke asked the Minister for Health if she will review elements of the proposed scope of practice for physician associates, in light of concerns that it does not accurately reflect current training, competencies, or day to day clinical practice in Ireland and internationally; the extent to which the framework will align with evidence based international models; and if she wi…

2164. Deputy Aengus Ó Snodaigh asked the Minister for Health given the significant waiting lists for autism assessments, disability services and psychological supports, what the current policy position is regarding the role of chartered behavioural psychologists within HSE services; if her Department and the HSE have considered how appropriately qualified chartered behavioural psychologists could …

2175. Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Health the total expenditure on agency staffing in each of the years 2023, 2024, 2025 and to date in 2026. [43156/26]

2176. Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Health whether the HSE records the actual hourly rates paid to agency providers by grade and specialty; and if so, if she will provide a breakdown. [43157/26]