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]
Topics / Health Services Staff
A subject heading for parliamentary questionsHealth Services Staff
2,097 questions from 136 TDs, between 22 January 2025 and 22 October 2026.
2,097
questions
2,094 written, 3 oral
136
TDs have asked
11
parties and groups
Independents counted together
7
departments asked
Questions per month
The record holds no questions for August, when the Dáil does not sit.
Jan 2025Oct 2026
Show as a table
| Month | Questions |
|---|---|
| January 2025 | 27 |
| February 2025 | 81 |
| March 2025 | 96 |
| April 2025 | 96 |
| May 2025 | 103 |
| June 2025 | 94 |
| July 2025 | 145 |
| August 2025 | 0 |
| September 2025 | 96 |
| October 2025 | 49 |
| November 2025 | 116 |
| December 2025 | 68 |
| January 2026 | 76 |
| February 2026 | 96 |
| March 2026 | 138 |
| April 2026 | 143 |
| May 2026 | 162 |
| June 2026 | 215 |
| July 2026 | 62 |
| August 2026 | 0 |
| September 2026 | 148 |
| October 2026 | 86 |
Who asks, by party
The party each TD belonged to on the day, in alphabetical order. Parties differ a lot in size, and members of the Government answer questions rather than ask them, so this shows who raised it, not how much a party cares about it.
The TDs who asked most
Members of the Government answer questions rather than ask them. Each question counts once.
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314
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93
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77
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74
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70
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50
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45
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43
Asked of
Debated under the same heading
Debates whose official heading is exactly these words.
The questions
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. [43014/26]
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 clinical responsibi…
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 will make a statement …
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 contribute more full…
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]
2177. Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Health the reason the HSE does not maintain a central cost comparator database for agency staffing expenditure. [43158/26]
2178. Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Health whether her Department has assessed the value-for-money implications of the HSE not maintaining a central database comparing agency staffing costs with directly employed staff costs. [43159/26]
2179. Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Health the amount paid annually in agency fees, commissions and VAT associated with agency staffing in each of the years 2023, 2024, 2025 and to date in 2026. [43160/26]
2180. Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Health whether the HSE has any plans to establish a national agency workforce cost monitoring framework; and if so, the timeline for implementation. [43161/26]
2181. Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Health the top 20 agency suppliers by expenditure in each of the years 2023, 2024 and 2025. [43162/26]
2245. Deputy Pat Buckley asked the Minister for Health the number of consultant gastroenterologists working in the Public Health Services; her plans to expand this number; and the international recommended best practice ratio for consultant gastroenterologists to population and Ireland's ratio. [43353/26]
2275. Deputy Louis O'Hara asked the Minister for Health further to Parliamentary Question No. 1227 of 28 April 2026, if the HSE will issue a response; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [43537/26]
2279. Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Health whether the HSE records the recruitment source from which successful consultant appointees were recruited; and if so, to provide the number and percentage of consultant appointments arising from each recruitment channel in 2023, 2024, 2025 and to date in 2026. [43566/26]
2280. Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Health the total expenditure incurred on consultant recruitment advertising in each year from 2021 to 2025, broken down by publication, website, platform and recruitment channel. [43567/26]
2281. Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Health whether any value-for-money review has been undertaken regarding consultant recruitment advertising expenditure; and if so, to provide copies or summaries of such reviews. [43568/26]
2282. Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Health the number of consultant applicants, interviewees and appointees arising from advertisements placed in the British Medical Journal in each year from 2023 to 2026. [43569/26]
2283. Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Health whether any analysis has been undertaken comparing the retention rates of consultants recruited through international recruitment campaigns with those recruited domestically. [43570/26]
2311. Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Health whether any assessment has been undertaken of the impact of agency staffing restrictions on vacancy levels, service delivery, waiting lists or patient outcomes; and if she will provide copies of any such assessment. [43604/26]
2312. Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Health why the HSE does not centrally record vacancies arising from restrictions on agency staff recruitment despite operating a national agency reduction policy; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [43605/26]
2313. Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Health whether she is satisfied that the HSE can properly evaluate the effectiveness of its agency conversion programme when it does not record the number of vacancies attributable to agency recruitment restrictions. [43606/26]
2314. Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Health whether any national workforce risk assessment has been undertaken regarding the possibility that agency staffing restrictions may result in funded posts remaining unfilled. [43607/26]