869. Deputy Michael Murphy asked the Minister for Health the specific barriers that have prevented the appointment of a consultant ophthalmologist in south Tipperary despite multiple recruitment campaigns; whether consideration has been given to alternative recruitment models, including international recruitment or contract flexibility; and the timeline for the next recruitment campaign. [32073/26]
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
870. Deputy Sean Fleming asked the Minister for Health when additional emergency medical consultants will be appointed at a location (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [32098/26]
873. Deputy George Lawlor asked the Minister for Health the number of radiographer clinical practice tutor posts currently filled within the HSE; the number of such posts filled, by hospital, in tabular form; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [32113/26]
875. Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Health the number of whole-time equivalent consultant breast surgeons employed at Cork University Hospital as of 28 April 2026; the corresponding number as of 30 June 2022, in tabular form. [32119/26]
877. Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Health the number of whole-time equivalent ophthalmology registrars employed at South Infirmary Victoria University Hospital as of 28 April 2026, in tabular form. [32121/26]
916. Deputy Peadar Tóibín asked the Minister for Health the number of staff that have worked in the health service who have not been Garda vetted for that role. [32298/26]
998. Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Health whether the HSE has set annual or monthly targets for reducing agency staffing expenditure; if so, to provide those targets for 2024, 2025 and 2026 and the actual outturn against those targets; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [32537/26]
999. Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Health the average hourly cost of agency staff compared to directly employed staff across key grades within the HSE; and the estimated additional cost incurred through agency staffing in 2024, 2025 and to date in 2026; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [32538/26]
1000. Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Health the extent to which agency staffing expenditure is linked to delivery under the Waiting List Action Plan; and whether any analysis has been carried out on the cost-effectiveness of agency staffing in reducing waiting times; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [32539/26]
1002. Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Health how many agency staff have been converted to permanent HSE employment under the July 2025 agency conversion framework, broken down by staff grade, HSE Health Region and month; the estimated savings achieved to date; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [32541/26]
1003. Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Health whether the HSE has set monthly or annual targets for reducing agency staffing expenditure in 2025 and 2026; the target and actual expenditure for each month; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [32542/26]
1004. Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Health the average hourly cost to the HSE of agency staff compared with directly employed staff across the main staff categories; the estimated additional cost arising from agency staffing in 2024, 2025 and to date in 2026; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [32543/26]
1087. Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Health whether any analysis has been undertaken by the HSE or individual hospitals, including South Infirmary Victoria University Hospital, on the effectiveness of international recruitment channels, including online advertising and publications such as the British Medical Journal; if so, to provide the number of applications received, interviews conducted, and appointm…
1088. Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Health whether the HSE has a formal international recruitment strategy targeting specific jurisdictions such as the United Kingdom for nursing, medical and health and social care professional roles; if so, to outline the strategy, targets and outcomes; and if not, whether such a strategy will be developed. [32687/26]
1089. Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Health the total number of applicants for positions at South Infirmary Victoria University Hospital in 2025 and to date in 2026, broken down by country of origin; the number of those applicants who progressed to interview and appointment; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [32688/26]
1091. Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Health whether a policy commitment exists to achieve pay parity between staff employed in Section 38 and Section 39 organisations and those employed directly by the HSE in disability services; and the timeline, if any, for achieving such parity. [32695/26]
1230. Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Health whether the full target of 960 whole-time equivalent agency staff conversions to direct employment will be achieved; if not, the revised completion date; and the reasons for the shortfall to date. [33237/26]
1231. Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Health the total expenditure on agency staffing in each year from 2023 to 2025 and to date in 2026; and the extent to which this expenditure has reduced in line with the agency conversion programme. [33238/26]
1232. Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Health whether the conversion of agency staff to direct employment has resulted in any net increase in frontline staffing capacity; or whether such conversions are being accommodated within existing workforce ceilings. [33239/26]
1233. Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Health the current maximum whole-time equivalent workforce ceiling for 2026 constrains the completion of the agency conversion programme; and whether any adjustment to this ceiling is under consideration. [33240/26]
1234. Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Health whether a national policy framework governs how Health Regions prioritise and implement agency staff conversions; and how consistency across regions is ensured. [33241/26]
1235. Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Health whether posts identified for agency conversion may be reconfigured by Health Regions into different grades or service areas; and if so, the number of such reconfigurations to date. [33242/26]
1236. Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Health whether any assessment has been carried out on the impact of the agency conversion programme on service delivery, including waiting times, patient access, or staffing stability; and if so, the findings of that assessment. [33243/26]
442. Deputy Barry Heneghan asked the Minister for Health further to Parliamentary Question No. 196 of 25 June 2025, the anticipated timelines for new resources to be recruited and operational within the Mater Hospital’s pulmonary arterial hypertension (PAH) unit; whether funding for these roles has been formally allocated within the HSE service plan and budget for 2026; the engagement or consultation that has taken p…
461. Deputy Eamon Scanlon asked the Minister for Health the reason there is currently no staff welfare officer available in the north west region; when this post became vacant; and if there are plans, and a timeline, in place to fill this position; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [31725/26]