Infectious Diseases

792. Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Health further to Parliamentary Question No. 2462 of 14 April 2026, if any timeframe targets exist within the HSE or her Department for the period between notification of a meningococcal disease case and completion of contact identification or commencement of post-exposure prophylaxis; if performance against any such timeframe is recorded or monitored…

793. Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Health the mechanism in place to escalate or flag a meningococcal disease case where the duty consultant in public health medicine does not undertake the risk assessment described as “immediate” within a defined period; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [49001/26]

235. Deputy Pádraig O'Sullivan asked the Minister for Health if she will provide the number of influenza-related deaths, hospitalisations and intensive care admissions notified in the 2025/2026 season; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [44374/26]

1180. Deputy Carol Nolan asked the Minister for Health the specific evidence of Hantavirus risk in Ireland that prompted its addition as a notifiable disease under the Infectious Diseases (Amendment) Regulations 2026; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [38986/26]

1181. Deputy Carol Nolan asked the Minister for Health the estimated cost to the HSE and public health system of adding Hantavirus to the list of notifiable diseases, including training, laboratory testing, contact tracing and potential isolation measures; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [38987/26]

1182. Deputy Carol Nolan asked the Minister for Health if the inclusion of updated references to Covid-19 variants and influenza in the 2026 Regulations indicates any planned reintroduction of enhanced surveillance, testing or public health restrictions for respiratory viruses; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [38988/26]

1183. Deputy Carol Nolan asked the Minister for Health the circumstances in which a person diagnosed with Hantavirus could be subject to detention or isolation under the amended regulations; the safeguards in place to protect the rights of the individual and the appeal mechanisms available; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [38989/26]

1184. Deputy Carol Nolan asked the Minister for Health the consultation process undertaken with medical professionals, general practitioners and relevant stakeholders prior to signing the Infectious Diseases (Amendment) Regulations 2026; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [38990/26]

1185. Deputy Carol Nolan asked the Minister for Health if the Government has assessed the potential impact of the Infectious Diseases (Amendment) Regulations 2026 on farmers, rural communities and people working with rodents given that Hantavirus is primarily rodent-borne; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [38991/26]

1186. Deputy Carol Nolan asked the Minister for Health the number of additional notifications the HSE expects annually as a result of the Infectious Diseases (Amendment) Regulations 2026; the staffing and resource implications for public health departments; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [38992/26]

1187. Deputy Carol Nolan asked the Minister for Health the reason Hantavirus has been prioritised for mandatory notification and potential isolation powers at this time; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [38993/26]

1188. Deputy Carol Nolan asked the Minister for Health if she will confirm that the expanded powers in the Infectious Diseases Regulations will not be used to impose restrictions similar to those experienced during the Covid-19 period; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [38994/26]

1189. Deputy Carol Nolan asked the Minister for Health to provide a full breakdown of all diseases added to or removed from the notifiable list in the past ten years; the rationale for each change; the criteria used to determine which diseases warrant mandatory notification and isolation powers; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [38995/26]

1167. Deputy Paul Lawless asked the Minister for Health if she is aware of a case at Mayo University Hospital (details supplied) where a patient tested positive for ESBL on 6 April 2026, but was not informed of this result for approximately 20 days; if her Department or the HSE has established the reason the patient and the patient’s GP were not notified as indicated on the laboratory report; and …

1168. Deputy Paul Lawless asked the Minister for Health whether appropriate infection-prevention and control measures, including patient notification and isolation protocols, were followed at Mayo University Hospital in respect of a patient who tested positive for ESBL on 6 April 2026 (details supplied); and if not, the corrective actions that are being taken to ensure patient and public safety. […

1169. Deputy Paul Lawless asked the Minister for Health the assessment that has been carried out by the HSE regarding any potential risk posed to other patients arising from the failure to notify and appropriately manage a confirmed case of ESBL at Mayo University Hospital (details supplied); and whether a review of potential exposure to other patients has been undertaken. [37374/26]

1170. Deputy Paul Lawless asked the Minister for Health whether she is satisfied that the processes in place ensured the timely and accurate transfer of infection-related clinical information when a patient was transferred from Mayo University Hospital to Sacred Heart Hospital for rehabilitation (details supplied); if shortcomings were identified; and the actions being taken to address them. [3737…

1171. Deputy Paul Lawless asked the Minister for Health if guidelines exist regarding patient dignity and access to bathroom facilities for patients with infections such as ESBL; and if she will comment on the differing approaches taken to a patient’s infection-control management and use of facilities at Mayo University Hospital and at Sacred Heart Hospital (details supplied). [37376/26]

1172. Deputy Paul Lawless asked the Minister for Health whether the HSE has initiated or intends to initiate a formal investigation into the handling of a confirmed ESBL case at Mayo University Hospital (details supplied), including failures in communication with the patient and GP, infection-control measures and discharge procedures; and if she will ensure that the patient receives a full written…

955. Deputy John Lahart asked the Minister for Health her views on the outbreak of meningitis in a local area of the UK; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [22020/26]

993. Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Health in light of reports of meningitis cases in the United Kingdom, the immediate steps being taken to monitor the situation and protect public health in Ireland; whether any cases have been identified in the State to date; whether the HSE has issued or plans to issue public health guidance or alerts; the current capacity and readiness of services t…

679. Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Health whether her Department has conducted any assessment since 2020 of infectious disease screening capacity at Ireland’s designated points of entry; the findings of any such assessment; and to explain why reliance is being placed on the EU Public Health Emergency Preparedness Assessment scheduled for 2026 rather than a completed national review. [7…

680. Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Health whether any interim actions have been approved by her Department to strengthen infectious disease screening and public health response at ports and airports prior to the 2026 EU preparedness assessment; and to detail those actions. [73507/25]

681. Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Health whether her Department holds any internal risk registers, preparedness assessments, or assurance reports relating to infectious disease surge capacity within the HSE; and if so, to outline the main risk categories identified and the mitigation measures in place. [73508/25]

1030. Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Health to provide a full list of all public-health risk assessments completed by her Department, the National Health Protection Office or the Health Service Executive since 1 January 2020 concerning communicable-disease risks among persons arriving into the State, including tuberculosis, measles, polio and hepatitis; and to specify the title of each …