Parliamentary questions

Hospital Staff

David Cullinane

193. Deputy David Cullinane asked the Minister for Health if he will address a matter raised in correspondence by a person (details supplied) in relation to the appointment of locum consultants; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [62099/21]

Vaccination Programme

David Cullinane

204. Deputy David Cullinane asked the Minister for Health his plans to put in place a medical exemption for those who have been advised against getting a Covid-19 vaccine for medical reasons; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [62234/21]

Vaccination Programme

David Cullinane

205. Deputy David Cullinane asked the Minister for Health the number of Covid-19 vaccines that have had to be disposed of due to the fact they were unused and went out of date; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [62235/21]

Hospital Facilities

David Cullinane

208. Deputy David Cullinane asked the Minister for Health the planned relocations and co-locations of hospitals; the timelines and prioritisation for same; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [62270/21]

Departmental Reviews

David Cullinane

552. Deputy David Cullinane asked the Minister for Health the unit or person who will have ownership of the implementation of the national cardiac services review when it is published; the lead responsible for cardiovascular policy; the way in which, aside from the HSE national heart programme, the recommendations will be advanced, monitored and evaluated; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [61172/21]

Departmental Reviews

David Cullinane

555. Deputy David Cullinane asked the Minister for Health if dedicated technical support and a formalised decision-making process for a health technology review has been given to NIAC to address the deficiencies identified in the briefing he received upon entering office; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [61180/21]

Departmental Reviews

David Cullinane

556. Deputy David Cullinane asked the Minister for Health if the recommendations from the internal departmental review 2016, on the development of an immunisation policy to support the effective, transparent and accountable operation of NIAC, have been implemented to address the deficiencies identified in the briefing that he received upon entering office; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [61181/21]

Departmental Reviews

David Cullinane

557. Deputy David Cullinane asked the Minister for Health if NIAC has been restructured since he took office as recommended in the briefing he received upon entering office; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [61182/21]

Regulatory Bodies

David Cullinane

584. Deputy David Cullinane asked the Minister for Health the average length of time taken to recognise health qualifications by CORU; the number of applications and the approval response time for the past 24 months in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [61304/21]

Regulatory Bodies

David Cullinane

585. Deputy David Cullinane asked the Minister for Health the steps he is taking in relation to the waiting lists for CORU; the steps he is taking to review the current CORU recognition process for approving UK registered healthcare professionals to have their credentials and work experience recognised for the purposes of joining the healthcare system; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [61305/21]

Covid-19 Tests

David Cullinane

604. Deputy David Cullinane asked the Minister for Health if he will address a series of matters (details supplied) in relation to data protection and antigen testing; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [61520/21]

Health Services Staff

David Cullinane

650. Deputy David Cullinane asked the Minister for Health the amount spent by the HSE on agency staff from 2017 to date by year and location in tabular form. [61706/21]

National Treatment Purchase Fund

David Cullinane

651. Deputy David Cullinane asked the Minister for Health the amount spent through the NTPF from 2017 to date by year; and the organisations to which such payments were made. [61707/21]

Health Services

David Cullinane

652. Deputy David Cullinane asked the Minister for Health the amount spent on outsourcing services to the private sector from 2017 to date by year and organisation in tabular form; and the services this spending related to. [61708/21]

Health Services

David Cullinane

653. Deputy David Cullinane asked the Minister for Health the amount spent on and by section 38 organisations from 2017 to date. [61709/21]

Health Services

David Cullinane

654. Deputy David Cullinane asked the Minister for Health the amount spent on and by section 39 organisations from 2017 to date. [61710/21]

Hospital Services

David Cullinane

655. Deputy David Cullinane asked the Minister for Health the amount of public funding spent by public hospitals on private healthcare services within each hospital from 2017 to date, in tabular form. [61711/21]

Hospital Services

David Cullinane

656. Deputy David Cullinane asked the Minister for Health the amount of public funding spent by public hospitals on private healthcare services from 2017 to date by hospital in tabular form. [61712/21]

Health Services

David Cullinane

657. Deputy David Cullinane asked the Minister for Health the amount of public funding spent by his Department, the HSE and all other public healthcare providers on external consultancy work from 2017 to date by purchaser, in tabular form. [61713/21]

Home Help Service

David Cullinane

667. Deputy David Cullinane asked the Minister for Health if he will address a matter (details supplied) in relation to home help services; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [61751/21]

Departmental Reports

David Cullinane

208. Deputy David Cullinane asked the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform when the report of the Hours Body by a person (details supplied) will be finalised and published; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [60918/21]

Third Level Education

David Cullinane

265. Deputy David Cullinane asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science the number of approved degree course places, first year intake and final year graduates, graduate output, for counselling and psychotherapy in each of the past five years in tabular form; his plans for increasing graduate output in this field; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [60912/21]

Third Level Education

David Cullinane

266. Deputy David Cullinane asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science the number of approved undergraduate places, first year intake and final year graduates, graduate output for nursing and midwifery in each of the past five years in tabular form; his plans for increasing graduate output in this field; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [60919/21]

Third Level Education

David Cullinane

267. Deputy David Cullinane asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science the number of approved postgraduate places, first year intake and final year graduates, graduate output, for nursing and midwifery in each of the past five years in tabular form; his plans for increasing postgraduate output in this field; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [60920/21]

Third Level Education

David Cullinane

268. Deputy David Cullinane asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science the number of approved undergraduate places, first year intake and final year graduates, graduate output, for medicine in each of the past five years in tabular form; his plans for increasing graduate output in this field; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [60921/21]

Third Level Education

David Cullinane

269. Deputy David Cullinane asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science the number of approved postgraduate places, first year intake, and final year graduates, graduate output, for the various medical fields in each of the past five years in tabular form; his plans for increasing postgraduate output in this field; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [60922/21]

Third Level Education

David Cullinane

270. Deputy David Cullinane asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science the number of approved undergraduate places, first year intake, and final year graduates, graduate output, for psychology and occupational therapy in each of the past five years in tabular form; his plans for increasing graduate output in this field; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [60923/21]

Third Level Education

David Cullinane

271. Deputy David Cullinane asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science the number of approved postgraduate places, first year intake, and final year graduates, graduate output, for psychology and occupational therapy in each of the past five years in tabular form; his plans for increasing graduate output in this field; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [60924/21]

Third Level Education

David Cullinane

272. Deputy David Cullinane asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science the number of approved undergraduate places, first year intake, and final year graduates, graduate output, for speech and language therapy in each of the past five years in tabular form; his plans for increasing graduate output in this field; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [60925/21]

Third Level Education

David Cullinane

273. Deputy David Cullinane asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science the number of approved postgraduate places, first year intake, and final year graduates, graduate output, for speech and language therapy in each of the past five years in tabular form; his plans for increasing graduate output in this field; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [60926/21]

Third Level Education

David Cullinane

274. Deputy David Cullinane asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science the number of approved undergraduate places, first year intake, and final year graduates, graduate output, for physiotherapy in each of the past five years in tabular form; his plans for increasing graduate output in this field; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [60927/21]

Third Level Education

David Cullinane

275. Deputy David Cullinane asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science the number of approved postgraduate places, first year intake, and final year graduates, graduate output, for physiotherapy in each of the past five years in tabular form; his plans for increasing graduate output in this field; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [60928/21]

Third Level Education

David Cullinane

276. Deputy David Cullinane asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science the number of approved undergraduate places, first year intake, and final year graduates, graduate output, for dentistry, dental hygiene, and dental technology in each of the past five years in tabular form; his plans for increasing graduate output in this field; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [60929/21]

Third Level Education

David Cullinane

277. Deputy David Cullinane asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science the number of approved postgraduate places, first year intake, and final year graduates, graduate output, for dentistry, dental hygiene, and dental technology in each of the past five years in tabular form; his plans for increasing graduate output in this field; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [60930/21]

Departmental Staff

David Cullinane

303. Deputy David Cullinane asked the Minister for Health the vacancies which exist within his Department; the length of these vacancies; when he expects these vacancies to be filled; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [60913/21]

Departmental Staff

David Cullinane

304. Deputy David Cullinane asked the Minister for Health his plans for reconfiguring the Sláintecare implementation office; the vacancies in this office; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [60914/21]

Hospital Closures

David Cullinane

305. Deputy David Cullinane asked the Minister for Health his plans regarding Lifford Community Hospital; the expected length of closure; if it will be reopened to provide long or short stay beds; his plans for replacing the long stay beds and addressing concerns raised by HIQA; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [60916/21]

Departmental Reports

David Cullinane

306. Deputy David Cullinane asked the Minister for Health when a report into the Brandon case will be completed and published; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [60917/21]

Health Services Staff

David Cullinane

308. Deputy David Cullinane asked the Minister for Health the number of nursing and midwifery staff employed by the HSE which are paid on the enhanced pay scale; the number which are not; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [60950/21]

Health Services Staff

David Cullinane

309. Deputy David Cullinane asked the Minister for Health the number of nursing and midwifery staff employed by the HSE which are working for the service or have experience totalling 18 plus months; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [60951/21]

Health Services Staff

David Cullinane

310. Deputy David Cullinane asked the Minister for Health the number of nursing and midwifery staff employed by the HSE since 1 January 2021; the number paid on the enhanced scale; the number employed who had 18 plus months prior experience; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [60952/21]

Health Services Staff

David Cullinane

311. Deputy David Cullinane asked the Minister for Health when the disciplinary procedure for employees of the health service was last revised; the versions which apply to different providers; if the same version does not apply to all providers, the reason; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [60953/21]

Ambulance Service

David Cullinane

315. Deputy David Cullinane asked the Minister for Health the median and mean length of the average and longest trip by a National Ambulance Service ambulance in 2019, 2020 and to date in 2021. [60969/21]

Ambulance Service

David Cullinane

316. Deputy David Cullinane asked the Minister for Health the number of ambulances in the National Ambulance Service fleet by outpost location. [60970/21]

Ambulance Service

David Cullinane

317. Deputy David Cullinane asked the Minister for Health the staffing components of the National Ambulance Service ambulance fleet. [60971/21]

Ambulance Service

David Cullinane

318. Deputy David Cullinane asked the Minister for Health the number of callouts reached by the National Ambulance Service within 20 minutes and over 20 minutes, by dispatch standard; and the average median and mean and maximum for same. [60972/21]

Ambulance Service

David Cullinane

319. Deputy David Cullinane asked the Minister for Health the average median and mean distance travelled in a single day by a National Ambulance Service ambulance in 2020 and to date in 2021. [60973/21]

Ambulance Service

David Cullinane

320. Deputy David Cullinane asked the Minister for Health the largest number of times a National Ambulance Service ambulance was redirected in a single shift between seeing patients. [60974/21]

Ambulance Service

David Cullinane

321. Deputy David Cullinane asked the Minister for Health the number of National Ambulance Service shifts which went overtime by the number of hours of overtime in 2020 and to date in 2021, in tabular form and as a percentage of all shifts. [60975/21]

Ambulance Service

David Cullinane

322. Deputy David Cullinane asked the Minister for Health the number of National Ambulance Service ambulance trips over 100km, 150km and 200km in tabular form and as a percentage of all trips. [60976/21]

Ambulance Service

David Cullinane

323. Deputy David Cullinane asked the Minister for Health the number of National Ambulance Service ambulance trips over one, two and three hours in tabular form and as a percentage of all trips. [60977/21]

Hospital Facilities

David Cullinane

141. Deputy David Cullinane asked the Minister for Health the number of acute inpatient beds that are fully funded and open at the latest available validated data point; the net increase in beds factoring in ward beds which have been replaced and closed by location in each of the years since 1 January 2019 to date in tabular form; the number of new acute inpatient beds opened by additional and replacement by hospital in 2019, 2020 and to date in 2021, in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [60647/21]

Hospital Services

David Cullinane

150. Deputy David Cullinane asked the Minister for Health the timeline for tri-location of the Coombe women’s and infants university hospital with the National Children’s Hospital and St. James’s Hospital; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [60720/21]

Hospital Services

David Cullinane

151. Deputy David Cullinane asked the Minister for Health the status of plans and timeline for the relocation of the Rotunda Hospital; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [60721/21]

Hospital Services

David Cullinane

152. Deputy David Cullinane asked the Minister for Health the status of plans and timeline for the relocation of the National Maternity Hospital; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [60722/21]

Medical Cards

David Cullinane

162. Deputy David Cullinane asked the Minister for Health the mean, median and maximum spend across medical cards and general practitioner visit cards in tabular form. [60739/21]

Medicinal Products

David Cullinane

163. Deputy David Cullinane asked the Minister for Health the medicines which are under consideration for addition to the long-term illness scheme. [60740/21]

Medicinal Products

David Cullinane

164. Deputy David Cullinane asked the Minister for Health the cost of adding menopause medicine treatments by type to the drug payment scheme; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [60741/21]

Hospital Charges

David Cullinane

165. Deputy David Cullinane asked the Minister for Health if hospitals that cannot meet the final annual deadline at the end of March for coding of inpatient charges will receive a time concession; if not, the way he plans to ensure this does not negatively impact hospital budgets for the following year; the supports he will put in place to ensure on-time validating inpatient coding of charts, such as extra staff or time; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [60742/21]

Hospital Staff

David Cullinane

173. Deputy David Cullinane asked the Minister for Health the status of recruitment for the Children’s Health Ireland paediatric complex pain management service; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [60827/21]

Hospital Staff

David Cullinane

174. Deputy David Cullinane asked the Minister for Health his plans to recruit the full-time paediatric pain consultant; if his attention has been drawn to the current waiting lists for children in chronic pain; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [60828/21]

Dental Services

David Cullinane

466. Deputy David Cullinane asked the Minister for Health when he will undertake a review of the dental treatment services scheme; the timeframe to complete the review; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [59804/21]

Disease Management

David Cullinane

475. Deputy David Cullinane asked the Minister for Health the key performance indicators used to determine the success of the chronic disease management programme; if they are broken down by condition, age cohort, clinical outcomes, impact on mortality and other pertinent indicators; if there are specific key performance indicators for childhood asthma within the programme or other health strategies within his Department; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [59835/21]

Health Services

David Cullinane

476. Deputy David Cullinane asked the Minister for Health the number of persons currently on a waiting list for an allergy diagnosis; the average waiting time from a general practitioner referral to first appointment with an allergist for adults; the average waiting time from general practitioner referral to first appointment with an allergist for children; the range of waiting times from general practitioner referral to first appointment with an allergist for adults and children, by region; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [59836/21]

Hospital Complaints Procedures

David Cullinane

524. Deputy David Cullinane asked the Minister for Health if he will address a matter raised in correspondence by person (details supplied) in relation to treatment at University Hospital Waterford; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [59998/21]

Health Services

David Cullinane

539. Deputy David Cullinane asked the Minister for Health if his attention has been drawn to instances of mesh-injured women who availed of removal services abroad on the understanding they would be reimbursed; if these women will be reimbursed; if they will receive relevant aftercare; the steps he has taken to improve removal and aftercare services in this jurisdiction; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [60056/21]

Covid-19 Tests

David Cullinane

592. Deputy David Cullinane asked the Minister for Health if he will address a matter raised in correspondence (details supplied) in relation to the PCR test results; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [60323/21]

Health Services

David Cullinane

91. Deputy David Cullinane asked the Minister for Health his plans for addressing the problems in paediatric orthopaedic services; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [59111/21]

Hospital Procedures

David Cullinane

93. Deputy David Cullinane asked the Minister for Health the number of hospital appointments including but not limited to elective surgeries which have been cancelled due to capacity constraints and particularly the lack of critical care beds; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [59112/21]

Patient Safety

David Cullinane

163. Deputy David Cullinane asked the Minister for Health his plans to advance mandatory open disclosure, mandatory reporting and adult safeguarding legislation; when he plans to seek committee stage for the patient safety Bill; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [59118/21]

Ambulance Service

David Cullinane

182. Deputy David Cullinane asked the Minister for Health the status of the capacity review of the National Ambulance Service; his plans to increase resources for the service; his engagement with the Minister of State with special responsibility for Local Government and Planning regarding funding for Dublin City Council to fund the Dublin Fire Brigade; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [59116/21]

General Practitioner Services

David Cullinane

185. Deputy David Cullinane asked the Minister for Health his plans for addressing the crisis in general practice, generally and specifically in out-of-hours services; the impact of this on emergency departments; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [59114/21]

Health Services

David Cullinane

205. Deputy David Cullinane asked the Minister for Health his plans regarding expanding access to in-vitro fertilisation and surrogacy services; his plans to expand supports, financial and otherwise, for accessing these services; his plans to advance the assisted human reproduction Bill; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [59117/21]

Covid-19 Tests

David Cullinane

211. Deputy David Cullinane asked the Minister for Health his plans to expand access to antigen and PCR testing; the status of tracing capacity; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [59115/21]

Departmental Correspondence

David Cullinane

197. Deputy David Cullinane asked the Minister for Health if he will address the matter raised in correspondence by person (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [59602/21]

Healthcare Policy

David Cullinane

215. Deputy David Cullinane asked the Minister for Health his response to a submission by a group (details supplied); if legislation is planned to add physiotherapists to the list of persons permitted to refer a person for ionising radiation; if he is liaising with the HSE to introduce the proposed grade of advanced practice physiotherapist; the timeframe for delivering the proposals in the pre-Budget submission; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [59633/21]

Vaccination Programme

David Cullinane

216. Deputy David Cullinane asked the Minister for Health if he will advise on a matter raised in correspondence by a person (details supplied) in relation to vaccinations for persons over 50 years of age; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [59634/21]

Company Law

David Cullinane

146. Deputy David Cullinane asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment the discussions he or his Department have had with the Companies Registration Office in relation to extending the deadline for the submission of company returns from 25 November 2021 in view of the recent upsurge in Covid-19 cases and the disruption this is causing to accountancy businesses; the result of these discussions; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [58796/21]

Emergency Departments

David Cullinane

627. Deputy David Cullinane asked the Minister for Health the number and percentage of emergency department attendances that are admitted; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [58768/21]

Emergency Departments

David Cullinane

628. Deputy David Cullinane asked the Minister for Health the number and percentage of emergency department admissions that are not immediately assigned a bed at each location; the average length of time people spend waiting to be assigned a bed at each location; the maximum wait time for a bed at each emergency department, in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [58770/21]

General Practitioner Services

David Cullinane

634. Deputy David Cullinane asked the Minister for Health the number of referrals from general practitioners to HSE services, by service, in 2019, 2020 and to date in 2021, in tabular form. [58794/21]

Community Care

David Cullinane

635. Deputy David Cullinane asked the Minister for Health the status of the enhanced community care programme; the measures implemented to date; the measures yet to be implemented and planned for the remainder of 2021, for 2022 and beyond 2022; the networks and teams in place, and to be put in place, and staff hired and further required; the funding allocated and spend incurred; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [58795/21]

Health Service Executive

David Cullinane

636. Deputy David Cullinane asked the Minister for Health the share of the €200 million to tackle waiting lists allocated to the HSE that will be spent on procuring private services and the types of services, for example, diagnostics and so on it will be spent on, in tabular form. [58803/21]

Emergency Departments

David Cullinane

665. Deputy David Cullinane asked the Minister for Health the number and percentage of emergency department admissions which are treated within 4, 8 and 12 hours, in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [58919/21]

Hospital Overcrowding

David Cullinane

669. Deputy David Cullinane asked the Minister for Health his plans to increase bed capacity and address the overcrowding crisis in the Saolta Hospital Group; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [58941/21]

Hospital Overcrowding

David Cullinane

670. Deputy David Cullinane asked the Minister for Health the number of capital funding requests submitted to his Department from each hospital in the Saolta Hospital Group specifically to address the issue of bed capacity over the past three years; the amount requested; the amount provided by his Department; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [58942/21]

Hospital Facilities

David Cullinane

671. Deputy David Cullinane asked the Minister for Health the number of new acute beds that have been provided to each hospital in the Saolta Hospital Group in the past two years; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [58943/21]

Hospital Staff

David Cullinane

672. Deputy David Cullinane asked the Minister for Health the number of clinical staff vacancies by staff grade currently for each hospital in the Saolta Hospital Group; the length of time of each vacancy; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [58944/21]

Healthcare Policy

David Cullinane

673. Deputy David Cullinane asked the Minister for Health the number of additional beds that will be made operational in hospitals under the Saolta Hospital Group under the winter plan; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [58945/21]

General Practitioner Services

David Cullinane

674. Deputy David Cullinane asked the Minister for Health if his attention has been drawn to recent data provided by the Irish College of General Practitioners that states that 60% of a survey of 900 general practitioners have stated that they are at capacity and not taking on new patients and that up to 700 will retire over the next five years; the measures he proposes to take to ensure sufficient general practitioner capacity; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [58946/21]

Hospital Overcrowding

David Cullinane

675. Deputy David Cullinane asked the Minister for Health the number of planned surgeries that have been cancelled in each hospital of the Saolta Hospital Group over each of the past six months as a result of bed capacity issues; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [58947/21]

Departmental Funding

David Cullinane

676. Deputy David Cullinane asked the Minister for Health the annual budget allocated to each hospital in the State over each of the past five years; if additional current funding has been requested for any individual hospital or hospital group; the reason for the additional funding request; the response of his Department to each request; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [58948/21]

Home Care Packages

David Cullinane

677. Deputy David Cullinane asked the Minister for Health the total number of home care hours applied for by CHO; the total number granted in tabular form over each of the past five years; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [58949/21]

Healthcare Policy

David Cullinane

678. Deputy David Cullinane asked the Minister for Health the primary care plans for each CHO; the progress to date on each project; the timeframe for delivery of each project; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [58950/21]

Home Care Packages

David Cullinane

679. Deputy David Cullinane asked the Minister for Health the average wait time for approval of a home care application; the level of delayed discharges from each hospital in the Saolta Group while waiting on a home care package or community bed; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [58951/21]

Hospital Facilities

David Cullinane

680. Deputy David Cullinane asked the Minister for Health the number of community hospital beds in the Saolta Group counties available to patients on discharge from acute hospitals; if he plans to increase community bed capacity; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [58952/21]

Departmental Reviews

David Cullinane

689. Deputy David Cullinane asked the Minister for Health when he will publish the terms of reference of the review of the Health (Regulation of Termination of Pregnancy) Act 2018; when he will announce the appointment of a lead independent expert; when each of the strands of the review will begin; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [58975/21]

Health Services Staff

David Cullinane

690. Deputy David Cullinane asked the Minister for Health if he has or will adjust the recruitment process for permanent and locum doctors, nursing, health care assistants and other posts in the health service; if the HSE will or has devolved power to hospital management or group management or otherwise senior staff below a national level; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [58976/21]

Health Services Staff

David Cullinane

691. Deputy David Cullinane asked the Minister for Health if his attention has been drawn to issues regarding international recruitment into the health service regarding work permits; if his attention has been further drawn to issues regarding the recruitment of carers and healthcare assistants and disputes regarding constraints on critical skills employment permits; his plans to address the shortage of carers and healthcare assistants; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [58977/21]

Departmental Data

David Cullinane

692. Deputy David Cullinane asked the Minister for Health his plans to address the severe overtime culture in the HSE; the average number of overtime hours worked on a weekly basis by grade within the medical, dental, nursing and midwifery and healthcare assistant professions in acute hospitals; his plans to ensure that promise overtime rates are applied in every hospital; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [58978/21]