David Cullinane
Ceist:2331. Deputy David Cullinane asked the Minister for Health the number of WTE consultants in emergency medicine based at Tullamore Regional Hospital in 2024 and to date in 2025, in tabular form. [20262/25]
Amharc ar fhreagraHospital Staff
Ceisteanna (2331)
Freagraí scríofa
As this is a service matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond to the Deputy directly, as soon as possible.
Dental Services
Ceisteanna (2332)
David Cullinane
Ceist:2332. Deputy David Cullinane asked the Minister for Health to provide an update on the number of dentists working in the school dental scheme in County Roscommon in the years of 2023, 2024 and to date in 2025, in tabular form. [20263/25]
Amharc ar fhreagraFreagraí scríofa
As this is a service matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond to the Deputy directly.
Emergency Departments
Ceisteanna (2333)
David Cullinane
Ceist:2333. Deputy David Cullinane asked the Minister for Health the number of children that presented to the emergency department of Sligo University Hospital in the years of 2024 and to-date in 2025 in tabular form. [20264/25]
Amharc ar fhreagraFreagraí scríofa
As this is a service matter, I have asked the HSE to respond to the Deputy directly.
Hospital Staff
Ceisteanna (2334)
David Cullinane
Ceist:2334. Deputy David Cullinane asked the Minister for Health the number of WTE ear, nose and throat registrars at Our Lady of Lourdes Hospital, Drogheda, in the years of 2024 and to date in 2025, in tabular form. [20265/25]
Amharc ar fhreagraFreagraí scríofa
As this is a service matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond to the Deputy directly, as soon as possible.
Healthcare Infrastructure Provision
Ceisteanna (2335)
David Cullinane
Ceist:2335. Deputy David Cullinane asked the Minister for Health If she will outline the recent capital investment made in Roscommon University Hospital; the planned investment in the next two years, covering both buildings and additional equipment for diagnostics and treatment; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [20266/25]
Amharc ar fhreagraFreagraí scríofa
As the Health Service Executive is responsible for the delivery of public healthcare infrastructure projects, I have asked the HSE to respond to you directly in relation to this matter.
Emergency Departments
Ceisteanna (2336)
David Cullinane
Ceist:2336. Deputy David Cullinane asked the Minister for Health the number of resuscitation bays in the emergency department of Tallaght University Hospital. [20267/25]
Amharc ar fhreagraFreagraí scríofa
As this is a service matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond to the Deputy directly, as soon as possible.
Question No. 2337 answered with Question No. 2209.
Question No. 2338 answered with Question No. 2209.
Home Care Packages
Ceisteanna (2339)
Niamh Smyth
Ceist:2339. Deputy Niamh Smyth asked the Minister for Health the reason a person (details supplied) was granted home care support but supports are not always put into place; the reason she is not being notified when carers are not calling. [20271/25]
Amharc ar fhreagraFreagraí scríofa
As this is a service matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond to the Deputy directly, as soon as possible.
International Bodies
Ceisteanna (2340)
Sinéad Gibney
Ceist:2340. Deputy Sinéad Gibney asked the Minister for Health to provide details on her meeting with the head of the World Health Organization during her St Patrick’s Day visit to New York; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [20286/25]
Amharc ar fhreagraFreagraí scríofa
I met with the WHO DG, Dr Tedros Ghebreyesus on 11 March 2025 during my St Patrick’s Day visit to New York. He was keen to use the opportunity of this short meeting to brief me on current challenges: the US health funding cuts, the Pandemic Accord negotiations and the Gaza crisis. I found this meeting useful and am interested in having a more in-depth engagement with the DG when he is next in Ireland, or when I am in Geneva.
The following was discussed:
US cuts.
Dr Tedros briefed on the impact of the withdrawal of the US from WHO and its other global health funding cutbacks. He highlighted the resulting risk of rollback on the progress that has been made on AIDS, TB and Malaria and pointed out that WHO emergency programming will be amongst the sectors worse hit. Dr Tedros said that the bilateral health funding hits taken by many programme countries are much worse than what the WHO is experiencing and that the suddenness of the cuts had made them especially difficult to manage. Given established national budget allocations, responding at scale to the sudden US cuts quickly through fresh domestic funding allocations is not possible in many cases.
Dr Tedros parsed the arguments presented in the relevant U.S. Executive Order []for leaving the WHO (www.whitehouse.gov/presidential-actions/2025/01/withdrawing-the-united-states-from-the-worldhealth-organization/). He asserted that contrary to the logic of this document:
• the WHO has undertaken 7 years of reforms and is ready to accelerate these in partnership with the US,
• the WHO is open to widening burden sharing in a manner that would reduce the assessed contributions of the US over time,
• the WHO took a reasonable and transparent and approach to assessing the origins of the C19 outbreak and resisted pressure from China in this regard (the WHO is independent and science based, and pressures have also been exerted from other countries at different times – the WHO has always withstood those). The WHO is also committed to applying the lessons it learned from this crisis in collaboration with the US and other partner.
The WHO is now working on the assumption that its US funding will not return soon. We were told that its plan for responding includes intensified efficiency measures, new resource mobilisation efforts and extensive staff cuts. Dr Tedros spoke about the impact of the US withdrawal in places where serious health risks are present (e.g. Marburg in Tanzania, Ebola in Uganda). The US have not taken part in WHO briefing of diplomatic missions in these instances (though interestingly they have in some cases sought briefing privately and behind the scenes).
Pandemic Accord.
Dr Tedros underlined that getting a good result in the ongoing negotiations on the Pandemic Treaty would be a major boost for global multilateralism. He sought Ireland’s support ahead of 6 April, the start of the next formal INB session and highlighted ongoing disagreements on 1) the funding framework 2) prevention and 3) voluntary and mutually agreed technology transfer (VMAT) vs mutually agreed technology transfer (MAT).
The Director-General referenced complex technical debates and seemed to suggest the funding framework used for influenza could be a simple model to follow. He noted that some countries in the South, including Brazil and Botswana, are concerned about prevention based on the One Health Approach, given their trade interests. Dr Tedros favoured MAT over what he described as the “new stricter standard” of VMAT. He indicated that support for the VMAT position was emanating from private sector interests, the UK, Switzerland, Japan, Italy, Slovakia and some others within the EU. We underlined that Ireland is supportive of an equitable approach and discussed options for follow up with in the EU and with other senior WHO staff. However, we also referenced that fact that we need to align with collective EU positions on trade matters. Dr Tedros suggested that, if needed, it might be possible to just rely on WTO rules in the pandemic text.
Gaza Crisis.
After we underlined our appreciation for the WHO’s humanitarian work in locations such as Gaza and Sudan, Dr Tedros spoke about the need for balanced and morally grounded approach to addressing the crisis in Gaza. He recalled his own efforts in this regard (including high-profile outreach to the families of hostages) and underlined his appreciation for Ireland’s principled stance, including the steps we have taken with likeminded European partners. He underlined that he personally feels closer to Israel than to Palestine because many members of his own tribe in Ethiopia are Jews who have moved to Israel and contributed to life there, in politics in the IDF or otherwise.
International Bodies
Ceisteanna (2341)
Sinéad Gibney
Ceist:2341. Deputy Sinéad Gibney asked the Minister for Health whether an increase in funding from Ireland or the EU for the World Health Organization was raised in her meeting with the head of the World Health Organization during her St Patrick’s Day visit to New York; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [20287/25]
Amharc ar fhreagraFreagraí scríofa
I met with the WHO DG, Dr Tedros Ghebreyesus on 11 March 2025 during my St Patrick’s Day visit to New York. He was keen to use the opportunity of this short meeting to brief me on current challenges including the US health funding cuts. He noted that Ireland is an “all-weather friend” and sought our ongoing backing. I found this meeting useful and am interested in having a more in-depth engagement with the DG when he is next in Ireland, or when I am in Geneva.
Dr Tedros outlined the WHOs plan for responding to US health funding cuts which includes intensified efficiency measures, new resource mobilisation efforts and extensive staff cuts.
When the Director-General asked about assistance Ireland might be able to offer, I was clear that Ireland will continue to fund the WHO’s work and to speak out in support of its mandate and role. I also mentioned supporting the WHO through our research facilities and other means beyond finance and asked for specific recommendations from the WHO.
International Relations
Ceisteanna (2342)
Sinéad Gibney
Ceist:2342. Deputy Sinéad Gibney asked the Minister for Health to provide an update on her meeting with a women’s delegation from Afghanistan during her St Patrick’s Day visit to New York; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [20289/25]
Amharc ar fhreagraFreagraí scríofa
I held a meeting with the Afghan Women’s Forum on 12 March 2025. This meeting took place on the margins of the Commission on the Status of Women (CSW) at the UN. The Forum (Ms Habibi Sarabi, Ms Asila Wardak, Ms Jessica Neuwirth, Ms Katrina Avilla, Ms Ameera Rao) thanked Ireland for continuing to highlight, in various UN fora, the situation of women living in Afghanistan under the Taliban regime.
They recalled the Taliban’s recent decision to ban women from attending nursing and midwifery courses, which, coupled with bans in parts of the country on women being treated by male medical professionals, means many women will be forced to go without any healthcare. As Minister for Health, I expressed deep concern and sympathy with the women, noting what a dangerous situation many will find themselves in.
The group further highlighted a new law which bans the construction of windows in residential buildings that overlook areas used by women. Where such windows exist, walls should be built to obstruct the view. They likened this to imprisoning women in their own homes. In addition, since women are not permitted to walk outside without a man, many find they cannot leave their homes at all.
The group described horrific coping mechanisms women are forced to resort to, due to their inability to work and lack of access to money. They further noted rising levels of suicide by women.
As with many other groups, the Afghan Women’s Network has been hit by the US Administration’s cuts to foreign funding.
I was particularly struck by the experiences these women shared, and offered to personally reach out to EU Commissioner Hadja Lahbib on their situation, as well as to raise these issues with a group of likeminded Health Ministers on my next visit to Brussels.
Primary Care Centres
Ceisteanna (2343)
Brian Stanley
Ceist:2343. Deputy Brian Stanley asked the Minister for Health for an update on the site for Mountrath primary care centre in County Laois; what funding has been provided; the progress that has been made; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [20293/25]
Amharc ar fhreagraFreagraí scríofa
As this is a service matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond to the Deputy directly, as soon as possible.
Information and Communications Technology
Ceisteanna (2344)
Sinéad Gibney
Ceist:2344. Deputy Sinéad Gibney asked the Minister for Health if all IT systems used by her Department can utilise the síneadh fada; where this is not the case, to provide the list of systems which do not accept or facilitate the use of the fada, in tabular form; the steps being taken to address this issue; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [20303/25]
Amharc ar fhreagraFreagraí scríofa
All systems used by my Department support the use of the síneadh fada.
Medicinal Products
Ceisteanna (2345)
Pádraig O'Sullivan
Ceist:2345. Deputy Pádraig O'Sullivan asked the Minister for Health if the drug Duvyzat for the treatment of muscular dystrophy (givinostat) is available for reimbursement; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [20312/25]
Amharc ar fhreagraFreagraí scríofa
Under the Health (Pricing and Supply of Medical Goods) Act 2013, the HSE has statutory responsibility for decisions on the pricing and reimbursement of medicines and medical devices; therefore, the matter has been referred to the HSE for attention and direct reply to the Deputy.
Primary Care Centres
Ceisteanna (2346)
Seán Fleming
Ceist:2346. Deputy Seán Fleming asked the Minister for Health the up-to-date situation in relation to a project (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [20313/25]
Amharc ar fhreagraFreagraí scríofa
As this is a service matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond to the Deputy directly, as soon as possible.
Question No. 2347 answered with Question No. 2209.
Question No. 2348 answered with Question No. 2209.
Community Care
Ceisteanna (2349)
Jen Cummins
Ceist:2349. Deputy Jen Cummins asked the Minister for Health her plans to provide the parents who have no public health nurses available to provide developmental checks with information of potential issues to look out for; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [20320/25]
Amharc ar fhreagraFreagraí scríofa
As this is a service matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond to the Deputy directly, as soon as possible.
EU Directives
Ceisteanna (2350)
Holly Cairns
Ceist:2350. Deputy Holly Cairns asked the Minister for Health to provide a list of all EU directives which are awaiting transposition in her Department; the date on which transposition is due; and the reasons for any delay in transposition, in tabular form. [20330/25]
Amharc ar fhreagraFreagraí scríofa
Please see below list of all EU directives which are awaiting transposition in the Department of Health. There is currently no delayed transposition.
|
Directive for Transposition |
Date Due |
|
Commission Delegated Directive (EU) 2024/1262 of 13 March 2024 amending Directive 2010/63/EU of the European Parliament and of the Council as regards the requirements for establishments and for the care and accommodation of animals, and as regards the methods of killing animals. |
04/12/2025 |