Paul Murphy (Dublin South West, Solidarity)
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314. To ask the Minister for Health whether her Department has turned down requests to treat injured children from Gaza in Children’s Health Ireland, despite the fact that clinicians and surgeons have stated that they have the resources and theatre time available to do so; and if so, how many children have been turned down. [24920/25]

Jennifer Carroll MacNeill (Dún Laoghaire, Fine Gael)
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I thank the Deputy for his query in relation to the medical evacuation to Ireland of paediatric patients from Gaza.

I can advise the Deputy that as an EU Member State, Ireland responded to a request from the World Health Organisation (WHO) to assist in addressing the current health needs in Gaza.

Government approval was secured in September 2024 for Ireland to evacuate up to 30 sick children from Gaza for treatment and care. The health needs are categorised under cancer, haemodialysis and patients with other severe medical conditions.

Patients are selected subject to confirmation of available capacity in the HSE to provide treatment. Orthopaedic treatment is not included given HSE capacity limitations in this area.

Ireland has a strong tradition of providing humanitarian assistance including through the Department of Foreign Affairs Irish Aid humanitarian and development assistance programme and the HSE Global Health Programme.

The first 12 paediatric patients arrived in Ireland to receive healthcare treatment between December and May. The patients are accompanied by 12 carers and 21 immediate family members. The patients and family travelled from Cairo to Dublin Airport on medical transport planes provided by the Slovakian and Norwegian Governments and were accompanied by medical doctors and nurses from the Health Service Executive (HSE), and Irish Red Cross support workers and translator.

My Department engaged with a number of Departments and Agencies for the successful evacuation including :

• Department of Justice in relation to visas for entry to Ireland, border control and registration for permission to stay in the State;
• The Department of Foreign Affairs, particularly the Irish Embassy in Egypt who facilitate the processing of Department of Justice visa applications for each patient and accompanying family members;
• HSE in relation to the selection of patients and provision of healthcare treatment services;
• Department of Social Protection in relation to registration and social protection payments to the parent or guardian;
• Irish Red Cross who have been contracted for provision of accommodation and ongoing case work support including translation services;
• Department of Housing, Local Government and Heritage who communicate evacuation offers for patients, on behalf of Ireland, via the European Union Civil Protection Mechanism (UCPM).