Ruth Coppinger (Dublin West, Solidarity)
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1477. To ask the Minister for Health the possibility of undertaking a medical evacuation of a person (details supplied)), to reconsider the possibility of implementing a formal medical evacuation system for people in Gaza; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [29827/25]

Jennifer Carroll MacNeill (Dún Laoghaire, Fine Gael)
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I thank the Deputy for her query in relation to the medical evacuation to Ireland of a patient 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.

12 paediatric patients arrived in Ireland between December 2024 and May 2025 to receive healthcare treatment. The patients were 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.

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).

Discussions are ongoing with the HSE in relation to future medical evacuation operations.

Ireland provides extensive other supports in response to crisis in Gaza.

Since the beginning of the crisis in October 2023, Ireland has provided over €75 million in support to the people of Palestine. Total support since January 2023 is over €87 million.

So far in 2025, Ireland has provided €21.6 million in support of the people of Palestine. That includes the payment of €20 million to the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East (UNRWA) in February. That payment brought Ireland’s support to UNRWA to €58 million since the beginning of 2023.

Ireland has also been providing humanitarian assistance to the people of Gaza through other agencies including the World Food Programme and the Red Cross/Red Crescent Society. Ireland’s support includes the delivery of over 116 tonnes of relief supplies through our rapid response initiative.