Sorca Clarke (Longford-Westmeath, Sinn Fein)
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1532. To ask the Minister for Health for an update on the capital submission for the proposed mother and baby unit at St Vincent's Hospital. [30051/25]

Jennifer Carroll MacNeill (Dún Laoghaire, Fine Gael)
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As the Health Service Executive is responsible for the management of the public healthcare estate, I have asked the HSE to respond to you directly in relation to this matter.

Sorca Clarke (Longford-Westmeath, Sinn Fein)
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1533. To ask the Minister for Health for an update on the feasibility study for the proposed mother and baby unit at St Vincent's Hospital, scheduled to be completed in quarter one 2025. [30052/25]

Jennifer Carroll MacNeill (Dún Laoghaire, Fine Gael)
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As the Health Service Executive is responsible for the management of the public healthcare estate, I have asked the HSE to respond to you directly in relation to this matter.

Martin Daly (Roscommon-Galway, Fianna Fail)
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1534. To ask the Minister for Health her views on claims made in correspondence (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [30054/25]

Jennifer Carroll MacNeill (Dún Laoghaire, Fine Gael)
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The Health(Regulation of Termination of Pregnancy) Bill 2018 was signed into law on 20 December 2018. Expanded termination of pregnancy services have been available since 1 January 2019. The Act allows termination to be carried out in cases where there is a risk to the life, or of serious harm to the health, of the pregnant woman; where there is a condition present which is likely to lead to the death of the foetus either before or within 28 days of birth; and without restriction up to 12 weeks of pregnancy.

Prior to the May 2018 Referendum on the 8th Amendment, the General Scheme of the Bill to regulate termination of pregnancy was published. The final legislation enacted is consistent with the published proposals.

To support an individual in making an informed decision, the publicly funded My Options service offers non-directive listening support, counselling and information for people experiencing an unplanned pregnancy. Information is available about all options, including continued pregnancy supports and abortion services. The ethos of the service is client centred and counsellors take their lead from the person contacting them for information and support.

Those experiencing an unplanned pregnancy who contact My Options are provided with a service staffed by experienced accredited counsellors. All counselling is provided in a non-judgemental, non-directive manner, which allows the individual experiencing the pregnancy (and their partner) the time and space to make the best decision for them. The individual is supported by the counsellor in whatever decision is made and counselling can continue throughout a pregnancy.

Pearse Doherty (Donegal, Sinn Fein)
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1535. To ask the Minister for Health if she has received correspondence regarding the 171 clinicians that are concerned about the failure to locate a surgical hub at Letterkenny University Hospital; if she will meet with representatives of these clinicians; when the meeting will take place; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [30055/25]

Pádraig Mac Lochlainn (Donegal, Sinn Fein)
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1536. To ask the Minister for Health if she will urgently meet with a delegation from the 171 doctors in Donegal who have requested this meeting to discuss their calls for a surgical hub to be located at Letterkenny University Hospital. [30056/25]

Jennifer Carroll MacNeill (Dún Laoghaire, Fine Gael)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 1535 and 1536 together.

The Programme for Government committed to exploring the feasibility of a surgical hub in the north-west. I understand that a Business Case has been prepared by the HSE on this issue. The Business Case has not been submitted to my department for review and consideration as yet. Accordingly, I am not in a position to comment on its content or on the possible location of the surgical hub.

With respect to the recent letter from 171 healthcare professionals asking for a surgical hub to be situated in Letterkenny and requesting a meeting with me, I am considering the contents of this letter and will respond accordingly to them.

Mairéad Farrell (Galway West, Sinn Fein)
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1537. To ask the Minister for Health the number the number of beds for the western region in residential addiction services currently and in each quarter of 2025 and 2026; if beds will be available for the western region from September 2025; the work being carried out to expand access to addiction services in the west; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [30061/25]

Jennifer Carroll MacNeill (Dún Laoghaire, Fine Gael)
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As this is a service matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond to the Deputy directly, as soon as possible.

Mairéad Farrell (Galway West, Sinn Fein)
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1538. To ask the Minister for Health if there are plans to provide a detox unit in the west; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [30062/25]

Jennifer Murnane O'Connor (Carlow-Kilkenny, Fianna Fail)
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As this is a service matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond to the deputy directly, as soon as possible.

Sorca Clarke (Longford-Westmeath, Sinn Fein)
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1539. To ask the Minister for Health the number of times the roadmap for service improvement oversight group has met; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [30086/25]

Jennifer Carroll MacNeill (Dún Laoghaire, Fine Gael)
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The Roadmap for Service Improvement 2023-2026 is under the remit of the Department of Children, Disabilities and Equality. As such this question is better directed to the Minister For Children, Disability and Equality.

Ann Graves (Dublin Fingal East, Sinn Fein)
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1540. To ask the Minister for Health the actions that her Department will take to ensure that medication is made available to persons who need it (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [30092/25]

Jennifer Carroll MacNeill (Dún Laoghaire, Fine Gael)
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My Department is aware of the stress that shortages of medicines can cause for patients and healthcare professionals alike, thusly mitigating medicine shortages and strengthening security of supply is the subject of several workstreams in my Department, the wider health service and across Europe.

Ireland has a multi-stakeholder Medicines Shortages Framework in place, operated by our medicines regulator, the Health Products Regulatory Authority (HPRA) on behalf of the Department of Health. The framework aims to help prevent potential shortages from occurring and to reduce the impact of shortages on patients by coordinating the management of potential or actual shortages as they arise. Stakeholders in this framework include the HPRA, the Department, the HSE, healthcare professionals, manufacturers, wholesalers, patient representative groups and marketing authorisation holders.

However, medicine shortages are, unfortunately, a feature of modern health systems worldwide and a global health problem. Issues surrounding security of medicines supply have been increasingly well characterised, both nationally and internationally, in recent years. The causes of such supply issues are multifaceted, ranging from supply chain issues, perennial shortages of raw materials, increases in demand and manufacturing delays.

The latest shortages information is set out below related to shortages notified to the HPRA.

Salbutamol (includes where the presentation is marketed as a combination product)

• Teva B.V., the company responsible for supplying Salamol Steri-Neb 2.5mg/2.5 ml Nebuliser Solution, has notified the HPRA of a shortage of Salamol Steri-Neb 2.5mg/2.5 ml Nebuliser Solution due to an unexpected increase in demand impacting multiple countries, including Ireland. The company anticipates resupply on 31st of July 2025.
• Teva B.V., the company responsible for supplying Ipramol Steri-Neb 0.5 mg/2.5 mg per 2.5 ml nebuliser solution, has notified the HPRA of a shortage of Ipramol Steri-Neb 0.5 mg/2.5 mg per 2.5 ml nebuliser solution due to an unexpected increase in demand impacting globally. The HPRA is awaiting an expected return date from the company.
• Teva B.V., the company responsible for supplying Salamol Easi-Breathe CFC-Free Inhaler 100 micrograms Pressurised Inhalation (Suspension), has notified the HPRA of a shortage of Salamol Easi-Breathe CFC-Free Inhaler 100 micrograms Pressurised Inhalation (Suspension) due to a global manufacturing delay. The company anticipates resupply on 6th August 2025.

• Teva B.V., the company responsible for supplying Ipratropium Steri-Neb 250 micrograms/ml Nebuliser solution, has notified the HPRA of a shortage of the 2ml (500mcg) presentation due to a manufacturing delay impacting globally. The company anticipates resupply on 1st of January 2026.
• They have also notified the HPRA of a shortage of the 1ml (250mcg) presentation of the same product, due to an unexpected increase in demand, impacting upon multiple countries including Ireland. The company anticipates resupply of that presentation on 31st of January 2026.