Written answers

Thursday, 10 July 2025

Photo of David CullinaneDavid Cullinane (Waterford, Sinn Fein)
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349. To ask the Minister for Health the total public funding allocated to companies (details supplied), broken down by year, by hospital, by other healthcare setting; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [38465/25]

Photo of Jennifer Carroll MacNeillJennifer Carroll MacNeill (Dún Laoghaire, Fine Gael)
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Reply not received from Department.

Photo of David CullinaneDavid Cullinane (Waterford, Sinn Fein)
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350. To ask the Minister for Health if it has been established if any former or current members of the HSE are employees, directors or shareholders of companies (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [38466/25]

Photo of Jennifer Carroll MacNeillJennifer 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.

Photo of David CullinaneDavid Cullinane (Waterford, Sinn Fein)
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351. To ask the Minister for Health the risk assessment that was carried out when providing public funds to companies (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [38467/25]

Photo of David CullinaneDavid Cullinane (Waterford, Sinn Fein)
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352. To ask the Minister for Health the number of health care procedures or appointments carried out by securing the services of companies (details supplied) broken down by year, by hospital or other healthcare setting; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [38468/25]

Photo of David CullinaneDavid Cullinane (Waterford, Sinn Fein)
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353. To ask the Minister for Health the number of health care procedures or appointments carried out by securing the services of companies (details supplied) broken down by year, by hospital or other healthcare setting; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [38468/25]

Photo of David CullinaneDavid Cullinane (Waterford, Sinn Fein)
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354. To ask the Minister for Health the likely premium cost associated with securing the services of companies (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [38469/25]

Photo of Jennifer Carroll MacNeillJennifer Carroll MacNeill (Dún Laoghaire, Fine Gael)
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Replies Nos. 351 to 354, inclusive, not received from Department.

Photo of David CullinaneDavid Cullinane (Waterford, Sinn Fein)
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355. To ask the Minister for Health the processes in place to mitigate any potential conflicts of interest when securing the services of companies (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [38470/25]

Photo of Jennifer Carroll MacNeillJennifer Carroll MacNeill (Dún Laoghaire, Fine Gael)
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Demand for health care by volume and type will continue to increase and it is the gap between demand and public capacity that is driving the need for short term solutions such as insourcing and outsourcing.

The practice of insourcing has brought benefits, but it has also been of concern in recent years.

In April this year, I requested the HSE CEO to undertake a detailed survey of all insourcing activity within the HSE. I have received the report and published it on 1 July.

In the report the CEO notes obligations in respect of the Standards in Public Office and employment contract terms and that conflict-of-interest declarations are mandatory for staff engaged in the procurement process.

The report acknowledges that there are weakness in the current oversight arrangements. It proposes a number of additional safeguards in the interim until the dependency on third-party insourcing can be ceased.

This includes requiring certification at senior level that all core capacity and non-third-party insourcing options have been exhausted and that all third-party providers are assessed with regard to conflicts of interest and compliance with employment law. For the remainder of 2025, any utilisation of third-party provision must be certified and approved by the hospital CEO with fortnightly retrospective review by the relevant IHA manager or REO.

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