Marie Sherlock (Dublin Central, Labour)
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788. To ask the Minister for Health the number of additional IBLC lactation consultants committed to in Budget 2026. [56737/25]

Mary Butler (Waterford, Fianna Fail)
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Encouraging mothers to breastfeed is a priority, both for the Department of Health (DOH) and for the HSE. The Healthy Ireland Framework, Healthy Ireland Strategic Action Plan, the National Maternity Strategy, the Obesity Policy and Action Plan, and the National Cancer Strategy, all emphasise the importance of supporting mothers who breastfeed, as well as taking action to increase breastfeeding rates in Ireland.

The HSE Breastfeeding in a Healthy Ireland Action Plan 2016-2021 is the framework for progressing supports for breastfeeding in Ireland. A HSE Breastfeeding Action Plan Implementation Group was established to oversee delivery of the plan, and a national breastfeeding coordinator was appointed as lead. The Department of Health works closely with the HSE National Breastfeeding coordinator in the implementation of HSE Breastfeeding Action Plan 2016-2021, which was extended out to 2025.

As indicated in the Programme for Government 2025 "Securing Ireland's Future" the Department of Health intends to build on the work of the HSE Breastfeeding in a Healthy Ireland Action Plan through the development of a new "whole of Government" strategy.

A Breastfeeding steering group has been established to research and design the development of a whole of government breastfeeding policy. This group is made up of colleagues from the Department of Health, HSE, IPH and other experts in this field.

In Budget 2026, funding has been allocated for five additional lactation consultants. Once the recruitment process is complete towards the end of 2026, this will bring the total number of lactation consultants in the HSE to 69.1 WTE. The Department remains committed to increasing breastfeeding supports to all mothers and families in Ireland.

It is envisioned that a new Breastfeeding strategy will be published in 2026.

Marie Sherlock (Dublin Central, Labour)
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789. To ask the Minister for Health whether funding has been provided in Budget 2026 for the operation of 37 currently unused beds in a facility (details supplied), under the social inclusion heading. [56738/25]