Pádraig Rice (Cork South-Central, Social Democrats)
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851. To ask the Minister for Health if the number of clinical practice tutors for radiography students have increased in line with the increase in university places; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [65481/25]

Pádraig Rice (Cork South-Central, Social Democrats)
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852. To ask the Minister for Health the measures in place to ensure that clinical practice tutors for radiography students are supported in their role; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [65482/25]

Jennifer Carroll MacNeill (Dún Laoghaire, Fine Gael)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 851 and 852 together.

The HSE model of service delivery is now at regional level and each HSE Health Region is responsible for the allocation of their budget and workforce within the parameters of the pay and numbers and the agreed commitments in the HSE Service Plan. There is work underway in each of the regions led by new HSCP leadership teams to collate information regarding practice tutors and the number of student placements. This enables an understanding of capacity for placement, and any requirements for support for practice placements for educators, such as tutors.

The additional funding for current expenditure in Budget 2026 for the Health Vote is €1.5 billion, bringing the total current allocation to €25.8 billion. This includes funding to maintain existing levels of service and for new service developments, including funding for the recruitment of 3,300 additional whole time equivalent staff in 2026.

The HSE is in the process of preparing its National Service Plan for 2026, to be submitted to the Department for approval during November, setting out how the HSE will operationalise the Department’s priorities funded in Budget 2026, including the key priorities of improved access, quality and safety for those who use our services and value for money for the public more broadly.

The National Service Plan for 2026 will include HSE plans, targets and timelines for specific measures to be progressed in 2026. Further information on the specific measures to be progressed in 2026, along with the associated funding and staffing, will be available when the National Service Plan has been completed and approved.

The National HSCP Office has established a number of supports for educators. This includes the establishment of HSCP Regional Leadership Teams including: a HSCP Director, Regional Integration and Development Lead, A Practice Education Co-ordinator and Practice Development Co-ordinator, with strong links to the National HSCP Office. These regional teams are engaging and working closely with their HSCP colleagues through meetings, webinars and establishing Joint Working Groups which includes Tutors. The National HSCP Office and the Regions offer support for educators and practice tutors as follows:

• An interactive training programme for HSCPs who provide placements and shared access to other online resources.
• A HSCP governance agreement for implementation at regional level, with the input of representation from the Radiography managers, and the Higher Education Intuitions (HEIs) in the Region. To formalise the commitments regarding provision of placements in the region, providing certainty to the HSCP providing the placements, and to the HEI. This facilitates timely preparation and planning for placements.
• The HSCP Quality Framework for Practice Education and associated tools also supports practice tutors and educators to ensure the quality of placements.
• A communications and engagement strategy for practice education at regional and national level.