Written answers

Wednesday, 14 January 2026

Photo of Pádraig RicePádraig Rice (Cork South-Central, Social Democrats)
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177. To ask the Minister for Health the status of her plan to standardise the opening hours of all injury units to provide a seven-day service from 8am to 8pm, including bank holidays; the injury units which are still not operating these standardised hours; the current opening hours of each site; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [2721/26]

Photo of Jennifer Carroll MacNeillJennifer Carroll MacNeill (Dún Laoghaire, Fine Gael)
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In 2023, the HSE undertook a National Injury Unit (IU) Review to examine the existing level of service and put forward recommendations to improve coverage, including:

* To standardise and expand the opening hours of all existing IUs to operate from 8am to 8pm, 7 days a week;

The lack of consistency in IU operating times nationally was identified as a barrier to patients attending IUs at local level. Work progressed in 2025 on the standardisation of opening hours.

As this is a service matter, I have asked the HSE to respond to the deputy directly.

Photo of Sorca ClarkeSorca Clarke (Longford-Westmeath, Sinn Fein)
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178. To ask the Minister for Health the number of maternity units that currently meet the WHO/UNICEF baby friendly hospital initiative standards; the number of lactation consultants WTE employed in each maternity unit in the past five years; and if she will publish a timeline to ensure all maternity units meet best international practice in breastfeeding support. [2727/26]

Photo of Jennifer Murnane O'ConnorJennifer 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.

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