Jennifer Murnane O'Connor
Carlow-Kilkenny · Fianna Fáil · Ireland
“There is nothing any of us in this House can say that can undo the pain, harm and loss experienced by those young boys, their families and the communities in which they lived, played basketball and worked. They have had to endure a lifetime of harm, many of them carrying their suffering in silence.”
“We are listening to you, we are learning and we are acting. All of us in this House have a responsibility to ensure that our child safeguarding systems are robust. We must ensure that if concerns are raised today, they are acted on without delay.”
“Today is a profoundly important and solemn day. I want to add my voice to the full and formal State apology and to acknowledge the courage, dignity and perseverance of those survivors who fought for truth and accountability for so many years.”
“I thank the Deputy for highlighting this very important issue and the 161 recommendations. First, I thank the Joint Committee on Drug Use for its work. I welcomed the report and I am in agreement with many of its recommendations. As the Deputy will be aware, earlier this year I published a draft of the national drugs strategy.”
“The Bill and the secondary legislation, training and clinical protocols that will follow it will support the terms and conditions for this service, as laid out in the community pharmacy agreement. All secondary legislation will be in place before commencement and launch of this measure.”
“No. I thank the Deputy again for her work on the drugs committee. The vast majority of the 161 recommendations will be in the new drugs strategy but one of the recommendations was on the Misuse of Drugs Act 1977. It falls under section 3. That legalises drugs. It is important we tell the people of the concern.”
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“The public health (tobacco products and nicotine-inhaling products) (amendment) Bill will restrict the colours and imagery on the packaging and on the devices themselves to make them less attractive to our children. It will also ban devices resembling products such as toys to ensure that the Irish market does not see the evolution of vapes into a multiuse device that specifically attracts our children. The Bill will also restrict the flavours for sale and prohibit all flavour descriptors other than the basic names so as to eliminate the marketing potential of child-friendly flavours. The Bill will ban the point-of-sale display and advertising of these products in our shops so that our children are not exposed to vapes in their everyday life and they are not seen as ordinary grocery goods.”
“That is why I look forward to bringing forward legislation with the Minister for Health, Deputy Carroll MacNeill, which we are currently working on, to address the aspects of vapes that can be attractive to young people. That law will be in two Bills on the advice of Office of the Attorney General. The public health (single-use vapes) Bill will ban the sale of all single-use or disposable vapes. That Bill is at an advanced stage of drafting and is prioritised for publication in this term. The removal of these low-price products should reduce their availability for our children, as well as addressing the huge environmental issue caused by their disposal.”
“Some 32% of our 15- and 16-year-olds have tried vapes. Some 16% stated they are current users and 7% reported daily use. These numbers are unacceptable and one of my priorities, as the Minister of State with responsibility for public health, is to take whatever action we can to bring them down to zero. The Government is determined to tackle this issue. We do not want our children using nicotine. We can all understand how a child might be attracted to vapes, with their colourful appearance, attractive flavours, flavour names and the variety on display in our ordinary grocery shops and newsagents. I do not think it is an overstatement to say that these products are the revenge of the tobacco industry.”
“It will provide our enforcement authority, the national environmental health service, with up-to-date information on businesses in operation. That requirement will come into effect for all retailers of these products in February 2026. A minimum suspension period will apply to retailers that are convicted of offences. On the use of nicotine vapes, the 2022 Health Behaviour in School-aged Children study found that 19% of 12- to 17-year-olds had used one and 13% reported that they had used one in the past 30 days. These responses date from before the ban on their sale to minors was introduced so that measure will likely reduce the number. However, we must be realistic. There are other ways that our children can access these products. The European schools project on alcohol and drugs, dating from 2024, demonstrates this.”
“These measures were designed to further limit children's exposure to messages normalising or glamorising the use of vapes and to support the ban on their sale to under-18s. The Act also reduced the types of outlets that could sell these products. From next week, vapes will no longer be sold from vending machines, which is important. It is a big step for us to ensure that happens. The sale of these products at events that are aimed at children is banned and their sale from pop-up shops or stalls that might appear at festivals will be banned from 2026. It is critical that we break the link between the sale of these products and events that our young people enjoy. The annual licence system for the retail sale of vapes and tobacco products under the Act reflects the seriousness of these products.”
“These are some of the measures in EU law and we have since added to that with our own laws to further strengthen the regulation of vapes. I acknowledge the work of my colleague, the former Minister for Health, Stephen Donnelly, who also played a role in this. The Public Health (Tobacco Products and Nicotine Inhaling Products) Act 2023 introduced a range of measures to further protect our young people. The most important was a ban on the sale of nicotine vapes to under-18s. That law also prohibited their sale by retail workers under the age of 18, with an exception for small family-run businesses. The Act banned the advertising of these products in cinemas, in or within 200 m of a school, on public transport and in taxis.”
“Our own Health Research Board evidence review from 2020 found that adolescents who vape are more likely to smoke. E-cigarettes or vapes have been regulated at EU level since 2014 under the EU tobacco products directive, which was transposed into Irish law by regulation in 2016. These regulations imposed many restrictions on vapes. Health warnings advertising that e-cigarettes contain nicotine, which is a highly addictive substance, are mandatory on packaging. The regulations also include a limit on the maximum nicotine concentration allowed for vapes containing nicotine and require manufacturers or importers to notify the HSE of all products that they place on the market. The advertisement of e-cigarettes on television, radio and online is also prohibited.”
“In the context of the devastation caused by smoking, e-cigarettes and other nicotine products represent a reduction. There is a general scientific consensus that they are less harmful than smoking. It is important to stress that outside of the possible benefits for a smoker, there is nothing good about these products. For our young people, these products do nothing other than deliver nicotine and addictive drugs. The primary risk of these products is that the use of nicotine may become an addiction that will result in tobacco smoking and the harm that can cause people. Since 2014, the World Health Organization has recommended that the sale of e-cigarettes to minors be prohibited. This is because of the evidence of potential long-term consequences for brain development in adolescents caused by nicotine exposure.”
“The 2024 survey showed that one in eight in that age group reported that they are smokers. The objective of our national tobacco control policy, Tobacco Free Ireland, is to reduce our smoking rates to less than 5% of our population. The principles underpinning that policy are that this is not a normal activity and that we should not have this for our children. This is about the protection of our children. We are currently revising that policy to examine further measures we can take finally to eliminate the enormous burden on our health system caused by tobacco. A Bill that is currently being brought through the UK Parliament will create a smoke-free generation by banning the sale of tobacco to anyone born on or after 1 January 2009. We will examine all possible options, including groundbreaking measures like the UK approach.”
“Our most recent measures include a ban on the sale of cigarettes at events aimed at children, from vending machines and from pop-up shops. We have also increased to 21 the minimum legal age of sale of tobacco products. This will come into effect in 2028. We have made much progress but we cannot rest on our laurels. The prevalence of smoking among children was a frightening 19% in 2002 but it is now less than 5% according to the 2022 Health Behaviour in School-aged Children study. This reduction is very welcome. However, we want that figure to be zero. Our children should be free from a future blighted by the harms of tobacco. The data on our adolescents is more worrying. The European Schools Project on Alcohol and Other Drugs survey assesses the health behaviours of our 15- and 16-year-olds.”
“According to international analysis, it remains the biggest single risk factor driving disability. In our country the life expectancy of a smoker is on average ten years shorter than that of a person who has never smoked. Our own data tells us that smoking and exposure to second-hand smoke kills more than 12 of our people every day. Smoking during childhood and adolescence causes reduced lung function. There is evidence it increases the risk of developing psychoactive disorders in later life. There is a long and proud tradition in Ireland across all political parties of introducing strong tobacco control measures. That started with our world-famous workplace smoking ban, introduced in 2004 by the Taoiseach, Deputy Micheál Martin. Successive Governments have built on that and achieved a further driving down of our smoking rates.”
“I am pleased to address the House as Minister of State with special responsibility for public health, well-being and the national drugs strategy. I will talk about vaping and the use of other nicotine products by our young people and what the Government is doing about this public health challenge. Every day, I hear from parents, teachers and coaches who worry about how many of our children are vaping. Residents and Tidy Towns organisations also see the proliferation of vape shops in our towns and villages and the litter caused by disposable vapes. Before we discuss newer products such as vapes, we must remember that the nicotine product that remains the biggest single health threat to our young people is combustible tobacco. Cigarette smoking is both addictive and lethal.”
“My understanding is the women's refuge in Carlow will be up and running next year. It is a priority for all of us. There were nine counties around the country that needed a refuge. I ask the Minister to make the provision of all of those refuges a priority. It is important the services are in place and that we are there to help any woman or child who needs those supports or help.”
“We need more safe spaces for those who come forward to seek help. In my area, we are working hard to open a new ten-unit domestic violence refuge at the Monastery Hostel site on the Old Dublin Road in Carlow town. Amber Women's Refuge is working with Carlow County Council, the Housing Agency and Cuan to make this happen, with the tender for construction currently at the evaluation stage. I will work with all the agencies involved to ensure the refuge opens as quickly as possible. Like all TDs, I have spoken over the years with women who were in a situation where they needed help and support. It is so important for them to know there is a place for them in a women's refuge, as well as wraparound services and supports. I acknowledge that this is a priority for the Minister.”
“While the figures demonstrate the scale of the crisis of domestic and gender-based violence, they also show a growing willingness to recognise and call out abuse. Domestic abuse is a devastating crime that requires a strong and co-ordinated response, as reflected in the third national strategy on domestic, sexual and gender-based violence. One of the key objectives of the zero-tolerance strategy is to encourage victims of domestic violence to come forward to report crimes committed against them. A significant amount of work has already been undertaken in this area, including the nationwide roll-out of the divisional protective service units, DPSUs, which ensure vulnerable victims are dealt with by gardaí with specialist expertise. Officers are assigned to the DPSUs to receive bespoke training on engaging with vulnerable victims.”
“Domestic, sexual and gender-based violence is a major problem in society that affects many women and children. The Government and the Minister are committed to tackling it. The Government is delivering on the commitments in the zero-tolerance strategy to achieve a society in which sexual violence and the toxic attitudes that fuel it are not accepted. Since taking office, the Minister has prioritised legislation in this area, which is really important. The recently published Women's Aid annual impact report for 2024 made for distressing reading. The data is stark. Last year, Women's Aid saw a 12% increase in contacts to its services and the highest number of contacts in its history. Behind these figures are women and children seeking help. I acknowledge the work being done by Women's Aid and by gardaí around the country.”
“I am lucky to have great staff in the Department. It is important to me that we all work together to find solutions and services and make sure that no family or person who needs a service is unable to access it. That is one thing I am passionate about. I was delighted to be invited to the House to speak. I have worked with many Senators over the years and I am delighted to be here to speak to them. As I said, my door is always open.”
“We need to deliver on services. We need to make sure there is awareness. We need to make sure there is no stigma. All of us together, we can do that. There will be challenges and there will be services that we need to see where we can get funding for them. The officials in the Department, like myself, want to do this right. We have to do this right. That is what I want to do. My ambition is that the next national drugs strategy will create a society where the reasons people use drugs are addressed, the harms associated with drugs are reduced and recovery from drug addiction is supported. That is what I want to do. I want to work with everybody. As I said, my door is always open. I am a Minister of State who wants to work with everyone and learn because for me every day in my Department is a learning day.”
“It is a health-led approach, working with An Garda Síochána. We are working closely with the Minister for justice, Jim O'Callaghan, and his Department. It is important that we thank gardaí for the work they do. It is important. HHC was also brought up during the debate. I am hopeful that we will make that a controlled drug within the next two to three weeks. One hundred and sixty-nine treatment cases were reported to the NDTRS where HHC was recorded as the main or additional problem drug. The majority of those treated for HHC were male and mostly 19 years of age. We are aware of that issue and it is another matter we are committed to. As Minister of State, I can only say that there is a lot to do. I did not even bring up my script because I wanted to listen to Senators' concerns. I see how passionate they are. We need to make the changes.”
“She spoke about Tallaght. I am meeting the drugs task force network tomorrow. It does great work in Tallaght. I am mindful to meet everyone I can so that I can listen, because this is not just about Dublin, but about the whole country. We have to make sure that every part of Ireland is covered and that we have resources. Another issue the Department and I are very mindful of is women and having supports in place to help women who need them. The implementation of the Government's health diversion scheme came up during the debate. We are working on that. Where people are found in possession of drugs for personal use, they will be directed to health-led responses. We are also working with An Garda Síochána and the DPP. I hope we will have word soon about the way forward and how we can do that.”
“I am here to listen, learn and work with the Department on where we can make changes. I will be meeting Senator Lynne Ruane tomorrow. I have arranged to meet her because I knew she could not be here today. Senator Fitzpatrick raised the huge issue of awareness and the importance of a health-led approach. That is really what I am, namely, a Minister of State under the health-led approach. That is what I want to do. Senator Fitzpatrick also talked about DRIVE. DRIVE is an initiative we launched a few of weeks ago through the Department. It is about drugs and the drugs intimidation being experienced by families. There are families that are really frightened. We want to let them know we are helping them. We have supports. As a Government, we are committed to helping families. Senator Costello raised the issue of education.”
“I thank everyone for the good wishes. I am delighted to be here in my role as Minister of State, particularly as it relates to the new drugs strategy. I want to work with everyone here. I can see the passion Senators have, and I have it, too. Every day, I see families who have been affected by drugs. I have learned a lot more since becoming Minister of State. I am working with all of the different services. I am talking to families. I see the way they are affected. I also see the huge stigma that is attached to being someone who is a drugs user for them and their families. I see the need for a new drugs strategy and I know that we need to make changes. I will try to respond to most people said, but if I do not manage to, I am delighted to meet them any time.”
“The scale and complexity of the European drug situation means Ireland and other member states must work together under the framework of the EU drugs strategy action plan that is currently under preparation. Ireland will work to ensure that we are working together in this, particularly as Ireland will hold the EU Presidency in the last six months of 2026, as Senators are aware. That is a huge thing for Ireland. I look forward to working with Senators. I thank them all. I am delighted to have been invited to the House to speak about this.”
“The group will consist of experts and stakeholders whose insight and recommendations will enhance the content of the new strategy to meet the needs and challenge the drug situation. The timeframe for this strategy will be the end of 2025. My aim, and the aim of the Minister, Deputy O'Callaghan, and his Department, is to get the first part of the strategy in place by the end of 2025. The recently published European Drug Report 2025 reveals a drug market that is both resilient and influenced by the development taking place at global level. It is important that we work with our EU counterparts. The continuing health problems presented by the establishment of illicit drugs creates a challenging policy context for the shaping and implementation of an effective response.”
“We note the endorsement of the citizens' assembly recommendations in the interim report of the previous Joint Committee on Drugs Use. The drug committee added a further 49 recommendations in its interim report, which we will consider when drafting the new strategy. The Government response to the recommendations is being finalised. I look forward to bringing a whole-of-government response to Cabinet and to the Taoiseach for approval. The step toward implementing the recommendations will then be set out in the new national drugs strategy. Officials in the Department of Health have begun drafting the new strategy. To guide this process, I am setting up a steering group which will be established for a limited time.”
“A key input into the new strategy will be report of the Citizens' Assembly on Drugs Use. The report argues for a comprehensive health-led response to drugs. It contains 36 recommendations on prevention, harm reduction and treatment recovery. At the United Nations Commission on Narcotic Drugs, the Government pledged to carefully consider and respond with urgency to the assembly's recommendation for reform of legislative policy and the operational approach to drug use, and to indicate the timeframe for implementing the recommendations, which it accepts. It is further acknowledged that full implementation of the citizens' assembly recommendations will require a major step-down change in how the State responds to drug use.”
“It is very important for the strategy that while we are working with drug users, we also have to be very aware of the families who are very much affected by this. Also of importance are the results of the development of the drugs workforce and drug prevention. More than 250 people have attended consultations, including representatives of the drug and alcohol task forces, drug service providers and civil society organisations. There was also a specific consultation event focused on lived experience, at which peers from several organisations representing people who use drugs were present in the Department of Health offices. This is what it is all about. We have to look at the lived experience. The group provided valuable insight and constructive contributions to the process.”
“The new strategy will be informed by the evaluation of the existing strategy, the Citizens' Assembly on Drugs Use, the programme for Government, development of the EU drugs strategy action plan and consultation with stakeholders. We will also work with Senators on the drugs committee because all of us are working together to find solutions. To support the development of the next strategy, the Department has convened a number of in-person consultations with key stakeholders. These will be included as part of it. The priorities for the new strategy will involve the planning and development of the drug service in the HSE health regions and the lived and living experience of people who use drugs and their families.”
“This is a comprehensive health-led response to drug possession. We have greatly increased the capacity of drugs services to respond to the demand for treatment for problem drug use. In 2024, 13,295 cases sought treatment, an increase of 50% in the number of cases since the national drugs strategy commenced in 2017. It is worrying and something of which the Department and I are very mindful. More than 450 drug and alcohol services are available throughout the country, which can be found through an online services map or through service providers, with a total health expenditure of €160 million. At the same time, the Department of Health has commenced work on preparing the new national drugs strategy.”
“We can also report on major progress in the implementation of the Government's health diversion scheme, whereby people in possession of drugs for personal use will be diverted towards a health response. Alongside the Minister for justice, I have agreed the scheme will commence on an administrative basis, working with An Garda Síochána and the Director of Public Prosecutions. At present they are finalising the operational details and we are waiting for the sign-off. This will be brilliant once we get it over the line. The scheme is in line with the recommendations of the Citizens' Assembly on Drugs Use for a comprehensive health-led approach with emphasis on drug use. With regard to how we can implement these and work on them, this is planned for a year and after this first year we will then have a look at it.”
“The good news, having visited the facility today, is that the 12 beds to open this year under phase 2 will be opened on Monday. There are now 51 beds which can be occupied and the other 12 beds, which are part of the second phase for this year, will be opened on Monday, 14 July. I am delighted with this. This new facility is a game changer in providing timely access to high-quality healthcare services that address the complex health needs of people who are homeless. It is hoped that in the long term the facility will also contribute to a reduction in premature deaths and enable a pathway out of homelessness. It is giving people in the service, whether in local authorities or other services, guidance and a pathway.”
“We also opened a new community care facility that provides a broad spectrum of drug and alcohol addiction services along with other health services especially for people who are homeless in Usher's Island in the Liberties, Dublin, in October 2024. It was recently spoken about in the Seanad. The facility is a partnership between the Department of housing, which funded the construction, the Department of Health and the HSE, which fund the operating cost, and Dublin Simon Community, which manages and staffs the facility. A total of 51 beds are in operation, with the capacity to provide 700 episodes of care, including step-up and step-down care with acute hospital residential treatment for drug addiction, treatment for blood-borne viruses and support for people in recovery.”
“We opened the supervised injection facility, SIF, at Merchants Quay in Dublin in late December 2024, under a licence issued by the then Minister of State with responsibility for the national drugs strategy. Thus, Ireland became the 18th country in the world to have such a facility. The SIF is a partnership between the Department of Health, the Health Service Executive and Merchants Quay Ireland, which manages and delivers the service. The primary purpose of the SIF is the prevention of drug overdose and the reduction of harms associated with injection drug use. The licence for the facility is for a period of 18 months, during which evaluation of its impact will be completed. The evaluation will inform decisions about continuing the facility and the potential for applications to establish SIFs in other areas of the country.”
“The Department has commissioned an independent evaluation of the strategy and the action plan, which is due to be submitted to the Department in the coming weeks. The evaluation is being conducted by Grant Thornton, which was appointed following a public procurement process. Grant Thornton has consulted stakeholders involved in the oversight of the strategy, including the network of drug and alcohol task forces, civil society organisations, the voluntary drug and alcohol sectors, and CityWide and other community-based drug services. The focus of the strategy is a health-led approach to drug use. To illustrate this, I will briefly highlight some significant achievements in the previous year. The Department and I believe these have been very positive.”
“It contained 34 actions across the six strategic priorities of strengthening the prevention of drug and alcohol use and the associated harms among children and young people; enhancing access to the delivery of drug and alcohol services in our communities; developing integrated care pathways for high-risk drug users to achieve better health outcomes, and we are very supportive of this and we know we have to deliver as many services as we can; addressing the social consequences of drug use in disadvantaged communities; promoting alternative coercive sanctions for drug-related offences; and strengthening evidence-informed and outcomes-focused practice, services, policies and strategy which we can implement and deliver. The implementation of the strategy action plan marks the end of the national drugs strategy.”
“I thank the Members of Seanad Éireann for inviting me to update them on the development of the new national drugs strategy and related policy developments. A health-led strategy recognises drugs as a health issue and it encourages people to avoid, reduce and recover from drug-related harm. It promotes the principle of a right to health for people who use drugs by supporting people to access healthcare and promoting recovery as an initial response. It also seeks to protect and improve public health and well-being by preventing and reducing the harms linked to substance use for individuals, their families and the community. The Strategic Action Plan 2023-2024 marked a significant milestone in the implementation of the national drugs strategy, Reducing Harm, Supporting Recovery.”
“It is important that all of us work together to solve whatever concerns there are. This is about patient safety and how we all work together. I again thank the Senator for highlighting this very important issue.”
“This is very important. As I said, I am informed by the Department that the issues raised by the doctors through the media are being addressed by the HSE. Significant efforts have been undertaken by the HSE to ensure that hospital teams are incorporated into the design and deployment of the MedLIS system at all hospital sites. MedLIS aims to modernise laboratory services, ensuring high-quality, efficient and patient-concentrated care across Ireland. Officials in the Department are not aware of any other general issues regarding general diagnostics. It is important that the Senator would share the specifics with me today. He referred to the risk assessment and the suggestion that there are 16 flaws with the IT system. He might give that information to the HSE again. I know the HSE is committed to working with Beaumont on this system.”
“Given the size, scale and complexity of the laboratory project, these issues have been very much as expected and are a testament to the close working of the project team and the laboratory teams across the hospital. The solution deployed at Beaumont is one of the most widely used hospital systems in the world and is used at over 1,500 sites. Because it operates differently from the system it replaces, it requires some changes in how people do their work. As MedLIS is a national programme, this requires the alignment of processes across all sites. The team is actively engaged locally, working through system optimisation to streamline labour-intensive tasks and improve how the system works to benefit all staff on all sites.”
“The solution has played a significant role in advancing Beaumont’s ongoing digital transformation. The MedLIS laboratory system deployed at Beaumont Hospital is from Oracle, a major international IT systems vendor. It is widely used throughout the world and the majority of users are happy with how it is working. The partnership and business relationship between the HSE and Oracle remains governed by the original contract signed with Cerner, now Oracle, in 2015. This contract underwent a review prior to its extension in 2022. As with any large and complex technology implementation, there are elements that, post “go live”, will require improvement, optimisation and further change. The HSE is committed to following through on this optimisation work.”
“MedLIS is a national lab system intended to serve the needs of all lab sites well into the future. A report commissioned by the MedLIS project board to assess progress up to 2018 highlighted several findings and suggested a series of recommendations on how to improve delivery of the programme. Based on these findings, the HSE made a number of changes. Despite the impact of delays caused by the global pandemic and the cyberattack on the health service, MedLIS successfully went live at Beaumont Hospital in August 2024. One change that was needed following the cyberattack was the migration of MedLIS to a secure, cloud-based environment. Deployment of MedLIS at Beaumont Hospital had been prioritised due to existing risks associated with its legacy systems.”
“Investment in digital health technologies such as MedLIS supports the delivery of the Sláintecare objectives of integrated care, patient empowerment and improved safety, and sustainability in service delivery. MedLIS is an important national programme that forms part of a wider investment to digitise the health system under the digital for care strategy. Recognising the need for reform, our programme for Government makes specific commitments with regard to the digitisation of the health service as a key enabler for modernisation and reform. As the Senator said in his opening statement, that is very important. It is our future and that is the way we have to go. Having a single lab record enhances patient safety, enables standardisation across all labs, and improves effectiveness and efficiency throughout the healthcare service.”
“I thank the Senator for raising this important issue. I welcome the opportunity to outline the current position. The Senator is referring to the ongoing implementation of the national medical laboratory IT system. As with all clinical ICT system deployments, patient safety is the most critical element, and I am informed by the Department that issues raised by the doctors are being addressed by the HSE. I will come back to the Senator on that, but as I have been informed today, the doctors' concerns have been raised and are being addressed by the HSE. All hospital labs in Ireland are independently accredited by the Irish National Accreditation Board.”
“I will go back to the Department to get this clarified for him. I know that, in the programme for Government, primary care clinics or injury clinics are part of what we are looking at going forward. It is in the programme for Government and it is something I will definitely be looking at. I will definitely go back to the Department and then come back to the Deputy. I understand how passionate the Deputy is and I see his concerns.”
“I understand the Deputy’s concerns. It is something I will go back to the Department to clarify. I have been informed that, as of 5 June last, 22 patients have been seen at the Blackpool clinic in 2025 and approximately 410 home visits were carried out in the Blackpool area in the same period. SouthDoc has confirmed that the Blackpool treatment centre remains operational on an appointment basis. Alternative care may be provided to patients in the area via a home visit. This change to operational arrangements is necessary to ensure the long-term sustainability of the out-of-hours service in Cork city. The provision of this service is evaluated by SouthDoc and the HSE on an ongoing basis. As an Oireachtas Member, a TD and a Minister of State, I understand the Deputy’s concerns. He represents the people and he needs to get answers.”
“In addition, home visits continue in the Blackpool area, supporting patients who meet the clinical criteria and are unable to travel for their appointment. The provision of this service will continue to be evaluated by SouthDoc and the HSE on an ongoing basis. That is what I have been informed by the Department.”
“SouthDoc has advised that, since September 2023, routine appointments for patients in Cork city are scheduled at the primary treatment centre on Kinsale Road. In the event that a patient is unable to attend Kinsale Road, they may require a home visit or need to be seen in the Blackpool facility. The location of the appointment is a clinical decision made by the doctor on duty. This operational adjustment was implemented as part of an organisation-wide service review aimed at optimising resources and service delivery while maintaining patient care standards within the available budget. The HSE has confirmed the Blackpool treatment centre remains available for urgent appointments, where necessary. Patients unable to attend the Kinsale Road centre continue to be seen at the Blackpool centre.”
“To ensure its continued viability, SouthDoc continually reviews its service provision formally with the HSE and on an ongoing basis internally. The Department of Health has engaged with the HSE on the Deputy’s concerns regarding the Blackpool treatment centre. SouthDoc has assured that there is no intention of closing any SouthDoc treatment centre. SouthDoc provides services on an appointment basis across all treatment centres. When an individual contacts SouthDoc, all relevant information is taken. The nature and the clinical condition of the patient then determines the service provided. If it is determined that a consultation with the duty doctor is appropriate, depending on the circumstances, the consultation may be provided remotely, in person at a suitable treatment centre or through a home visit.”
“I thank the Deputy. I understand that this issue is very important. The provision of out-of-hours GP services is an important part of healthcare and it is essential that people have access to out-of-hours GP services when needed. It is worrying that the Deputy spoke about children travelling in a taxi during the night to the hospital. That is a concern and is definitely something we need to address. As the Deputy knows, for Cork and Kerry, out-of-hours urgent GP care is provided by the SouthDoc co-operative. It provides a medical service to a population of approximately 736,000, in addition to the visitors to the area, and it dealt with over 200,000 patient contacts in 2024. While they are private organisations, the HSE provides substantial funding to support out-of-hours co-operatives through individual service level arrangements.”
“As I said, the Deputy might give me the particular case and the details of what he has said today. If he could send it to the Department of Health, I will make sure we get back to him. I thank everyone here today for the attention they have given to this really important matter. I reiterate that the PET-CT scanners are an invaluable tool in the diagnosis of a variety of conditions, but they are typically used for cancer. I will find out about this situation for the Deputy. I will find out out about this machine we need to look at. I can assure him that once he comes back to us with the details, we will get back to him from the Department of Health.”