News

The Minister for Health must come into the Dáil and answer questions as to why €19m in funding specifically allocated to reduce waiting times for children’s spinal surgery was spent elsewhere, according to Social Democrats health spokesperson Róisín Shortall. “This latest controversy is a further betrayal of children awaiting scoliosis surgery. “In 2017, then Minister […]

The Taoiseach’s revelation today that there is a 61 per cent staff vacancy rate in primary care psychology services for young people in Cork and Kerry is deeply concerning and requires an urgent explanation from the HSE, according to Social Democrats leader Holly Cairns. “While there has been much focus on the crisis in Child […]

The Minister for Mental Health must come up with an urgent plan to address the crisis in primary care psychology services for children and adolescents in Cork and Kerry, according to Social Democrats leader Holly Cairns. “In response to a parliamentary question I submitted, the HSE revealed that the total number of young people on […]

The Government’s ongoing refusal to fund additional adult inpatient beds for the treatment of eating disorders has been described as shameful by Social Democrats leader Holly Cairns. “Patients with eating disorders continue to be abandoned by this Government. Disgracefully, there are just three public inpatient beds in the country for the treatment of eating disorders […]

Chronic underfunding of the National Cancer Strategy is compromising patient care, according to Social Democrats health spokesperson Róisín Shortall. “It is clear that implementation of the National Cancer Strategy is no longer a priority for this Government. “When the Irish Cancer Society appeared before the Health Committee in April, their message was received loud and […]

The medical card scheme for dental treatments in Ireland is close to collapse, according to Social Democrats health spokesperson Róisín Shortall. “Figures reported today reveal there are 252 fewer dentists signed up to the Dental Treatment Service Scheme (DTSS) compared to last year. There are also major disparities in the number of participating dentists depending […]

Social Democrats health spokesperson Róisín Shortall has again questioned why a model three hospital for the mid-west region is only being considered now. “At today’s Oireachtas Public Petitions Committee, I asked the Minister for Health why it has taken him four years to consider a model three hospital for the UL Hospital Group. “Every other […]

A Social Democrats’ motion highlighting the deepening crisis in dental care in Ireland will be debated in the Dáil on Wednesday (May 22). Róisín Shortall TD, the party’s health spokesperson, said: “Dental care continues to be one of the most neglected areas of our health service. “The school screening programme is of particular concern. Children […]

The HSE’s recruitment freeze is preventing the recruitment of funded specialist nursing posts, according to Social Democrats health spokesperson Róisín Shortall. “In a reply to a parliamentary question I submitted, it was confirmed that 13 specialist nursing posts in neurological services remain unfilled. Even though funding for these positions was provided in Budget 2022, the […]

Social Democrats TD Jennifer Whitmore has called for the urgent regulation of nicotine pouches and for an analysis of the extent of their use by those under the under the age of 18. Deputy Whitmore, who is the party’s spokesperson on children, said: “These pouches come in the form of small bags and contain highly […]