Regional Health Forum Minutes - HSE Dublin and South East - 2 December 2025

The minutes from the meeting on 21 October were adopted, subject to correction of one attendance error. Cllr Liam Brazil proposed and Cllr John Pratt seconded. Standing Orders were not adopted; they were deferred to next meeting. Working group to review and propose amendments.

Members present

Cllr. Dermot Lacey, Cllr. Caroline Winstanley *, Cllr. Jim Gildea, Cllr. Anna Grainger, Cllr. Daniel Pender, Cllr. Tomás Breathnach, Cllr. Pat Dunphy (Chaired meeting), Cllr. Marie Murphy *, Cllr. Liam Brazil, Cllr. Patsy Glennon, Cllr. John Fleming, Cllr. Joe Sullivan, Cllr. Thomas Joseph, Cllr. Jacqueline Burke, Cllr. Lauren Tuite *, Cllr. Fergal Browne *, Cllr. Adrienne Wallace, Cllr. Michael Smith, Cllr. Ger Frisby, Cllr. John O’Leary, Cllr. Declan Barry, Cllr. John Pratt, Cllr. Ger Carty, Cllr. Joe Behan

*Attended online

Apologies

Cllr. Damien Geoghegan, Cllr. John Coonan (attended for photo as Mayor but had competing event to attend), Cllr. David Dunne, Cllr. Vicky Barron, Cllr. Roger Kennedy

HSE representatives in attendance

Martina Queally, Regional Executive Officer; Emma Finn, Regional Director of Communications and Public Affairs; Craig Doyle, Acting Asst National Director of Capital and Estates; Roseanne Killeen, IHA Manager, Carlow, Kilkenny and Tipperary South; Sinéad Reynolds, IHA Manager, Waterford Wexford; Aisling Heffernan, IHA Manager, Dublin South and Wicklow; Dr Carmel Mullaney, Regional Director of Public Health; Declan Hynes, Regional Director of People; Catherine Redican, Regional Director of Finance

• Discussion on emergency motions and mechanism for amendments.
• Agreement to defer adoption of Standing Orders to February meeting.
• Interim arrangement: 3 questions and 1 motion per member for next meeting.
• Agreement on Forum meetings to be held on third Thursday of each month at 11am.

• Tribute to Sister Stanislaus Kennedy RIP.
• Overview of service developments:
  • Virtual Wards launched at St. Luke’s Hospital, Kilkenny; benefits include reduced inpatient stays and improved patient satisfaction.
  • HSE App enhancements: waiting list visibility, GP referrals, vaccination records, digital health cards.
  • Visit to National Drug Treatment Centre: new treatments (Buvidal, naloxone), bloodborne disease management.
• Performance statistics:
  • ED attendances up 5.2% year-on-year; trolley breaches down by 800.
  • Over-75 admissions increased; improvement in 24-hour breach rates.
• Public health updates: winter vaccination campaign, HPV/BCG/RSV programs, Traveller health needs assessment, Adult Safeguarding Day, breastfeeding promotion.
• Upcoming initiatives: Memory Harbour short plays, new walking route at St. John’s Community Hospital.
• Tribute paid to Cllr Vicky Barron on her appearance on South East radio regarding her cancer diagnosis and complimenting her on using her platform to advocate for women’s health. This tribute was supported by members of the Forum who wanted to be associated with remarks from the REO.

(i) Cllr Dermot Lacey moved the following Motion, standing in his name:

“This Forum requests that the Chief Executive and the Chairperson of the HSE would attend a meeting of this Forum at least once in each Calendar year.”

A written response from Martina Queally, Regional Executive Officer, HSE Dublin and South East was circulated to members and noted. Cllr. Lacey was dissatisfied with the response in that it lacked a commitment to attend. The Forum Secretariat will raise it with the incoming CEO when in post.

(ii) Cllr. Caroline Winstanley moved the following Motion, standing in her name:

“Exemption of Blue Badge Holders from Hospital Parking Charges. This motion is being put forward on the basis of information provided by the Wicklow Older Person’s Council. That Wicklow County Council calls on the Minister for Health and the HSE to ensure that blue badge (disabled parking permit) holders are not charged for parking when attending any public hospital in the State. At present, private hospitals already provide free parking to blue badge holders. This motion seeks to align public hospital policy with that of private hospitals, in recognition of the mobility challenges and additional barriers faced by disabled persons. Removing parking charges for blue badge holders at public hospitals would promote equitable access to healthcare services and reduce unnecessary financial burden on those with disabilities.”

A written response from Martina Queally, Regional Executive Officer, HSE Dublin and South East was circulated to members and noted. Discussion on barriers and signage raised with input from Craig Doyle of Capital and Estates who was also asked if a presentation could be made at a future meeting on car parking for disabled persons across HSE sites. IHA Managers will also raise these issues at performance meetings with service managers.

(iii) Cllr. Joe Behan moved the following Motion, standing in his name:

“That this Forum calls on the Government to introduce, without further delay, a No-Fault Compensation Scheme for those citizens, young and old, who have suffered complications from the administration of the Covid 19 vaccines.

The purpose of such a scheme would be to ensure that individuals who suffer adverse effects from the Covid-19 vaccine and other vaccines receive compensation without proving fault or negligence, based on the rationale that negligence is often absent in such cases, and that communities benefiting from vaccination programmes accept the responsibility to compensate those harmed by them.”

A written response from Martina Queally, Regional Executive Officer, HSE Dublin and South East was circulated to members and noted. A vote was taken to amend the motion and remove ‘No Contest’, this was unanimously agreed. Vote on the motion was passed 7 votes to 2 with remainder abstaining.

(a) Cllr Dermot Lacey put forward the following question:

“To ask the HSE to clarify the conflicting statements from the Department of Housing and the HSE regarding the use of the former Baggot Street Hospital for housing purposes and how those conflicts can be reconciled.”

A written response from Craig Doyle, Acting Assistant National Director Capital & Estates

HSE Dublin and South East was circulated to members and noted. Cllr. Lacey was not satisfied that the building had been left for so long to deteriorate and in his opinion that this posed missed opportunities.

(b) Cllr Dermot Lacey put forward the following question:

“To ask the HSE what steps have been taken this year (2025) to have the Fetal Alcohol Syndrome recognised as a Disability and eligible for Disability payment.”

A written response from Martina Queally, Regional Executive Officer, HSE Dublin and South East was circulated to members and noted. Cllr. Lacey was not satisfied with the response citing that the issue goes beyond including reference to the treatment of mothers and that his query is about recognising FASD as a disability.

(c) Cllr Dermot Lacey put forward the following question:

“To ask the HSE what plans it has to provide more Nursing Home facilities in the Pembroke area.”

A written response from Craig Doyle, Acting Assistant National Director Capital & Estates

HSE Dublin and South East was circulated to members and noted.

(d) Cllr Michael Smith put forward the following question:

“Asks if the access route to the Gortnahoe Health Centre be addressed as a matter of urgency?”

A written response from Paul Goff, A/Head of Service-Primary Care, IHA Carlow Kilkenny & Tipperary South was circulated to members and noted. Cllr. Smith expressed his appreciation for resolving the issue so quickly.

(e) Cllr Caroline Winstanley put forward the following question:

“Regulation of Non-Clinical First Responder / Mental Health Charities. In County Wicklow, there has been a noticeable increase in the number of first responder and mental-health–focused charities that set up by individuals that do not have a professional mental-health background. Given that these organisations are engaging with some of the most vulnerable individuals in our communities, can the HSE outline whether it has a plan or framework to regulate, monitor, or accredit such organisations to ensure that the services they provide are safe, appropriate, and evidence-based?

A written response from Linda Moore, Head of Service, Dublin South and Wicklow IHA was circulated to members and noted.

(f) Cllr Caroline Winstanley put forward the following question:

“Update on the Assessment of Need (AON) e-Tendering Process. Has the e-tendering process for Assessment of Need (AON) service provision now been completed? If so, how many companies submitted tenders within this regional health area, and what is the projected service capacity of the successful tenderers?”

A written response from Martina Queally, Regional Executive Officer, HSE Dublin and South East was circulated to members and noted.

(g) Cllr Fergal Browne put forward the following question:

“To outline the reason why no funding has been provided to have a fully staffed community neurorehabilitation team for neurological patients in the south east despite this being promised in 2019 and if there are plans to address this issue.”

A written response from Ms. Michelle Doyle, Head of Service, Disability Services IHA Carlow Kilkenny/Tipperary South was circulated to members and noted. Cllr Browne accepted the reply.

(h) Cllr Fergal Browne put forward the following question:

“To ask what supports are available to allow for the creation of dementia friendly counties and to outline current supports in County Carlow in terms of district/public health nurses who visit patients with dementia.”

A written response from Tara Hunt, A/Head of Service Primary Care, IHA Carlow Kilkenny and Tipperary South was circulated to members and noted. Cllr Browne accepted the reply.

The next meeting will take place on Thursday 19 February 2026 at 11am in Council Chamber, Wexford County Council.