Source document: https://docs-lawep.s3.us-east-2.amazonaws.com/1698136980282.pdf (Ireland)
Déardaoin, 2 Nollaig, 2021 Thursday, 2nd December, 2021 DÁIL ÉIREANNCEISTEANNAQUESTIONS 88 5767 Déardaoin, 2 Nollaig, 2021 Thursday, 2nd December, 2021 CEISTEANNA LE hAGHAIDH FREAGRAÍ SCRÍOFA QUESTIONS FOR WRITTEN ANSWER Chun an Tánaiste agus Aire Fiontar, Trádála agus Fostaíochta: To the Tánaiste and Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment.

*1.
*1.

To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment the number of business innovation districts in place; and if the take-up of this opportunity has matched expectations for the initiative.

— Richard Bruton.

[59575/21] *2.


To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment if his attention has been drawn to an anomaly (details supplied) in respect of redundancy calculations for persons that were in receipt of the pandemic unemployment payment; and the steps that he has taken or will take to address these matters.

— Catherine Murphy.

[59585/21] *3.

To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment further to Parliamentary Question Nos.
141 of 24 March and 174 of 15 September 2021, the status of plans to conduct an investigation into potential mis-selling by Irish agents involved in the French leaseback property scandal; the engagement he has had with the Competition and Consumer Protection Commission in this regard since September 2021; if the Commission has to-date received the final report of the investigation by the French consumer protection authorities La direction générale de la Concurrence, de la Consommation et de la Répression des fraudes; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
— Catherine Connolly.

[59581/21] *4.

To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment when the stakeholder consultation of his Department on the International Labour Organisation Convention 190, Elimination of Violence and Harassment in the World of Work is due to commence.

— Mary Lou McDonald.

[59679/21] *5.


To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment the amount expended by his Department in each of the past five years to date in 2021 on lighting and heating costs in tabular form.

— Catherine Murphy.

[59700/21] *6.


To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment the steps he has taken to improve ventilation in the office buildings of his Department; if air cleaning and or purification systems have been installed in 2021; and if not, the plans to install same in 2022.

— Catherine Murphy.

[59718/21] Chun an Aire Comhshaoil, Aeráide agus Cumarsáide: To the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications.

*7.
*7.

To ask the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications the number of sustainable energy communities which have been formed to date; the scale of energy improvement DÁIL ÉIREANNP.T.O 5768 investments which have been facilitated by such communities; and if he has plans to enhance the scope for such initiatives under the Climate Action Plan.

— Richard Bruton.

[59579/21] *8.


To ask the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications if he will provide a list of current drainage operations on Bord na Móna peatlands; and if he will make a statement on the matter.

— Jennifer Whitmore.

[59595/21] *9.

To ask the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications the names of applicant companies that have received stage 1 letters of offer under the EXEED scheme in 2021; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
— Thomas Pringle.

[59553/21] *10.

To ask the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications the amount expended by his Department in each of the past five years to date in 2021 on lighting and heating costs in tabular form.

— Catherine Murphy.

[59701/21] *11.


To ask the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications the steps he has taken to improve ventilation in the office buildings of his Department; if air cleaning and or purification systems have been installed in 2021; and if not, the plans to install same in 2022.

— Catherine Murphy.

[59719/21] Chun an Aire Iompair: To the Minister for Transport.

*12.
*12.

To ask the Minister for Transport if he will consider giving updated guidelines to driving test centres operated by the Road Safety Authority in order that instructors can use bathroom facilities at the centres once they are able to prove their vaccination status and adhere to Covid-19 guidelines; and if he will make a statement on the matter.

— Ruairí Ó Murchú.

[59545/21] *13.


To ask the Minister for Transport if he will investigate the case of a person (details supplied) who has lived and held a driving licence in Ireland for over 40 years but has been unable to renew their driving licence; and if he will make a statement on the matter.

— Paul Kehoe.

[59589/21] *14.
To ask the Minister for Transport if his attention has been drawn to an Irish Rail document written in 2019 that stated that the Waterford to Rosslare rail line could be reopened for a cost of between €12 to 15 million; if he will support the reopening of the Waterford to Rosslare rail line given discussions in his Department regarding possible new rail project finance for Navan and the extension of the DART service to Wicklow given the expected population increase in the southeast region over the next 20 years and the requirement for regional connectivity; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
— Matt Shanahan.

[59611/21] *15.

To ask the Minister for Transport if he will address a series of matters (details supplied) in relation to regional aviation support packages; and if he will make a statement on the matter.

— Matt Shanahan.

[59612/21] *16.


To ask the Minister for Transport the reason the policy to support regional aviation did not extend to Waterford Airport considering it attracts the full costs of serviced runway, emergency standby and air traffic control and air navigation expertise on site and is the base facility supporting the Coastguard Rescue Helicopter 117 service; and if he will make a statement on the matter.

— Matt Shanahan.

[59613/21] *17.


To ask the Minister for Transport the serious safety or transit time requirements that justify the proposed spend on the Dunkettle interchange (details supplied); if he will compare same to the 5769 lack of an appraisal to date with respect to upgrading the N24; and if he will make a statement on the matter.

— Matt Shanahan.

[59614/21] *18.


To ask the Minister for Transport the status of the Galway to Athlone section of the Galway - Dublin Greenway; if the results of the public consultation which took place over the summer for this section will be published; and if he will make a statement on the matter.

— Catherine Murphy.

[59657/21] *19.


To ask the Minister for Transport if he will provide a schedule of all greenway and blueway projects currently approved and or underway; the stage each section is at as of 2 December 2021; and the estimated full completion date.

— Catherine Murphy.

[59658/21] *20.


To ask the Minister for Transport the communications his Department has had with the Revenue Commissioners regarding the use of the Kilrane State Facility site, Kilrane, County Wexford for the parking of heavy goods vehicles; and if he will make a statement on the matter.

— Verona Murphy.

[59672/21] *21.


To ask the Minister for Transport his plans and the plans of the RSA to address the backlog in respect of driving test applications; if his attention has been drawn to significant delays in securing tests and retests.

— Catherine Murphy.

[59695/21] *22.

To ask the Minister for Transport the amount expended by his Department in each of the past five years to date in 2021 on lighting and heating costs in tabular form.

— Catherine Murphy.

[59712/21] *23.


To ask the Minister for Transport the steps he has taken to improve ventilation in the office buildings of his Department; if air cleaning and or purification systems have been installed in 2021; and if not, the plans to install same in 2022.

— Catherine Murphy.

[59730/21] Chun an Aire Airgeadais: To the Minister for Finance.

*24.
*24.

To ask the Minister for Finance if there are plans to allow all amputees to qualify for the primary medical certificate; and if he will make a statement on the matter.

— James Lawless.

[59639/21] *25.

To ask the Minister for Finance when the full review of the primary medical certification scheme will be completed on foot of the Supreme Court Judgement 2020; and if he will make a statement on the matter.

— Seán Canney.

[59548/21] *26.


To ask the Minister for Finance if he will ensure that the employment wage subsidy scheme supports at their current levels are retained until at least up until April 2022.

— Catherine Murphy.

[59557/21] *27.

To ask the Minister for Finance the areas which have been included within the living cities designation; the volume of works undertaken; and the value of tax refunds granted in each case.

— Richard Bruton.

[59577/21] *28.


To ask the Minister for Finance the derogation under which Ireland enjoys a reduced rate of VAT on energy for households; the conditions that are attached to this derogation; and if he will make a statement on the matter.

— Pearse Doherty.

[59596/21] P.T.O 5770 *29.


To ask the Minister for Finance his views on the European Union toolbox on energy on tackling energy prices statement that member states may decide to apply reduced VAT rates on energy products as long as they respect the minima laid down in the European Union VAT Directive and they consult the European Union VAT Committee and that the right to a reduced rate is a general albeit conditional one and not one that requires a derogation; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
— Pearse Doherty.

[59597/21] *30.

To ask the Minister for Finance if he has plans to modify the accumulated rates of VRT, NOX surcharges and tariffs that apply to the importation of vehicles from Northern Ireland which is causing a disproportionate hardship to persons in the Border region by driving up the price of second-hand vehicles; and if he will make a statement on the matter.

— Thomas Pringle.

[59690/21] *31.


To ask the Minister for Finance the amount incurred by the State in respect of charges and fees regarding the account of a company (details supplied) to date since the account was established.

— Catherine Murphy.

[59694/21] *32.

To ask the Minister for Finance the amount expended by his Department in each of the past five years to date in 2021 on lighting and heating costs in tabular form.

— Catherine Murphy.

[59702/21] *33.


To ask the Minister for Finance the steps he has taken to improve ventilation in the office buildings of his Department; if air cleaning and or purification systems have been installed in 2021; and if not, the plans to install same in 2022.

— Catherine Murphy.

[59720/21] Chun an Aire Caiteachais Phoiblí agus Athchóirithe: To the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform.

*34.
*34.

To ask the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform the amount in interest accumulated annually by the national lottery in respect of the account that holds the unclaimed prizes fund annually in the past five years to date; and the amount accumulated from the account that holds jackpot funds in the same time period.

— Catherine Murphy.

[59693/21] *35.


To ask the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform the amount expended by his Department in each of the past five years to date in 2021 on lighting and heating costs in tabular form.

— Catherine Murphy.

[59708/21] *36.


To ask the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform the steps he has taken to improve ventilation in the office buildings of his Department; if air cleaning and or purification systems have been installed in 2021; and if not, the plans to install same in 2022.

— Catherine Murphy.

[59726/21] Chun an Aire Turasóireachta, Cultúir, Ealaíon, Gaeltachta, Spóirt agus Meán: To the Minister for Tourism, Culture; Arts; Gaeltacht; Sport and Media.

*37.
*37.

To ask the Minister for Tourism, Culture, Arts, Gaeltacht, Sport and Media the current position in respect of the release of monies under the 2018 Sports Capital Programme and in particular the funding due to a club (details supplied) in view of the fact that all the outstanding legal issues have now been resolved; and if she will make a statement on the matter.

— Colm Burke.

[59600/21] 5771 *38.


To ask the Minister for Tourism, Culture, Arts, Gaeltacht, Sport and Media the amount expended by her Department in each of the past five years to date in 2021 on lighting and heating costs in tabular form.

— Catherine Murphy.

[59711/21] *39.


To ask the Minister for Tourism, Culture, Arts, Gaeltacht, Sport and Media the steps she has taken to improve ventilation in the office buildings of her Department; if air cleaning and or purification systems have been installed in 2021; and if not, the plans to install same in 2022.

— Catherine Murphy.

[59729/21] Chun an Aire Tithíochta, Rialtais Áitiúil agus Oidhreachta: To the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage.

*40.
*40.

To ask the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage if he will ensure the retention of the current local authority commercial rates waiver until June 2022.

— Catherine Murphy.

[59557/21] *41.

To ask the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage his plans for affordable purchase, cost rental and social housing on the Kildonan lands, Finglas, Dublin 11; and if he will make a statement on the matter.

— Paul McAuliffe.

[59573/21] *42.


To ask the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the number of properties which have been listed as derelict by local authorities; the number which have been served notices to remedy dereliction in the most recent year for which he has data available; if he is satisfied that this legislation is an effective policy instrument to address problems of neglected vacant property; and if he will make a statement on the matter.

— Richard Bruton.

[59574/21] *43.


To ask the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the number of towns in which the Heritage Council’s town health check has been conducted; and the supports which are being made available to support this initiative.

— Richard Bruton.

[59578/21] *44.

To ask the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the initiatives and their value which have been supported under the urban renewal fund.

— Richard Bruton.

[59580/21] *45.


To ask the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage if his attention has been drawn to the fact that the land surrounding the Neolithic cairn (details supplied) was advertised for sale on the open market earlier in 2021; and if he will make a statement on the matter.

— Thomas Pringle.

[59582/21] *46.


To ask the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the steps the National Parks and Wildlife Service made to purchase land (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter.

— Thomas Pringle.

[59583/21] *47.


To ask the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the proposals the National Parks and Wildlife Service has to ensure public access to the cairn at a location (details supplied) which is a national monument; and if he will make a statement on the matter.

— Thomas Pringle.

[59584/21] *48.

To ask the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage if a review of planning laws is being carried out; and if so, the terms of reference for the review.
— Alan Kelly.

[59628/21] P.T.O 5772 *49.

To ask the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage if he will provide an update on the planned refurbishment of 12 local authority houses at a location (details supplied).

— Joe Flaherty.

[59630/21] *50.


To ask the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage if he will formally publish the results of the 2021 National Survey of Urban Seagulls commissioned by his Department and the National Parks and Wildlife Service including the analysis of the results; and the date for the formal publication with such analysis.

— Duncan Smith.

[59662/21] *51.


To ask the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage if he will address a series of matters in relation to the 2021 National Survey of Urban Seagulls commissioned by his Department and the National Parks and Wildlife Service (details supplied).

— Duncan Smith.

[59663/21] *52.


To ask the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage if he will address a series of matters in relation to the 2021 National Survey of Urban Seagulls commissioned by his Department and the National Parks and Wildlife Service (details supplied) and the Habitats Directive.

— Duncan Smith.

[59664/21] *53.


To ask the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage if he will address a series of matters in relation to the Departmental and National Parks and Wildlife Service’s published document on its website titled Birds Case (C 418/04) Programme of Measures -2017 (details supplied).

— Duncan Smith.

[59665/21] *54.


To ask the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage if he will address a series of matters in relation to the 2021 National Survey of Urban Seagulls commissioned by his Department and the National Parks and Wildlife Service (details supplied) the Seabird 2000 census results and the April 2020 report from the consultative committee on Urban Seagulls established by his predecessor in June 2019.

— Duncan Smith.

[59666/21] *55.


To ask the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage if he will address a series of matters in relation to the results of the 2021 National Survey of Urban Seagulls commissioned by his Department and the National Parks and Wildlife Service (details supplied), the Seabird 2000 census results and a statement reported to have been issued by his Department and the NPWS in response to a freedom of information request in July 2016.

— Duncan Smith.

[59667/21] *56.


To ask the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the exit rates from homelessness services for each respective local authority in the State; and if he will make a statement on the matter.

— Neasa Hourigan.

[59670/21] *57.


To ask the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the proposals, if any, there are to improve the criteria for the Rebuilding Ireland mortgage scheme, taking into account the difficulties that have arisen for some households with the present criteria (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter.

— Brendan Smith.

[59680/21] *58.


To ask the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage if he will establish a specific taskforce to review the impact of housing insecurity on one-parent families as part of the campaign by an organisation (details supplied).

— Gary Gannon.

[59686/21] *59.

To ask the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage when the report of the review of the National Parks and Wildlife Service will be published.

— Holly Cairns.

[59691/21] 5773 *60.


To ask the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the amount expended by his Department in each of the past five years to date in 2021 on lighting and heating costs in tabular form.

— Catherine Murphy.

[59706/21] *61.


To ask the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the steps he has taken to improve ventilation in the office buildings of his Department; if air cleaning and or purification systems have been installed in 2021; and if not, the plans to install same in 2022.

— Catherine Murphy.

[59724/21] Chun an Aire Gnóthaí Eachtracha: To the Minister for Foreign Affairs.

*62.
*62.

To ask the Minister for Foreign Affairs if a passport application by a person (details supplied) will be examined; and if he will make a statement on the matter.

— James Lawless.

[59519/21] *63.

To ask the Minister for Foreign Affairs if a passport will issue in the case of a person (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter.

— Bernard J. Durkan.

[59558/21] *64.


To ask the Minister for Foreign Affairs if a passport will urgently issue in the case of a person (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter.

— Bernard J. Durkan.

[59559/21] *65.

To ask the Minister for Foreign Affairs if a passport will urgently issue in the case of a person; if original documentation belonging to the parents can be urgently returned given the circumstances; and if he will make a statement on the matter.

— Bernard J. Durkan.


[59560/21] *66.

To ask the Minister for Foreign Affairs the position regarding a passport application by a person (details supplied) in County Mayo in view of the fact that this application was submitted in December 2020 to the Passport Office.

— Michael Ring.

[59561/21] *67.


To ask the Minister for Foreign Affairs his views on the decision by the Government of Ethiopia to restrict the size of the Irish Embassy in Addis Ababa; his response to the stated reasons by the Ethiopian government for taking this course of action; if Ireland will continue to allocate Irish Aid development and humanitarian supports to Ethiopia; his response to the ongoing conflict and humanitarian crisis in Ethiopia; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
— Seán Haughey.

[59562/21] *68.

To ask the Minister for Foreign Affairs the reason a passport application by a person (details supplied) was cancelled; the attempts made to verify the witness signature; the dates the checking was carried out; the number of working days this occurred after receipt of the application and after receipt of the supporting documents; and if he will make a statement on the matter.

— Michael Ring.

[59572/21] *69.


To ask the Minister for Foreign Affairs if a passport will be processed for a person (details supplied) in County Dublin in time for their travel plans.

— Michael Ring.

[59592/21] *70.

To ask the Minister for Foreign Affairs the position regarding a passport application by a person (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter.

— Róisín Shortall.

[59608/21] P.T.O 5774 *71.


To ask the Minister for Foreign Affairs if he will address alarming reports that a person was relieved of their post at the United Nations Human Rights Council in Geneva following remarks made regarding the Uighur people and their treatment by the Chinese government; and if he will make a statement on the matter.

— Carol Nolan.

[59625/21] *72.


To ask the Minister for Foreign Affairs the number of applications with consent form errors submitted online and those submitted via passport express by the reason for the errors for example, witness not answering a verification telephone call, incorrect occupation listed for witness, consent form signed in the incorrect place and so on in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter.

— Michael Ring.

[59637/21] *73.


To ask the Minister for Foreign Affairs if a record is kept of the verification of supporting documents for passport applications in respect of children; if a record and log is kept of the telephone calls made by the passport office to witnesses on consent forms; if it is possible for this information to be supplied to applicants, parents and guardians on request; and if he will make a statement on the matter.

— Michael Ring.

[59638/21] *74.
To ask the Minister for Foreign Affairs if his attention has been drawn to a decision by the Belgian Government to intensify its scrutiny of all goods originating in Israel in order to ensure that all products from illegal Israeli settlements in the Occupied Palestinian Territory are excluded from preferential trade tariffs under the EU-Israel Association Agreement; if he will consult with his Belgian colleague and other like-minded European Union states in the context of the recently registered European Citizen’s Initiative to develop an European Union legal proposal to ban trade with these settlements; if he considers such leadership from Ireland appropriate in view of the strong support of the Houses of the Control of Economic Activity (Occupied Territories) Bill 2018; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
— Catherine Connolly.

[59650/21] *75.

To ask the Minister for Foreign Affairs the amount expended by his Department in each of the past five years to date in 2021 on lighting and heating costs in tabular form.

— Catherine Murphy.

[59703/21] *76.

To ask the Minister for Foreign Affairs the steps he has taken to improve ventilation in the office buildings of his Department; if air cleaning and or purification systems have been installed in 2021; and if not, the plans to install same in 2022.
— Catherine Murphy.

[59721/21] Chun an Aire Cosanta: To the Minister for Defence.

*77.

To ask the Minister for Defence if he has plans to upgrade Cathal Brugha Barracks, Dublin; if he has commissioned a report into the future of the barracks; if so, the intention of such a report; and if he will make a statement on the matter.

— Duncan Smith.

[59640/21] *78.


To ask the Minister for Defence if his attention has been drawn to the difficulties that foreign-born members of the Defence Forces are having in serving particularly in serving overseas; the steps he is taking to address these difficulties; and if he will make a statement on the matter.

— Duncan Smith.

[59641/21] *79.


To ask the Minister for Defence the amount expended by his Department in each of the past five years to date in 2021 on lighting and heating costs in tabular form.

— Catherine Murphy.

[59698/21] *80.

To ask the Minister for Defence the steps he has taken to improve ventilation in the office buildings of his Department; if air cleaning and or purification systems have been installed in 2021; and if not, the plans to install same in 2022.

— Catherine Murphy.
— Catherine Murphy.

[59716/21] 5775 Chun an Aire Oideachais: To the Minister for Education.

*81.

To ask the Minister for Education the status of a school project (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter.

— Joe Carey.

[59520/21] *82.

To ask the Minister for Education her views on the leaving certificate exams for 2022 in particular in relation to the case of a student (details supplied).

— Sean Sherlock.

[59523/21] *83.


To ask the Minister for Education when a school (details supplied) will be provided with a sensory area, gross motor area, behavioural therapist, occupational therapist and a speech and language therapist; and if she will make a statement on the matter.

— Patrick Costello.

[59540/21] *84.

To ask the Minister for Education the status of a project (details supplied).

— Sean Sherlock.

[59541/21] *85.


To ask the Minister for Education the number of schools that have received funding for ventilation works per county to date in 2021, in tabular form.

— Sean Sherlock.

[59542/21] *86.


To ask the Minister for Education the grants available outside of the capitation grant scheme that a school can access in order to fund repairs to its roof and address electrical wiring issues; if she will fund a school in Leixlip County Kildare (details supplied); if she can make provision in respect of bringing some of the school’s rooms back into use.

— Catherine Murphy.

[59547/21] *87.


To ask the Minister for Education the number of secondary school places that were available for the 2021-2022 academic year in south County Kildare by school; the number predicated for the 2022-2023 academic year by school; and if she will make a statement on the matter.

— Duncan Smith.

[59643/21] *88.

To ask the Minister for Education further to Parliamentary Question No.
340 of 23 November 2021, the number of meetings her Department has had with secondary school patrons on the provision of secondary school places in south County Kildare over the past two years; if such meetings have taken place in 2021 year given the lack of places available; and if she will make a statement on the matter.

— Duncan Smith.

[59644/21] *89.


To ask the Minister for Education if her attention has been drawn to the fact that some parents are by-passing their nearest rural local primary school in favour of enrolling their children in larger urban centres given the lack of secondary school places in south County Kildare; her views on the way this will affect enrolment in these rural schools; and if she will make a statement on the matter.

— Duncan Smith.

[59645/21] *90.


To ask the Minister for Education if her Department has considered and adopted a reasonable or acceptable distance for a child to travel to another secondary school given that a place may not be available to them at their local secondary school; if her Department’s modelling has considered the need for the provision of school transport for students in order to avail of such a place; and if she will make a statement on the matter.

— Duncan Smith.

[59646/21] P.T.O 5776 *91.


To ask the Minister for Education if her Department has received legal challenges to the right of a child to a secondary school place from a parent or child over the past number of years; if so, the outcome of these challenges; and if she will make a statement on the matter.

— Duncan Smith.

[59647/21] *92.


To ask the Minister for Education the expected lead time for the opening of the proposed new secondary school for the Curragh, County Kildare subsequent to the site being finalised; and if she will make a statement on the matter.

— Duncan Smith.

[59648/21] *93.


To ask the Minister for Education when she expects parents and children who have received letters stating that they have not received a place for the 2022-2023 academic year to receive a place given she has stated that talks are underway with school patrons; and if she will make a statement on the matter.

— Duncan Smith.

[59649/21] *94.


To ask the Minister for Education if her Department or ETBs have engaged in the purchase or procurement with regard to air filtration systems for schools; if so, the terms and conditions in respect of the use of such systems; and if she will make a statement on the matter.

— Charles Flanagan.

[59668/21] *95.

To ask the Minister for Education the number of teachers in each county by primary and second level.

— Catherine Murphy.

[59669/21] *96.


To ask the Minister for Education if the return to 100% capacity on school buses is to remain in place in view of the current Covid-19 situation; and if she will make a statement on the matter.

— Verona Murphy.

[59673/21] *97.

To ask the Minister for Education the amount expended by her Department in each of the past five years to date in 2021 on lighting and heating costs in tabular form.

— Catherine Murphy.

[59699/21] *98.


To ask the Minister for Education the steps she has taken to improve ventilation in the office buildings of her Department; if air cleaning and or purification systems have been installed in 2021; and if not, the plans to install same in 2022.

— Catherine Murphy.

[59717/21] Chun an Aire Coimirce Sóisialaí: To the Minister for Social Protection.

*99.
*99.

To ask the Minister for Social Protection if she will introduce access to free travel for persons with epilepsy who due to their condition are unable to drive; and if she will make a statement on the matter.

— Seán Canney.

[59551/21] *100.

To ask the Minister for Social Protection the reason that the decision on the appeal for a disability allowance by a person (details supplied) has not yet issued; and if she will make a statement on the matter.

— Mairéad Farrell.

[59555/21] *101.


To ask the Minister for Social Protection the correct level of illness benefit payable in the case of a person (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter.

— Bernard J. Durkan.

[59556/21] *102.


To ask the Minister for Social Protection if she will consider changing the name of the invalidity pension given that many persons with a long-term illness or disability find this name 5777 derogatory and inappropriate; and if she will make a statement on the matter.

— Pauline Tully.

[59599/21] *103.


Chun a fhiafraí den Aire Coimirce Sóisialaí cén soláthar atá i bPlean Teanga Gaeilge na Roinne maidir le seirbhísí Gaeilge a chur ar fáil don phobal i gcoitinne atá á lorg agus lena chinntiú go mbeidh rogha ag pobal na Gaeltachta agus na Gaeilge plé a dhéanamh i nGaeilge, i scríbhinn agus ó bhéal, le hoifigigh na Roinne; agus an ndéanfaidh sí ráiteas ina thaobh.

— Éamon Ó Cuív.

[59629/21] *104.


To ask the Minister for Social Protection the current position regarding a project (details supplied) in County Kildare; and if she will make a statement on the matter.

— Duncan Smith.

[59642/21] *105.

To ask the Minister for Social Protection the status of the plans to extend parents’ benefit; and if she will make a statement on the matter.

— Charles Flanagan.

[59654/21] *106.


To ask the Minister for Social Protection the status of the auto enrolment pension scheme; and if she will make a statement on the matter.

— Charles Flanagan.

[59655/21] *107.

To ask the Minister for Social Protection when a maternity benefit payment will issue to a person (details supplied) given that they commenced maternity leave on 8 November 2021; and if she will make a statement on the matter.

— Michael Ring.

[59656/21] *108.


To ask the Minister for Social Protection when a PPS number will issue to a person (details supplied) in County Kerry; and if she will make a statement on the matter.

— Brendan Griffin.

[59661/21] *109.


To ask the Minister for Social Protection if the Pensions Council is undertaking a cost transparency initiative in respect of the costs and charges applied to the management of private pensions; the details on the nature and timeline of the initiative; and if she will make a statement on the matter.

— Ged Nash.

[59674/21] *110.


To ask the Minister for Social Protection if her attention has been drawn to the significant delays in birth registration causing subsequent delays for claims for child benefit placing significant financial stress on parents particularly one parent families; if she will ensure that financially vulnerable parents are identified and supported; and if she will make a statement on the matter.

— Gary Gannon.

[59687/21] *111.


To ask the Minister for Social Protection the amount expended by her Department in each of the past five years to date in 2021 on lighting and heating costs in tabular form.

— Catherine Murphy.

[59710/21] *112.

To ask the Minister for Social Protection the steps she has taken to improve ventilation in the office buildings of her Department; if air cleaning and or purification systems have been installed in 2021; and if not, the plans to install same in 2022.
— Catherine Murphy.

[59728/21] *113.

To ask the Minister for Social Protection if supplementary welfare can be paid to a person (details supplied); if weekly payments can be put in place on humanitarian grounds given the health of the person; and if she will make a statement on the matter.

— Bernard J. Durkan.

[59763/21] P.T.O 5778 Chun an Aire Leanaí, Comhionannais, Míchumais, Lánpháirtíochta agus Óige: To the Minister for Children, Equality; Disability; Integration and Youth.

*114.
*114.

To ask the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth the status of the Autism Innovation Strategy Working Group; and if he will make a statement on the matter.

— Pauline Tully.

[59529/21] *115.


To ask the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth if he will consider revisions to the Mother and Baby Institutions payment scheme following the reaction of survivors and their families to the proposed details of the scheme; and if he will make a statement on the matter.

— Mick Barry.

[59775/21] *116.

To ask the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth his plans to receive further refugees from Afghanistan.
— Cathal Crowe.

[56319/21] *117.

To ask the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth the way the recommendations from the Citizens’ Assembly on Gender Equality will be used constructively going forward.

— Violet-Anne Wynne.

[53379/21] *118.


To ask the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth if his attention has been drawn to the Citizens’ Assembly on Gender Equality recommendation that a statutory right to reasonable access to flexible working be introduced; if this recommendation has been accepted; if so, the stage plans to introduce it are at; and if he will make a statement on the matter.

— Louise O’Reilly.

[53077/21] *119.


To ask the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth the progress regarding implementation of the White Paper to End Direct Provision; and if he will make a statement on the matter.

— Cathal Crowe.

[59464/21] *120.


To ask the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth the status of the work of the Expert Group established in September 2019 to develop a new funding model for early learning and care and school age services; and if he will make a statement on the matter.

— Cathal Crowe.

[59465/21] *121.


To ask the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth the number of meetings of the programme board overseeing the White Paper to End Direction Provision have taken place; the number of properties being examined by the Programme Board for the purposes of the new accommodation model; and if he will make a statement on the matter.

— Christopher O’Sullivan.

[59451/21] *122.


To ask the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth the status of the Strategy Development Group to develop the Autism Innovation Strategy; the membership of the group; the terms of reference of the group; and if he will make a statement on the matter.

— Catherine Connolly.

[59524/21] *123.


To ask the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth when the legislation required to support excavation of the site of the former Mother and Baby home in Tuam will be published; and if he will make a statement on the matter.

— Catherine Connolly.

[59525/21] 5779 *124.


To ask the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth when HIQA will begin undertaking independent inspections of direct provision centres; and if he will make a statement on the matter.

— Catherine Connolly.

[59526/21] *125.


To ask the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth the amount of the €41 million in additional funding allocated to Tusla in Budget 2022 that will be allocated to domestic violence supports; and if he will make a statement on the matter.

— Catherine Connolly.

[59527/21] *126.

To ask the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth further to Parliamentary Question Nos.
737 of 31 March and 412 of 16 November 2021, the status of his engagement or plans for same with persons affected by illegal birth registrations in relation to the report of the Special Rapporteur titled Proposals for a state response to illegal birth registrations in Ireland; when he expects to publish the report of the Special Rapporteur; and if he will make a statement on the matter.

— Catherine Connolly.

[59528/21] *127.


To ask the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth the number of persons that have been made a ward of court since the Assisted Decision-Making (Capacity) Act 2015 was passed in 2015; and if he will make a statement on the matter.

— Pauline Tully.

[59563/21] *128.


To ask the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth the roles that have been filled within the Decision Support Service since the Assisted Decision-Making (Capacity) Act 2015 was passed in 2015; if there are unfilled roles within the Decision Support Service that will be required to be filled before it becomes operational; the roles in this regard; and if he will make a statement on the matter.

— Pauline Tully.

[59564/21] *129.


To ask the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth if there is a code of practice in place for the Decision Support Service; and if he will make a statement on the matter.

— Pauline Tully.

[59565/21] *130.

To ask the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth the level of fees agreed for persons accessing the services of the Decision Support Service; and if he will make a statement on the matter.

— Pauline Tully.
— Pauline Tully.

[59566/21] *131.

To ask the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth the budget allocation to the Decision Support Service in 2021 and 2022; and if he will make a statement on the matter.

— Pauline Tully.

[59567/21] *132.


To ask the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth if regulations have been finalised for the Decision Support Service to provide for multiple procedural and documentary matters; and if he will make a statement on the matter.

— Pauline Tully.

[59568/21] *133.


To ask the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth the terms and conditions for Decision Support Service panel members; and if he will make a statement on the matter.

— Pauline Tully.

[59569/21] *134.


To ask the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth if education and training has been provided for stakeholders (details supplied) in advance of the full commencement of the Assisted Decision-Making (Capacity) Act 2015 and the Decision Support Service becoming operational; and if he will make a statement on the matter.

— Pauline Tully.

[59571/21] P.T.O 5780 *135.


To ask the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth the number of section 47 reports that were ordered in each of the district courts in each of the years 2016 to 2020 and to date in 2021.

— Mattie McGrath.

[59671/21] *136.

To ask the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth the process for applying for and granting visa waivers under the Irish Refugee Protection Programme.

— Ivana Bacik.

[59678/21] *137.


To ask the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth the amount expended by his Department in each of the past five years to date in 2021 on lighting and heating costs in tabular form.

— Catherine Murphy.

[59697/21] *138.


To ask the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth the steps he has taken to improve ventilation in the office buildings of his Department; if air cleaning and or purification systems have been installed in 2021; and if not, the plans to install same in 2022.

— Catherine Murphy.

[59715/21] *139.


To ask the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth the extent to which he is confident that in the course of the mother and baby homes redress scheme, he can meet the requirements of all the victims in order to reassure all concerned that their position has been fully acknowledged and investigated; and if he will make a statement on the matter.

— Bernard J. Durkan.

[59732/21] *140.


To ask the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth the number, if any, of outstanding issues in respect of redress in the case of mother and baby homes; the extent to which he expects to address all such issues and to ensure equality in respect of redress; and if he will make a statement on the matter.

— Bernard J. Durkan.

[59733/21] *141.


To ask the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth the extent to which he accepts that the exclusion of any group affected by the mother and baby homes issue needs to be urgently and fairly resolved; and if he will make a statement on the matter.

— Bernard J. Durkan.

[59734/21] *142.


To ask the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth the extent to which he can prioritise for funding the childcare sector given the pressure generated by the Covid-19 crisis; and if he will make a statement on the matter.

— Bernard J. Durkan.

[59735/21] *143.


To ask the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth the extent to which children with disabilities can expect to receive adequate care and attention and access to services now and in the future; the degree to which his Department has identified issues of interest in this regard; and if he will make a statement on the matter.

— Bernard J. Durkan.

[59736/21] *144.


To ask the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth the extent to which his Department continues to receive updates in respect of children at risk; and if he will make a statement on the matter.

— Bernard J. Durkan.

[59737/21] *145.


To ask the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth the total number of children currently in the various forms of care, institutional or otherwise; the degree to which he is satisfied with the level and quality of the case in all such situations; and if he will make a statement on the matter.

— Bernard J. Durkan.

[59738/21] 5781 *146.


To ask the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth the degree to which he and his Department propose to address the extent to which children with disabilities can expect a high level of equality, which is some cases may also be affected by homelessness; and if he will make a statement on the matter.

— Bernard J. Durkan.

[59739/21] *147.


To ask the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth his various proposals for integration, the most successful models; and if he will make a statement on the matter.

— Bernard J. Durkan.

[59740/21] *148.

To ask the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth the steps he proposes to take to address any or all inequalities affecting children; and if he will make a statement on the matter.

— Bernard J. Durkan.


[59741/21] *149.

To ask the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth the extent to which reports of children at risk continue to be made to the appropriate bodies under his aegis; the extent to which these issues have been examined; and if he will make a statement on the matter.

— Bernard J. Durkan.

[59742/21] *150.


To ask the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth the extent to which his Department continues to liaise with youth representatives in County Kildare and nationally; and if he will make a statement on the matter.

— Bernard J. Durkan.

[59743/21] *151.

To ask the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth the various models of integration encouraged by his Department; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
— Bernard J. Durkan.

[59744/21] *152.

To ask the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth the extent to which his Department continues to monitor any breaches of equality legislation whether of a gender, race or sexuality origin; the extent of progress made towards corrective measures; and if he will make a statement on the matter.

— Bernard J. Durkan.

[59745/21] *153.


To ask the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth the extent to which his Department has noted various experiences of women and children who may be under threat from possible trafficking or other forms of coercion; his plans to address the issue; and if he will make a statement on the matter.

— Bernard J. Durkan.

[59746/21] *154.


To ask the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth the extent to which his Department has noted various experiences of women and children who may be under threat from domestic, sexual and gender-based violence including those in the care of the State and or by orders of courts; his plans to address this issue; and if he will make a statement on the matter.

— Bernard J. Durkan.


[59747/21] Chun an Aire Breisoideachais agus Ardoideachais, Taighde, Nuálaíochta agus Eolaíochta: To the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research; Innovation and Science.

*155.

To ask the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science the number of students who registered for the academic year in 2020-2021 but removed themselves from their course per institution in tabular form.

— Sean Sherlock.

[59546/21] *156.


To ask the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science if he plans to include homecare workers in his Department’s apprenticeship system in view of P.T.O 5782 the homecare staffing crisis; if he has engaged with industry stakeholders; and if he will make a statement on the matter.

— Róisín Shortall.

[59675/21] *157.


To ask the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science the amount expended by his Department in each of the past five years to date in 2021 on lighting and heating costs in tabular form.

— Catherine Murphy.

[59704/21] *158.


To ask the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science the steps he has taken to improve ventilation in the office buildings of his Department; if air cleaning and or purification systems have been installed in 2021; and if not, the plans to install same in 2022.

— Catherine Murphy.

[59722/21] Chun an Aire Dlí agus Cirt: To the Minister for Justice.

*159.
*159.

To ask the Minister for Justice if her attention has been drawn to the service offered by company (details supplied) which is purportedly charging for free immigration service appointments and requesting the provision of highly sensitive data; the steps that are being taken to ensure timely access to appointments for applicants not availing of this service; and if she will make a statement on the matter.

— Duncan Smith.

[59514/21] *160.


To ask the Minister for Justice when visa applications in the case of the family of a person (details supplied) will issue; and if she will make a statement on the matter.

— Bernard J. Durkan.

[59522/21] *161.
To ask the Minister for Justice the number of fines that were issued by An Garda Síochána in each county for persons parking illegally in disability parking bays in 2019, 2020 and to date in 2021; the number of fines that were issued by An Garda Síochána in each county in each of these years that were paid and not paid, respectively; the number of court proceedings that were commenced in each county in each of these years against persons who did not pay the fines that they were issued with; and if she will make a statement on the matter.
— Pauline Tully.

[59601/21] *162.

To ask the Minister for Justice if she will introduce legislation to enable a pilot scheme for the mandatory polygraph testing of high-risk sex offenders as has been introduced in the greater Manchester area of the United Kingdom; if her Department has given any consideration to such a scheme prior to now; and if she will make a statement on the matter.

— Carol Nolan.

[59624/21] *163.


To ask the Minister for Justice the timeline for the completion of the special Afghan admission programme.

— Ivana Bacik.

[59677/21] *164.

To ask the Minister for Justice the amount expended by her Department in each of the past five years to date in 2021 on lighting and heating costs in tabular form.

— Catherine Murphy.

[59707/21] *165.


To ask the Minister for Justice the steps she has taken to improve ventilation in the office buildings of her Department; if air cleaning and or purification systems have been installed in 2021; and if not, the plans to install same in 2022.

— Catherine Murphy.

[59725/21] *166.

To ask the Minister for Justice the progress to date that has taken place in the case of a person (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter.

— Bernard J. Durkan.


[59764/21] 5783 Chun an Aire Sláinte: To the Minister for Health.

*167.

To ask the Minister for Health if a mandated single point of contact within the Department was appointed to coordinate preparations with the Decision Support Service for the aspects of the Assisted Decision-Making (Capacity) Act 2015 that the Department is responsible for delivering; and if he will make a statement on the matter.

— Pauline Tully.

[59570/21] *168.


To ask the Minister for Health if his attention has been drawn to any perceived increase in cancer diagnosis during the Covid-19 pandemic.

— Peadar Tóibín.

[59768/21] *169.

To ask the Minister for Health when his Department will allow the use of antigen tests for entry to facilities which require an EU Digital COVID Certificate similar to the system across Europe; and the reason antigen tests are not being permitted for use as entry to facilities.

— Mattie McGrath.
— Mattie McGrath.

[59766/21] *170.

To ask the Minister for Health the number of commissions of investigation currently ongoing; the duration of each commission of investigation; the deadline for each commission of investigation; and the actual and projected cost of each commission of investigation.

— Peadar Tóibín.

[54098/21] *171.


To ask the Minister for Health the amount of funding allocated to the advertising of abortion services and the My Options HSE number that provides free and confidential information and counselling to persons experiencing an unplanned pregnancy subsequent to the enactment of the Health (Regulation of Termination of Pregnancy) Act 2018; and the person or body that has received this funding.

— Peadar Tóibín.

[55852/21] *172.


To ask the Minister for Health if the review and update of the carer’s strategy has commenced; the new strands that are proposed for inclusion; the timescale for the review; and if he will make a statement on the matter.

— Richard Bruton.

[57716/21] *173.


To ask the Minister for Health the way he plans to deal with the serious escalation of drug abuse in the capital and all other cities, towns and communities throughout the country; if an awareness campaign is required to highlight the dangers in this trend; and if he will make a statement on the matter.

— Bernard J. Durkan.

[57919/21] *174.


To ask the Minister for Health if he has received a business proposal for the new elective hospital in County Cork; and if not, when he expects to receive same.

— Thomas Gould.

[55908/21] *175.


To ask the Minister for Health the reason the motorised transport grant and mobility allowance schemes are still discontinued eight years after their review was recommended; the reason no scheme has been implemented to replace them; and if he will make a statement on the matter.

— Violet-Anne Wynne.

[53064/21] *176.


To ask the Minister for Health the number of ICU beds currently being sourced from private hospitals; the monthly cost to the Exchequer of these beds; and if he will make a statement on the matter.

— Gino Kenny.

[59515/21] *177.


To ask the Minister for Health the total payments made by the State to private hospitals and other private health service providers in 2020 and up to the end of October 2021; the projected cost in Budget 2022; and if he will make a statement on the matter.

— Gino Kenny.

[59516/21] P.T.O 5784 *178.


To ask the Minister for Health the steps he is taking to ensure that no other transplant operations are cancelled due to lack of ICU bed capacity; and if he will make a statement on the matter.

— Gino Kenny.

[59517/21] *179.

To ask the Minister for Health if the case of a person (details supplied) will be examined; and if he will make a statement on the matter.

— James Lawless.

[59521/21] *180.


To ask the Minister for Health if he plans to set up a system in which services from NEPS, KIDS, CAMHS and the entire school system could work together in a team-like effort to assess, summarise and provide for the needs of children whether they have Aspergers or other related issues under the autism spectrum that many parents and children have to face on a daily basis; and if he will make a statement on the matter.

— Michael Healy-Rae.

[59530/21] *181.


To ask the Minister for Health the status of hospitals within the South South West Hospital Group communicating with each other on patient data; and if the centralised system of patient reports and information can be accessed by all hospitals and community operations in the HSE.

— Sean Sherlock.

[59532/21] *182.

To ask the Minister for Health further to Parliamentary Questions Nos.
435 and 436 of 13 June 2021, the status of the Strategic Assessment Report and Preliminary Business Case Report required in respect of the proposed emergency department and women and children’s block in University Hospital Galway; his plans to publish these reports; and if he will make a statement on the matter.

— Catherine Connolly.

[59533/21] *183.

To ask the Minister for Health further to Parliamentary Question No.
96 of 5 December 2018, the status of the proposed primary care centre for Galway city west; the location of same; when he expects the centre to be operational; and if he will make a statement on the matter.

— Catherine Connolly.

[59534/21] *184.


To ask the Minister for Health the status of the reconfiguration of the Galway Roscommon ASD service to the new Children’s Disability Network Services for Children and Young People; the engagement his Department has had with service users and their families with regard to the reconfiguration; the number of children who are currently on the waiting list for assessment; and if he will make a statement on the matter.

— Catherine Connolly.

[59535/21] *185.


To ask the Minister for Health further to Parliamentary Question No.

680 of 15 September 2021, the status of the development of a primary care centre on Inisbofin; if a site has been purchased to date; if an application for planning permission has been submitted in respect of the promised primary care centre; and if he will make a statement on the matter.

— Catherine Connolly.

[59536/21] *186.


To ask the Minister for Health the status of the construction of the two orthopaedic theatres with ancillary accommodation for the provision of elective procedures in Merlin Park University Hospital; if he expects construction to be complete by the end of 2021 as previously planned; and if he will make a statement on the matter.

— Catherine Connolly.

[59537/21] *187.


To ask the Minister for Health when respite will be reinstated in the case of a person (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter.

— Bernard J. Durkan.

[59538/21] 5785 *188.

To ask the Minister for Health if he has received correspondence from a person (details supplied) in relation to the proposed National Maternity Hospital; if he will respond to same; and if he will make a statement on the matter.

— Dara Calleary.

[59539/21] *189.


To ask the Minister for Health his plans to introduce a new motorised transport grant; if so, the timeframe for its introduction; and if he will make a statement on the matter.

— Seán Canney.

[59549/21] *190.

To ask the Minister for Health the supports that are available to a person (details supplied) who currently lives with their parent who has been awarded a place in a nursing home under the fair deal scheme and is unable to look after themselves.
— Denise Mitchell.

[59552/21] *191.

To ask the Minister for Health if home help care can be urgently facilitated in the case of a person (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter.

— Bernard J. Durkan.

[59554/21] *192.

To ask the Minister for Health if the payment of the travel allowance to homecare workers will be issued in December (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter.

— Michael Healy-Rae.

[59590/21] *193.


To ask the Minister for Health the status of funding plans submitted by Children’s Health Ireland to alleviate pressure on Temple Street and Crumlin children’s hospitals and which require approval from the HSE; the status of the funding plans; and if he will make a statement on the matter.

— Thomas Pringle.

[59591/21] *194.


To ask the Minister for Health the degree to which his Department was involved in the preparation for the COP9 conference on tobacco control; the lessons learned by Ireland and the European Union from COP9; and if he will make a statement on the matter.

— Colm Burke.

[59593/21] *195.


To ask the Minister for Health his views on the findings of a survey by an organisation (details supplied) which found that 71% of those surveyed in favour of raising the legal smoking age from 18 to 21 years of age; if he has considered introducing this new age restriction in Ireland given the success this measure had in reducing smoking prevalence among 18 to 24 year olds in the United States of America; and if he will make a statement on the matter.

— Colm Burke.
— Colm Burke.

[59594/21] *196.

To ask the Minister for Health if additional funding was sought in 2020 from the estimates to provide seven day per week respite at a centre (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter.

— Pearse Doherty.

[59598/21] *197.

To ask the Minister for Health if he will address the matter raised in correspondence by person (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter.

— David Cullinane.

[59602/21] *198.


To ask the Minister for Health if his attention has been drawn to the fact that France is demanding proof of a booster for persons over 65 years of age and that without an updated certificate Irish citizens will not be permitted to travel to France; if EU Digital COVID Certificates will be updated here; and if so, the date.

— Kathleen Funchion.

[59603/21] P.T.O 5786 *199.


To ask the Minister for Health if his attention has been drawn to the shortage of general practitioners currently being experienced in north County Dublin; if he has plans to specifically address the increasing general practice needs for the growing population of north County Dublin; and if he will make a statement on the matter.

— Louise O’Reilly.

[59604/21] *200.


To ask the Minister for Health the timeframe for the opening of Swords primary care centre; if he is giving consideration to directly employing general practitioners in this facility; and if he will make a statement on the matter.

— Louise O’Reilly.

[59605/21] *201.


To ask the Minister for Health if special arrangements will be made for those with underlying conditions to receive their booster vaccine from their general practitioners instead of at a vaccination centre; and if he will make a statement on the matter.

— Louise O’Reilly.

[59606/21] *202.


To ask the Minister for Health the status of the case of a child (details supplied); the steps he will take to provide a solution to the issues in relation to the treatment of children with spina bifida and or hydrocephalus; and if he will make a statement on the matter.

— Niall Collins.

[59607/21] *203.


To ask the Minister for Health if all respite beds are being used to their maximum capacity in the CHO4 area; if not, the location of beds in units in which there is spare capacity; and if he will make a statement on the matter.

— Sean Sherlock.

[59610/21] *204.


To ask the Minister for Health the number of planned surgeries that have been cancelled in Galway University Hospital over each of the past six months as a result of bed capacity issues; and if he will make a statement on the matter.

— Mairéad Farrell.

[59617/21] *205.


To ask the Minister for Health the total number of homecare hours applied for by CHO 2; the total number granted over each of the past five years in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter.

— Mairéad Farrell.

[59618/21] *206.

To ask the Minister for Health the primary care plans for CHO 2; the progress to date on each project; the timeframe for delivery of each project; and if he will make a statement on the matter.

— Mairéad Farrell.
— Mairéad Farrell.

[59619/21] *207.

To ask the Minister for Health the average wait time for approval of a homecare application; the level of delayed discharges from each hospital in Galway University Hospital while waiting on a homecare package or community bed; and if he will make a statement on the matter.

— Mairéad Farrell.

[59620/21] *208.


To ask the Minister for Health the number of community hospital beds in Galway University Hospital available to patients on discharge from acute hospitals; if he plans to increase community bed capacity; and if he will make a statement on the matter.

— Mairéad Farrell.

[59621/21] *209.

To ask the Minister for Health when a person (details supplied) will receive an operation; and if he will make a statement on the matter.

— Joe Carey.

[59622/21] *210.


To ask the Minister for Health when a procedure will take place for a person (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter.

— Joe Carey.

[59623/21] *211.

To ask the Minister for Health if his attention has been drawn to temporary HSE Covid-19 test centres using inaccurate and or misleading Eircodes.

— Aengus Ó Snodaigh.

[59626/21] 5787 *212.


To ask the Minister for Health if the HSE has been instructed not to use an alternative postcode (details supplied) for their temporary Covid-19 testing or vaccination centres by the Department of the Environment, Climate and Communications.

— Aengus Ó Snodaigh.

[59627/21] *213.


To ask the Minister for Health the estimated number of additional therapy posts that are needed to fully resource children’s disability network teams to an adequate level that will ensure timely access to both an assessment of need report and the subsequent access to the interventions identified in the assessment of needs report; and if he will make a statement on the matter.

— Pauline Tully.

[59631/21] *214.


To ask the Minister for Health the actions he has taken to develop a workforce plan for psychology and a National Psychology Placement Office in line with the recommendations of the National Health and Social Care Professions Office in the HSE; and if he will make a statement on the matter.

— Pauline Tully.

[59632/21] *215.


To ask the Minister for Health his response to a submission by a group (details supplied); if legislation is planned to add physiotherapists to the list of persons permitted to refer a person for ionising radiation; if he is liaising with the HSE to introduce the proposed grade of advanced practice physiotherapist; the timeframe for delivering the proposals in the pre-Budget submission; and if he will make a statement on the matter.

— David Cullinane.

[59633/21] *216.


To ask the Minister for Health if he will advise on a matter raised in correspondence by a person (details supplied) in relation to vaccinations for persons over 50 years of age; and if he will make a statement on the matter.

— David Cullinane.

[59634/21] *217.

To ask the Minister for Health the number of vacant community seats on the local and regional drugs task forces nationally; and if he will provide a list of the vacancies per area.

— Joe O’Brien.
— Joe O’Brien.

[59635/21] *218.

To ask the Minister for Health the number of volunteers working at HSE vaccination and testing centres; if the €7 subsidised meal allowance was withdrawn from these volunteers by the HSE; and the amount the HSE saved from the withdrawal of the allowance.

— Peadar Tóibín.

[59653/21] *219.

To ask the Minister for Health the number of dentists that have left the medical card dental scheme in Ballymun and Finglas since 2019; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
— Thomas Pringle.

[59660/21] *220.

To ask the Minister for Health if he plans to apply for homecare workers to be included in the Department of Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science apprenticeship system in view of the staffing crisis; and if he will make a statement on the matter.

— Róisín Shortall.

[59676/21] *221.

To ask the Minister for Health the average waiting time for a HSE travel abroad scheme travel claim to be processed.

— Gary Gannon.

[59682/21] *222.


To ask the Minister for Health the number of applications submitted for travel reimbursement under the HSE’s travel abroad scheme; the number approved; the total amount paid yearly for approved travel claims from the travel abroad scheme for the past seven years in tabular form.

— Gary Gannon.

[59683/21] P.T.O 5788 *223.


To ask the Minister for Health the number of approved travel claims paid under the HSE travel abroad scheme that included reimbursement for a travelling companion for the past five years.

— Gary Gannon.

[59684/21] *224.


To ask the Minister for Health if travel that is not air or sea travel is eligible for reimbursement under the travel abroad scheme; his views on whether it is appropriate for only part of the journey to be recouped by those who are not able to access treatment in Ireland; and if he will make a statement on the matter.

— Gary Gannon.

[59685/21] *225.


To ask the Minister for Health if additional staff in the HSE will be made available to process birth registration systems to deal with the current backlog of registrations; if not, the additional resources being provided and if he will make a statement on the matter.

— Gary Gannon.

[59688/21] *226.

To ask the Minister for Health the number of staff working in each of the 25 civil registration service offices in 2006, 2011, 2016 and to date in 2021, in tabular form.
— Gary Gannon.

[59689/21] *227.

To ask the Minister for Health if his Department will ensure those over 50 years of age with underlying medical conditions can be vaccinated by their general practitioners as per the first two rounds of vaccination.

— Paul Murphy.

[59692/21] *228.

To ask the Minister for Health the amount expended by his Department in each of the past five years to date in 2021 on lighting and heating costs in tabular form.

— Catherine Murphy.

[59705/21] *229.


To ask the Minister for Health the steps he has taken to improve ventilation in the office buildings of his Department; if air cleaning and or purification systems have been installed in 2021; and if not, the plans to install same in 2022.

— Catherine Murphy.

[59723/21] *230.

To ask the Minister for Health the extent of any further action to be taken arising from the omicron variant of Covid-19; and if he will make a statement on the matter.

— Bernard J. Durkan.


[59748/21] *231.

To ask the Minister for Health the extent to which an evaluation has taken place of the benefits or dangers of vaping or other tobacco smoking alternatives with a view ensuring that the alternatives are not a gateway to return to tobacco smoking; whether and to what extent the health issues are being fully examined; and if he will make a statement on the matter.

— Bernard J. Durkan.

[59749/21] *232.


To ask the Minister for Health the extent of any detected increase in tobacco smoking and from whence it may have arisen; if measures are likely to deter any return to tobacco consumption; and if he will make a statement on the matter.

— Bernard J. Durkan.

[59750/21] *233.

To ask the Minister for Health the steps needed to be taken to dissuade a return to tobacco smoking by whatever means; and if he will make a statement on the matter.

— Bernard J. Durkan.


[59751/21] *234.

To ask the Minister for Health the extent to which he foresees an adequate supply of hospital beds, access to accident and emergency throughout the winter months notwithstanding the 5789 persistent threat of Covid-19; and if he will make a statement on the matter.

— Bernard J. Durkan.

[59752/21] *235.


To ask the Minister for Health the extent to which the construction of the National Children’s Hospital is progressing in accordance with projections; when the hospital will be completed and commissioned; and if he will make a statement on the matter.

— Bernard J. Durkan.

[59753/21] *236.


To ask the Minister for Health when it is expected that the promised phase of the Naas hospital development plan will be activated in accordance with the original projections; when it is expected the facility will be completed and opened; and if he will make a statement on the matter.

— Bernard J. Durkan.

[59754/21] *237.


To ask the Minister for Health the number and location of existing primary care facilities throughout County Kildare, those already operational, those promised or pending; and if he will make a statement on the matter.

— Bernard J. Durkan.

[59755/21] *238.


To ask the Minister for Health the current or proposed regime governing new or orphan drugs; the number of such drugs under review or examination at the moment; the number to be approved in the course of the next year; the extent to which reimbursement will be in line with demand; and if he will make a statement on the matter.

— Bernard J. Durkan.

[59756/21] *239.


To ask the Minister for Health the extent to which he expects to be in a position to activate the winter plan while keeping at bay the various forms of Covid-19; and if he will make a statement on the matter.

— Bernard J. Durkan.

[59757/21] *240.

To ask the Minister for Health the total number of children currently awaiting orthodontic treatment; and if he will make a statement on the matter.

— Bernard J. Durkan.

[59758/21] *241.


To ask the Minister for Health the extent to which surgery is readily available for the removal of cataracts in this jurisdiction; the number of such surgical interventions undertaken here in the past twelve months; his plans to extend this service in the future; and if he will make a statement on the matter.

— Bernard J. Durkan.

[59759/21] *242.


To ask the Minister for Health the progress to date in advancing the proposed new maternity hospital; the extent to which agreement has been reached to the satisfaction of all parties while meeting any concerns the general public might have; if all outstanding matters have been satisfactorily resolved; and if he will make a statement on the matter.

— Bernard J. Durkan.

[59760/21] *243.


To ask the Minister for Health the extent to which it is expected to cater for the needs of cancer patients or those seeking elective treatment while maintaining progress in the fight against Covid-19; and if he will make a statement on the matter.

— Bernard J. Durkan.

[59761/21] *244.


To ask the Minister for Health the extent to which he expects the health services to continue the long battle against Covid-19 based on the current strength and staffing levels; if he is satisfied that all urgent treatments and procedures can continue notwithstanding the threat of Covid-19; and if he will make a statement on the matter.

— Bernard J. Durkan.


[59762/21] P.T.O 5790 Chun an Aire Talmhaíochta, Bia agus Mara: To the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine.

*245.

To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the level of funding for the development of peat free alternatives for the horticulture sector.

— Martin Browne.

[59588/21] *246.


To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the number of forestry licences processed for the months of August, September and October 2021, in tabular form; the breakdown including felling, road access and afforestation applications; the percentage that have licences processed to the public and private sector owners; and if he will make a statement on the matter.

— Matt Shanahan.

[59615/21] *247.


To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine If a forestry licence application by a person (details supplied) will be expedited.

— Joe Carey.

[59616/21] *248.

To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the status of the implementation of changes to the prescription of veterinary medicine that are due to come into effect in January 2022; and if he will make a statement on the matter.

— Carol Nolan.

[59636/21] *249.


To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the amount expended by his Department in each of the past five years to date in 2021 on lighting and heating costs in tabular form.

— Catherine Murphy.

[59696/21] *250.


To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the steps he has taken to improve ventilation in the office buildings of his Department; if air cleaning and or purification systems have been installed in 2021; and if not, the plans to install same in 2022.

— Catherine Murphy.

[59714/21] Chun an Aire Forbartha Tuaithe agus Pobail: To the Minister for Rural and Community Development.

*251.
*251.

To ask the Minister for Rural and Community Development the number of towns and villages which have been supported under the town and village renewal scheme and whether she has conducted a review of the effectiveness of this scheme.

— Richard Bruton.

[59576/21] *252.

To ask the Minister for Rural and Community Development the initiatives and their value which have been supported for rural renewal.

— Richard Bruton.

[59580/21] *253.


To ask the Minister for Rural and Community Development if she will extend the completion date for the town and village streetscape enhancement scheme (details supplied).

— Robert Troy.

[59651/21] *254.

To ask the Minister for Rural and Community Development the amount expended by her Department in each of the past five years to date in 2021 on lighting and heating costs in tabular form.

— Catherine Murphy.

[59709/21] *255.


To ask the Minister for Rural and Community Development the steps she has taken to improve ventilation in the office buildings of her Department; if air cleaning and or purification systems have been installed in 2021; and if not, the plans to install same in 2022.

— Catherine Murphy.
— Catherine Murphy.

[59727/21] 5791 Dé hAoine, 3 Nollaig, 2021 Friday, 3rd December, 2021 _______________________ CEISTEANNA I gCOMHAIR FREAGRA Ó BHÉAL QUESTIONS FOR ORAL ANSWER CEISTEANNA AR SONRAÍODH UAIN DÓIBH QUESTIONS NOMINATED FOR PRIORITY Chun an Aire Leanaí, Comhionannais, Míchumais, Lánpháirtíochta agus Óige: To the Minister for Children, Equality; Disability; Integration and Youth.

1.
1.

To ask the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth the assurances and safeguards his Department can offer to children who find themselves in a situation in which their mother is not considered by the State as their legal parent (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter.

— Kathleen Funchion.

[58929/21] 2.


To ask the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth the way the proposals for the payment rates of the mother and baby institutions payment scheme were arrived at.

— Holly Cairns.

[59652/21] 3.

To ask the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth the actions his Department has taken to address the chronic staff shortages facing a significant number of early year services; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
— Kathleen Funchion.

[58930/21] 4.

To ask the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth if he will make the changes sought by survivors, to the Mother and Baby Homes Redress scheme to include all survivors within the scheme with no minimum time provisions; and if he will make a statement on the matter.

— Bríd Smith.

[59477/21] 5.


To ask the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth his plans to expand the family resource centre network; and if he will prioritise Manorhamilton, Country Leitrim as a location for a family resource centre.

— Marian Harkin.

[59681/21] CEISTEANNA EILE OTHER QUESTIONS Chun an Aire Leanaí, Comhionannais, Míchumais, Lánpháirtíochta agus Óige: To the Minister for Children, Equality; Disability; Integration and Youth.

6.
6.

To ask the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth the plans for increased funding for his Department delivered as part of Budget 2022; and if he will make a statement on the matter.

— Alan Dillon.

[59467/21] 7.


To ask the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth the status of the research on conversion therapy to support legislation for banning the practice as committed to in the Programme for Government; the timeline for the research; and if he will make a statement on the matter.

— Gary Gannon.

[59510/21] P.T.O 5792 8.


To ask the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth the progress made towards the establishment of a National Memorial and Records Centre under point 7 of the Action Plan for Survivors and Former Residents of Mother and Baby Homes and County Home Institutions; and if he will make a statement on the matter.

— Jennifer Murnane O’Connor.

[59448/21] 9.


To ask the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth the steps he plans to take to improve the pay and conditions of childcare workers; and if he will make a statement on the matter.

— Denis Naughten.

[57451/21] 10.

To ask the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth the number of private foster carers that have been approved by Tusla in the past 24 months.

— Peter Fitzpatrick.

[59437/21] 11.


To ask the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth if his Department will consider engaging with an organisation (details supplied) with a view to seeing how youth and sports organisations can best collaborate into the future; and if he will make a statement on the matter.

— Brendan Griffin.

[59375/21] 12.


To ask the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth when he expects the last of the direct provision centres to close.

— Bríd Smith.

[59476/21] 13.


To ask the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth the status of the National Action Plan for Childminding; the engagement that has taken place with representative bodies; the actions that are being put in place to ease the burden on parents; and if he will make a statement on the matter.

— Alan Dillon.

[59466/21] 14.


To ask the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth his views on the need for a career structure to be put in place for staff in the childcare sector in recognition of their vital work and the value of such work not only to the economy but to the development of children; and if he will make a statement on the matter.

— Colm Burke.

[59202/21] 15.


To ask the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth if his Department will consider a new capital programme for new community youth facilities in areas in which no such facilities exist; and if he will make a statement on the matter.

— Brendan Griffin.

[59374/21] 16.


To ask the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth the measures announced as part of Budget 2022 to prevent and alleviate poverty during childhood; and if he will make a statement on the matter.

— John Lahart.

[59459/21] 17.


To ask the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth his plans for tackling child poverty; if he plans to support the establishment either of a special Oireachtas committee on the subject or a cross-departmental child poverty unit within Government.

— Ivana Bacik.

[59435/21] 18.

To ask the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth if he will personally assist a survivor (details supplied).

— Holly Cairns.
— Holly Cairns.

[59327/21] 5793 19.

To ask the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth the number of asylum seekers who have been given own-door accommodation since publication of the White Paper for Ending Direct Provision.

— Bríd Smith.

[59474/21] 20.


To ask the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth the steps he and his Department are taken to ensure that access to basic services such as water, sanitation and electricity are being supplied to all Traveller accommodation sites across the State; and if he will make a statement on the matter.

— Joan Collins.

[58099/21] 21.


To ask the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth the progress to date in reviewing the provision nationwide of emergency accommodation for victims of domestic abuse; and if he will make a statement on the matter.

— Brendan Smith.

[59432/21] 22.


To ask the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth the supports being put in place in each county to support victims of domestic violence on a long-term basis; if his Department will review the need for a dedicated refuge in each county; and if he will make a statement on the matter.

— Mark Ward.

[59013/21] 23.


To ask the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth if Tusla in County Louth can be contacted over the weekend; if so, the phone number to contact them; and if not, the working hours.

— Peter Fitzpatrick.

[59440/21] 24.

To ask the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth the measures being put in place to combat child poverty.

— Mark Ward.

[58935/21] 25.


To ask the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth his views on an additional 10-15 youth workers, social care workers and family support workers for Ballymun as stated in the Ballymun - a Brighter Future report; and if he will make a statement on the matter.

— Paul McAuliffe.

[59443/21] 26.


To ask the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth if he recognises the potential of underused public assets to assist in meeting unmet needs for care in early childhood.

— Richard Bruton.

[59434/21] 27.

To ask the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth the progress made under First 5, the whole-of-Government strategy for babies, young children and their families; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
— Joe Flaherty.

[59457/21] 28.
To ask the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth if his attention has been drawn to the ongoing issues regarding the lack of water and adequate sanitation at a site (details supplied) in County Mayo at which families have been waiting 21 years for the issue to be addressed; the steps his Department will take to ensure that the budget allocated to Traveller accommodation in the area will be utilised to resolve this health and safety; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
— Joan Collins.

[57469/21] 29.

To ask the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth his plans to reduce the high childcare fees imposed on parents; and if he will make a statement on the matter.

— Ruairí Ó Murchú.

[59479/21] 30.


To ask the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth the engagement he has had with the relevant stakeholders to address the issue around recruitment of psychologists P.T.O 5794 in Cork city and county; and if he will make a statement on the matter.

— Aindrias Moynihan.

[59359/21] 31.


Chun a fhiafraí den Aire Leanaí, Comhionannais, Míchumais, Lánpháirtíochta agus Óige an bhfuil i gceist aige blaiseadh den Ghaeilge a chur ar fáil do gach páiste mar chuid den Scéim Cúraim agus Oideachais Luath-Óige, ECCE; agus an ndéanfaidh sé ráiteas ina thaobh.

— Éamon Ó Cuív.

[56741/21] 32.


To ask the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth his plans to prioritise supports for older and vulnerable survivors within the mother and baby Institutions’ payment scheme; and if he will make a statement on the matter.

— John Lahart.

[59458/21] 33.


To ask the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth the specific measures that will be undertaken to address the situation of persons who have found themselves subject to an illegal or false birth registration; and if he will make a statement on the matter.

— Jennifer Murnane O’Connor.

[59449/21] 34.


To ask the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth the progress of extending the national childcare scheme to older age groups of children and young people; and if he will make a statement on the matter.

— Colm Burke.

[59201/21] 35.


To ask the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth if a refuge centre for victims of domestic abuse will be established in counties Cavan and Monaghan in 2022; and if he will make a statement on the matter.

— Brendan Smith.

[59431/21] 36.


To ask the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth the expected timeframe for the publication of the report into the review of the national childcare scheme; and if he will make a statement on the matter.

— Ruairí Ó Murchú.

[59478/21] 37.

To ask the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth his response to a recommendation in a report by an adoptee organisation (details supplied).

— Holly Cairns.

[59329/21] 38.


To ask the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth the role his Department has played in developing supports and services for children affected by the Covid-19 restrictions.

— Thomas Gould.

[59422/21] 39.

To ask the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth the amount allocated to Tusla in County Louth in 2019, 2020 and 2021; the amount allocated to Tusla nationwide; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
— Peter Fitzpatrick.

[59441/21] 40.

To ask the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth if consideration will be given to decentralising CEIS services to rural parts of County Clare to honour the commitments made in Sláintecare to provide access to community-based supports.

— Violet- Anne Wynne.

[59229/21] 41.


To ask the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth the number of direct provision centres that have been closed since the publication of the White Paper for Ending Direct Provision.

— Bríd Smith.

[59475/21] 5795 42.


To ask the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth if he will consider a specific source of funding for local authorities to help fund integration projects and initiatives; and if he will make a statement on the matter.

— Steven Matthews.

[59239/21] 43.


To ask the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth the number of social workers employed by Tusla in County Louth; the general working hours of same; and the locations in which they operate.

— Peter Fitzpatrick.

[59439/21] 44.

To ask the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth the status of the process to end the direct provision system.

— Holly Cairns.

[59328/21] 45.


To ask the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth his plans to ensure that iCare in Buncrana and an organisation (details supplied) in County Donegal receive the necessary allocation of core funding as requested to allow same to continue to provide a vital service to large numbers of children and young adults with special needs and their families.

— Pádraig Mac Lochlainn.

[58569/21] 46.


To ask the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth the status of Ireland’s acceptance of refugees from Afghanistan following the Taliban takeover of the country; and if he will make a statement on the matter.

— Neasa Hourigan.

[59442/21] 47.


To ask the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth the additional funding provided in the estimates of his Department for the childcare sector for 2022; the improvements that will arise as a result of this funding in terms of affordability for parents and working conditions and salary for staff; and if he will make a statement on the matter.

— Éamon Ó Cuív.

[58581/21] 48.


To ask the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth if the timeframe for full commencement of the Assisted Decision-Making (Capacity) Act 2015 and the commencement of operations of the Decision Support Service is June 2022; and if he will make a statement on the matter.

— Pauline Tully.

[59378/21] 49.


To ask the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth the number of parents in 2019, 2020 and to date in 2021 that were referred by Tusla for psychiatric assessment in County Louth.

— Peter Fitzpatrick.

[59438/21] 50.

To ask the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth the steps he is taking to support the childcare sector to keep their doors open; and if he will make a statement on the matter.

— Denis Naughten.
— Denis Naughten.

[57450/21] 51.

To ask the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth the strategies in place to help support young persons in dealing with bullying and harassment across all platforms; and if he will make a statement on the matter.

— Niamh Smyth.

[59453/21] 52.


To ask the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth the supports that are made available to refugees arriving in Ireland under the Irish Refugee Protection Programme; if he expects the Programme to fulfil our commitment to accepting Mediterranean refugees; and if he will make a statement on the matter.

— Brian Leddin.

[59332/21] P.T.O 5796 53.


To ask the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth if SAC and ELC services will be supplied with antigen tests; and if he will make a statement on the matter.

— Kathleen Funchion.

[58932/21] 54.


To ask the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth the way his Department provides financial support to LGBTI organisations; the moneys that have been made available in 2021 and 2022 for this purpose; and if he will make a statement on the matter.

— Marc Ó Cathasaigh.

[59444/21] 55.


To ask the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth if he has received the final report of the expert group examining the funding model for early years; if so, the main recommendations contained in the report; and if he will make a statement on the matter.

— Marc Ó Cathasaigh.

[59445/21] 56.


To ask the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth the supports provided to the early years sector over the course of the Covid-19 pandemic; the persons or bodies the State expects to support the sector into the future; and if he will make a statement on the matter.

— Dara Calleary.

[59455/21] 57.


To ask the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth when his attention was drawn to a situation regarding a copying and pasting error in Tusla as reported in the media (details supplied); the action that has been taken by his Department to ensure that such errors do not occur in the future; and if he will make a statement on the matter.

— Peadar Tóibín.

[58865/21] 58.


To ask the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth if he will provide assistance in the case of a person (details supplied).

— Seán Canney.

[59093/21] 59.

To ask the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth the steps he is taking to provide play and recreation facilities for all children and young people with a particular emphasis on children and young people experiencing poverty.

— Holly Cairns.

[59330/21] 60.


To ask the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth if he envisages an enlarged role for county childcare committees; and if he will make a statement on the matter.

— Richard Bruton.

[59433/21] 61.


To ask the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth if his attention has been drawn to the ongoing issues facing a service (details supplied); and if he will consider facilitating a meeting with management to discuss their concerns.

— Steven Matthews.

[59238/21] 62.

To ask the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth further to Parliamentary Question No.
113 of 7 October 2021, when the strategic review by Tusla of the provision of accommodation for victims of domestic violence will be published; and if he will make a statement on the matter.

— Catherine Connolly.

[59446/21] 63.

To ask the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth if he will assist an organisation (details supplied) to overcome some of the financial difficulties it has experienced during the Covid-19 pandemic.

— Cathal Crowe.

[59198/21] 64.


To ask the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth his Department’s strategy to support victims of domestic violence including proposals to provide a 5797 statutory entitlement to domestic violence leave; and if he will make a statement on the matter.

— Niamh Smyth.

[59452/21] 65.


To ask the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth the number of times persons have taken legal cases against Tusla since it was established; the number of cases which have been concluded; the number of cases still ongoing; and the number of times the courts have ruled against Tusla in that time period.

— Peadar Tóibín.

[58864/21] 66.


To ask the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth if he will consider reviewing the pod restrictions still in place for youth groups and youth-led services considering drop-in clinics have resumed; and if he will make a statement on the matter.

— Kathleen Funchion.

[58933/21] 67.


To ask the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth the reason children who were boarded out by mother and baby homes have been excluded from the redress scheme; and if he will make a statement on the matter.

— Louise O’Reilly.

[59195/21] 68.


To ask the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth the way Budget 2022 will benefit parents in relation to the national childcare scheme; and if he will make a statement on the matter.

— Jennifer Carroll MacNeill.

[59203/21] 69.

To ask the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth his views in relation to the forthcoming Assisted Decision-Making (Capacity) (Amendment) Bill 2021.

— Pa Daly.

[58560/21] 70.


To ask the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth the number of persons that have submitted a subject access request for their personal information contained in the archive of the Mother and Baby Homes Commission; the number of requests that have been successfully completed; and if he will make a statement on the matter.

— Dara Calleary.

[59454/21] 71.


To ask the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth if he will report on actions he plans to take to tackle waiting times associated with applications for children in foster care to be adopted by their foster parents.

— Cathal Crowe.

[59197/21] 72.


To ask the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth the funding provided to local authorities by his Department to employ a disability officer and the local authorities with a full-time disability officer employed.

— Thomas Gould.

[59421/21] 73.


To ask the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth the strategy for the way his Department funds integration projects; the funding that has been made available in 2021 and 2022 in this area; and if he will make a statement on the matter.

— Joe Flaherty.

[59456/21] 74.


To ask the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth the status of the ongoing work taking place within his Department to dismantle direct provision as detailed in the white paper; and if he will make a statement on the matter.

— Jennifer Carroll MacNeill.

[59204/21] 75.


To ask the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth the steps he has taken to progress a thorough investigation of the grounds at the former Bessboro Mother and P.T.O 5798 Baby Home, Cork; and if he will make a statement on the matter.

— Donnchadh Ó Laoghaire.

[58443/21] 76.

To ask the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth if assistance will be provided in the case of a person (details supplied).
— Kathleen Funchion.

[58931/21] 77.

To ask the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth if he will provide an update on the implementation of the White Paper on Ending Direct Provision.

— Pa Daly.

[58559/21] 78.


To ask the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth the actions his Department is taking to address the chronic shortage of refuge places who are fleeing domestic violence considering the State is obliged to have 498 refuge places and currently has only 140; the current progress of Tusla’s review into refuge spaces; and if he will make a statement on the matter.

— Kathleen Funchion.

[58934/21] 79.


To ask the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth his views on the need for a career structure to be put in place for staff in the childcare sector in recognition of the important role they play; and if he will make a statement on the matter.

— David Stanton.

[59216/21] 80.


To ask the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth the plans he has to cope with the anticipated large volume of applications once the Assisted Decision-Making (Capacity) Act 2015 has been fully commenced and the Decision Support Service is operating; and if he will make a statement on the matter.

— Pauline Tully.

[59379/21] 81.


To ask the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth the extent to which he and his Department continue to receive reports relating to vulnerable children on a county basis throughout the country; if adequate steps continue to be taken to ensure that each case is followed up and steps taken to ensure against possible repetition; and if he will make a statement on the matter.

— Bernard J. Durkan.

[59363/21] 82.


To ask the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth the status of the integration policy being developed by his Department in respect of the new model which will replace the direct provision system; when the new model will be operational; and if he will make a statement on the matter.

— Catherine Connolly.

[59447/21] 83.


To ask the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth the steps he is taking to address high childcare costs.

— Holly Cairns.

[59331/21] 84.

To ask the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth his plans to increase supports and services available to youth projects nationwide; and if he will make a statement on the matter.

— David Stanton.

[59217/21] 85.


To ask the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth if an update will be provided on the take-up of paternity leave; and if he will make a statement on the matter.

— Neale Richmond.

[57824/21] 86.


To ask the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth the way his Department is supporting the National Participation Framework for Children and Young People’s 5799 Participation in Decision-Making; and if he will make a statement on the matter.

— Christopher O’Sullivan.

[59450/21] 87.


To ask the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth if approval will be given for qualified HSE staff to be redeployed to service providers (details supplied) for persons with intellectual disabilities in order to ensure that facilities can stay open or reopen; and if he will make a statement on the matter.

— Christopher O’Sullivan.

[59306/21] 88.


To ask the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth if he plans to offer antigen testing provision to pre-school, early years and after-school facilities.

— Ivana Bacik.

[59436/21] 89.


To ask the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth the extent to which he expects to be in a position to meet the concerns and expectations of the victims of mother and baby homes; if all victims will receive the full benefits of the redress scheme; if he will ensure that no-one or group is excluded; and if he will make a statement on the matter.

— Bernard J. Durkan.

[59362/21] 90.


To ask the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth the progress on commitments to transfer unaccompanied minors to Ireland; and if he will make a statement on the matter.

— James O’Connor.

[59462/21] CEISTEANNA AR SONRAÍODH UAIN DÓIBH QUESTIONS NOMINATED FOR PRIORITY Chun an Aire Sláinte: To the Minister for Health.

91.
91.

To ask the Minister for Health his plans for addressing the problems in paediatric orthopaedic services; and if he will make a statement on the matter.

— David Cullinane.

[59111/21] 92.

To ask the Minister for Health if his Department has conducted a study on the impact of lockdowns on cancer services including diagnostic and treatment services; and if he will make a statement on the matter.

— Peadar Tóibín.

[59767/21] 93.


To ask the Minister for Health the number of hospital appointments including but not limited to elective surgeries which have been cancelled due to capacity constraints and particularly the lack of critical care beds; and if he will make a statement on the matter.

— David Cullinane.

[59112/21] 94.


To ask the Minister for Health his plans to extend the certificate of recovery from six to nine months to reflect HIQA’s latest advice to NPHET to extend the period of presumptive immunity from six to nine months post-infection; and if not, the reason a certificate of recovery and immunity only lasts for six months when studies show that the period of immunity lasts for nine months.

— Mattie McGrath.

[59765/21] 95.


To ask the Minister for Health his plans to address the slow pace of implementing Progressing Disability Services and children’s disability networks; his plans to address the challenges this has presented for parents of children with disabilities; and if he will make a statement on the matter.

— Pauline Tully.

[59113/21] P.T.O 5800 CEISTEANNA EILE OTHER QUESTIONS Chun an Aire Sláinte: To the Minister for Health.

96.
96.

To ask the Minister for Health the position of his Department on the decriminalisation of drug users; and if he will make a statement on the matter.

— Aodhán Ó Ríordáin.

[51980/21] 97.

To ask the Minister for Health the total payments made by the State to private hospitals and other private health service providers in 2020 and to the end of October 2021; and the projected cost in Budget 2022; and if he will make a statement on the matter.

— Gino Kenny.

[59506/21] 98.


To ask the Minister for Health his plans to extend the validity of the Digital Covid Certificate to nine months for persons who have recovered from Covid-19 infection, particularly in view of HIQAs recommendation that the period of presumptive protective immunity following infection with Covid-19 should remain at nine months post-infection; and if he will make a statement on the matter.

— Catherine Connolly.

[59481/21] 99.


To ask the Minister for Health the number of ICU beds currently being sourced from private hospitals; and the monthly cost to the Exchequer of these beds; and if he will make a statement on the matter.

— Gino Kenny.

[59505/21] 100.

To ask the Minister for Health if he will report on progress to provide a network of primary healthcare centres in County Clare; and if he will make a statement on the matter.

— Joe Carey.

[59225/21] 101.


To ask the Minister for Health if his attention has been drawn to concerns in relation to medical card holders being unable to get dental appointments due to ongoing issues between dentists and the HSE; his plans to alleviate this issue; and if he will make a statement on the matter.

— Steven Matthews.

[59207/21] 102.

To ask the Minister for Health the status of the Mental Health Act 2001; and if he will make a statement on the matter.

— Seán Haughey.

[59234/21] 103.
[59234/21] 103.

To ask the Minister for Health if he will report on the work of the National Screening Advisory Committee in relation to the status of the expansion of the new-born screening programme; the conditions that are being considered for inclusion in the programme; the progress to date on the work being carried out by the Committee in consultation with his Department, the HSE, clinical experts, patient advocates and other key stakeholders; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
— John Brady.

[59218/21] 104.

To ask the Minister for Health if he will report on efforts to address severe overcrowding at University Hospital Limerick; and if he will make a statement on the matter.

— Joe Carey.

[59224/21] 105.


To ask the Minister for Health the measures that are being taken to address the difficulties that persons in County Wicklow are experiencing in finding a general practitioner practice in the county that is able to take them on as a patient; and if he will make a statement on the matter.

— John Brady.

[59219/21] 106.

To ask the Minister for Health the status of the new elective hospital in Cork.

— Thomas Gould.

[59419/21] 5801 107.


To ask the Minister for Health the steps he is taking to address waiting lists for assessments and therapies for the children’s disability network teams in Cork south west.

— Holly Cairns.

[59346/21] 108.


To ask the Minister for Health his plans for investment in additional MRI machines in County Galway; the details of analysis carried out or commissioned by his Department into the adequacy of MRI provision in County Galway; and if he will make a statement on the matter.

— Catherine Connolly.

[59480/21] 109.


To ask the Minister for Health the number of applications received from patients in County Donegal for treatment pursuant to the cross-Border Directive in 2019, 2020 and 2021; the number of successful and unsuccessful applications; the reasons for each unsuccessful application in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter.

— Pearse Doherty.

[58422/21] 110.


To ask the Minister for Health the breakdown of the number of in-patient beds available in the State for children with eating disorders.

— Pa Daly.

[58555/21] 111.

To ask the Minister for Health if he will ensure that the necessary provision of additional capacity at the National Orthopaedic Hospital, Cappagh is given urgent consideration; when the proposed project will proceed to the next stage; and if he will make a statement on the matter.

— Brendan Smith.
— Brendan Smith.

[59424/21] 112.

To ask the Minister for Health the details of engagements regarding the need to increase the number of staff delivering home supports; the steps that can be taken to remedy the shortage of staff in the home support sector; and if he will make a statement on the matter.

— Ruairí Ó Murchú.

[53104/21] 113.


To ask the Minister for Health his plans to establish a special joint Oireachtas committee on international surrogacy; when he expects this committee to commence its work; and if he will make a statement on the matter.

— Róisín Shortall.

[59256/21] 114.

To ask the Minister for Health the status of the provision of a community neuro- rehabilitation team in CHO7; and if he will make a statement on the matter.

— James Lawless.

[59248/21] 115.


To ask the Minister for Health the steps he is taking to ensure that no other transplant operations are cancelled due to lack of ICU bed capacity; and if he will make a statement on the matter.

— Gino Kenny.

[59508/21] 116.

To ask the Minister for Health the investment that is being made in specialist eating disorder services; and if he will make a statement on the matter.

— Niamh Smyth.

[59194/21] 117.


To ask the Minister for Health the status of the roll-out of the Covid-19 booster program; the issues that have been identified with the early roll-out; and if he will make a statement on the matter.

— Duncan Smith.

[59244/21] 118.


To ask the Minister for Health the amount paid out by the State due to adverse events reported to the State Claims Agency related to the Health (Regulation of Termination of Pregnancy) Act 2018; and steps that are being taken to minimise adverse events related to the operation of termination of pregnancy services as indicated in the 94 incidents reported to the State Claims Agency and in all other recorded incidents reported to his Department.

— Peadar Tóibín.
— Peadar Tóibín.

[58857/21] P.T.O 5802 119.

To ask the Minister for Health if his attention has been drawn to the existence of an internal HSE report into the falsification of blood glucose and blood ketone readings which was discovered in 2017 in St. Vincent’s University Hospital; and if he will make a statement on the matter.

— Thomas Pringle.

[58386/21] 120.


To ask the Minister for Health if he has read the recent NESC publication Building a New Relationship between Voluntary Organisations and the State in the Health and Social Care Sectors.

— Richard Boyd Barrett.

[54564/21] 121.


To ask the Minister for Health if disciplinary proceeding were taken following an internal HSE report into the alleged falsification of blood glucose and blood ketone readings in 2017 in St. Vincent’s University Hospital; and if so, the outcomes of these proceedings; and if he will make a statement on the matter.

— Thomas Pringle.

[58388/21] 122.


To ask the Minister for Health if he will provide an update on the new primary health care centre for Finglas; and if he will make a statement on the matter.

— Paul McAuliffe.

[59425/21] 123.

To ask the Minister for Health the status of the closure of the Keltoi rehabilitation centre in St. Marys, Phoenix Park; when will it be reopened; and if he will make a statement on the matter.

— Mark Ward.

[59011/21] 124.


To ask the Minister for Health the number of persons currently waiting for a neurology outpatient appointment in Cork hospitals; and if he will make a statement on the matter.

— James O’Connor.

[59110/21] 125.

To ask the Minister for Health if an independent expert has been appointed to lead the review of the Health (Regulation of Termination of Pregnancy) Act 2018; when the review will be concluded; and if he will make a statement on the matter.

— Bríd Smith.
— Bríd Smith.

[59469/21] 126.

To ask the Minister for Health his views on the proposal to establish a health and social care advisory unit within his Department which would operate in a similar manner to the Chief Nursing Office; and if he will make a statement on the matter.

— Róisín Shortall.

[59253/21] 127.

To ask the Minister for Health if he will clarify the role of public health teams in contact tracing in school settings.

— Donnchadh Ó Laoghaire.

[59015/21] 128.
[59015/21] 128.

To ask the Minister for Health if a decision has been made with regard to the allocation of the €500,000 to address the crack cocaine crisis announced as part of Budget 2022; if not, the date by which this decision will be made in view of the fact that community drugs projects are struggling to maintain services and have no clarity on available funds from 1 January 2022 to meet the needs of service users on crack cocaine; and if he will make a statement on the matter.

— Francis Noel Duffy.


[59347/21] 129.

To ask the Minister for Health if additional neurology nurses are being recruited for St. Vincent’s Hospital; and if he will make a statement on the matter.

— Jim O’Callaghan.

[59236/21] 130.

To ask the Minister for Health the contingency plans in place if the number of PCR tests that is currently being carried out continues and capacity remains stretched; and if he will make a statement on the matter.

— Duncan Smith.

[59246/21] 5803 131.


To ask the Minister for Health if his attention has been drawn to increases in average response times by the National Ambulance Service in the western region; the actions that are planned to increase the resources of the National Ambulance Service in the region; and if he will make a statement on the matter.

— Alan Dillon.

[59471/21] 132.


To ask the Minister for Health if he will ensure that the day care facilities for the elderly are re-opened once refurbishment works are completed at Abbelyleix Hospital.

— Brian Stanley.

[59222/21] 133.

To ask the Minister for Health when the winning bid for the tender for the Rotunda critical care wing proposal will be announced; and if he will make a statement on the matter.

— Neasa Hourigan.

[59430/21] 134.


To ask the Minister for Health the number of persons currently waiting for a primary care psychology appointment in each local health office area in CHO8; and if he will make a statement on the matter.

— Barry Cowen.

[59251/21] 135.

To ask the Minister for Health the measures that will be implemented to reduce the long delays in orthopaedic assessments and follow-up procedures for patients from counties Cavan and Monaghan; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
— Brendan Smith.

[59423/21] 136.

To ask the Minister for Health his plans to provide additional financial supports to persons receiving IVF treatment aside from tax relief; and if he will make a statement on the matter.

— Róisín Shortall.

[59255/21] 137.

To ask the Minister for Health the number of persons currently waiting for a primary care psychology appointment in each local health office area in CHO5; and if he will make a statement on the matter.

— Jennifer Murnane O’Connor.

[59350/21] 138.


To ask the Minister for Health if he has considered the recommendations in a report (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter.

— Martin Kenny.

[57837/21] 139.

To ask the Minister for Health if the HSE will provide greater support to school leaders who are experiencing Covid-19 cases in their school.

— Donnchadh Ó Laoghaire.

[59016/21] 140.


To ask the Minister for Health the degree to which he expects he and his Department through the HSE to be in a position to continue to fight the Covid-19 virus including all its variants and at the same time, activate the winter plan fully while maintaining the highest possible level of treatment for elective or urgent patients; and if he will make a statement on the matter.

— Bernard J. Durkan.

[59365/21] 141.


To ask the Minister for Health the action he has taken following the raising of governance issues by HIQA in its report entitled Report of the Targeted Assurance Review of the Governance Arrangements of Gynaecology services at Letterkenny University Hospital; and if he will make a statement on the matter.

— Pearse Doherty.

[58421/21] 142.


To ask the Minister for Health the progress to date in implementing the strategies in relation to drug use and drug treatment outlined in the Programme for Government.

— Richard Bruton.

[59427/21] P.T.O 5804 143.

To ask the Minister for Health if he has received a response from the Department of Justice regarding recent correspondence in relation to the Brandon Report; and if he will make a statement on the matter.

— Thomas Pringle.

[57781/21] 144.


To ask the Minister for Health if additional neurology nurses are being recruited for University Hospital Limerick; and if he will make a statement on the matter.

— Willie O’Dea.

[59249/21] 145.

To ask the Minister for Health the advice NIAC has provided to him regarding vaccinations for 5 to 11 year olds; and if he will make a statement on the matter.

— Duncan Smith.

[59242/21] 146.


To ask the Minister for Health the achievements to date in relation to the decongregation of large residential institutions for persons with disabilities; and if he will make a statement on the matter.

— Pauline Tully.

[59472/21] 147.

To ask the Minister for Health if he is satisfied that the National Ambulance Service has sufficient resources to carry out its remit; and if he will make a statement on the matter.

— David Stanton.

[59241/21] 148.


To ask the Minister for Health the measures that are being taken to strengthen general practice; and if he will make a statement on the matter.

— Joe Flaherty.

[59355/21] 149.

To ask the Minister for Health if he will report on the development of perinatal mental health services; and if he will make a statement on the matter.

— Niamh Smyth.

[59193/21] 150.


To ask the Minister for Health the steps his Department has taken to address the difficulties those suffering from long-Covid-19 have in accessing disability, supports and treatment; and if he will make a statement on the matter.

— Violet-Anne Wynne.

[59227/21] 151.

To ask the Minister for Health his plans in relation to the availability of PCR tests; his plans to increase testing capacity; and if he will make a statement on the matter.

— Ruairí Ó Murchú.
— Ruairí Ó Murchú.

[59482/21] 152.

To ask the Minister for Health the measures in the HSE Winter Plan 2021-2022 that will enhance homecare provision for older people; and if he will make a statement on the matter.

— Jackie Cahill.

[59353/21] 153.

To ask the Minister for Health if there are plans to address the fact that persons with myocarditis are unable to get the Covid-19 vaccine and therefore do not qualify for an EU Digital Certificate; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
— Pádraig O’Sullivan.

[57707/21] 154.

To ask the Minister for Health his views in relation to Sharing the Vision: A Mental Health Policy for Everyone; and the way it applies to those with eating disorders.

— Pa Daly.

[58556/21] 155.

To ask the Minister for Health if there will be a successor to the Neuro-Rehabilitation Strategy; and if he will make a statement on the matter.

— Cormac Devlin.

[59231/21] 156.


To ask the Minister for Health when the Bearn and Richmond report presented to the HSE in February 2015 into allegations that children were damaged in the public orthodontic service will be published; and if he will make a statement on the matter.

— Neasa Hourigan.

[59429/21] 5805 157.


To ask the Minister for Health the reason a cardiac catheterisation lab is currently available for two days per week to cardiac patients at Sligo University Hospital; the details of the most recent review of catheterisation laboratory services in Sligo University Hospital; the number and position of staff attached to the lab; the number of patients treated there since 2016 to date in 2021; the plans of his Department to extend the service; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
— Martin Kenny.

[55672/21] 158.

To ask the Minister for Health the additional investment that is being provided for the development of dementia services in 2022; and if he will make a statement on the matter.

— Seán Haughey.

[59235/21] 159.

To ask the Minister for Health the initiatives that are being taken to support services in the district hospitals in Ballina, Belmullet and Swinford, County Mayo; and if he will make a statement on the matter.

— Dara Calleary.

[59071/21] 160.


To ask the Minister for Health his ambition for health capital development within the National Development Plan.

— Richard Bruton.

[59428/21] 161.

To ask the Minister for Health the status of the work taking place to implement antigen testing as another tool in the country’s defence against Covid-19; the educational material that will be made available for those who use antigen tests to ensure proper use; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
— Jennifer Carroll MacNeill.

[59206/21] 162.

To ask the Minister for Health the steps he is taking to resolve the lack of services for assessments of need nationwide, particularly in CHO7 in which persons are waiting for more than 17 months on waiting lists.

— Joan Collins.

[57253/21] 163.


To ask the Minister for Health his plans to advance mandatory open disclosure, mandatory reporting and adult safeguarding legislation; when he plans to seek committee stage for the patient safety Bill; and if he will make a statement on the matter.

— David Cullinane.

[59118/21] 164.


To ask the Minister for Health the engagement he has had with an association (details supplied) regarding the difficulties with access to dental care; and if he will make a statement on the matter.

— Duncan Smith.

[59245/21] 165.


To ask the Minister for Health when he expects his Department’s review of its structure, functions and processes to be completed; if this review will include a recommendation in respect of a proposal to establish a health and social care advisory unit within his Department; and if he will make a statement on the matter.

— Róisín Shortall.

[59254/21] 166.


To ask the Minister for Health his plans to resolve the ongoing crisis at University Hospital Kerry; and if he will make a statement on the matter.

— Brendan Griffin.

[59376/21] 167.


To ask the Minister for Health the details of the work taking place to increase the capacity of the PCR testing system, including increased testers and enhanced laboratory resources to ensure readily available PCR test appointments and fast results; and if he will make a statement on the matter.

— Jennifer Carroll MacNeill.

[59205/21] 168.


To ask the Minister for Health the amount allocated to the National Maternity Strategy in each of the years 2018 to 2019; and the amount that was spent on termination of pregnancy related costs during the same period.

— Peadar Tóibín.

[58856/21] P.T.O 5806 169.


To ask the Minister for Health the actions that have been taken to ensure that blood glucose and blood ketone readings recorded on patient files match those recorded by electronic data management systems following an internal HSE report into the falsification of blood glucose and blood ketone readings in 2017 in St. Vincent’s University Hospital; and if he will make a statement on the matter.

— Thomas Pringle.

[58387/21] 170.


To ask the Minister for Health if additional neurology nurses are being recruited for Tallaght University Hospital and for St James’s Hospital; and if he will make a statement on the matter.

— John Lahart.

[59232/21] 171.


To ask the Minister for Health if provision will be made for persons in the older age cohorts who are finding it difficult to get to Cork city in order to get their booster vaccine given the centres in Clonakilty and Bantry are now closed; and if he will make a statement on the matter.

— Christopher O’Sullivan.

[59305/21] 172.


To ask the Minister for Health his plans for the provision of a community neurorehabilitation team in CHO8; and if he will make a statement on the matter.

— Barry Cowen.

[59252/21] 173.

To ask the Minister for Health if he has engaged with representatives from the public sector regarding pay equality; and if he will make a statement on the matter.

— Pádraig O’Sullivan.

[55891/21] 174.


To ask the Minister for Health the engagement he or his Department has had with medical scientists and their union representatives regarding the 94% ballot for strike action by a union (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter.

— Duncan Smith.

[59243/21] 175.


To ask the Minister for Health the number of persons currently waiting for a primary care psychology appointment in each local health office area in CHO3; and if he will make a statement on the matter.

— Willie O’Dea.

[59250/21] 176.

To ask the Minister for Health when the transfer of disability services from his Department will occur; and if he will make a statement on the matter.

— Michael Moynihan.

[59349/21] 177.


To ask the Minister for Health the status of the provision of a community neurorehabilitation team in CHO6; and if he will make a statement on the matter.

— Cormac Devlin.

[59230/21] 178.

To ask the Minister for Health the status of the provision of new primary care centres in County Clare.

— Cathal Crowe.

[59200/21] 179.


To ask the Minister for Health if his attention has been drawn to the upset amongst community groups regarding the recent mid-term review of the National Drugs Strategy; and if he will make a statement on the matter.

— Thomas Gould.

[59420/21] 180.

To ask the Minister for Health the additional bed capacity and capital projects will be delivered at Mayo University Hospital as part of the HSE Winter Plan 2021-2022; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
— Alan Dillon.

[59470/21] 181.

To ask the Minister for Health if he will report on the review of the Neuro-Rehabilitation Services in Ireland from Theory to Action Implementation Framework 2019-2021 and the development of the framework for 2022-2024; and if he will make a statement on the matter.

— Jim O’Callaghan.

[59237/21] 5807 182.


To ask the Minister for Health the status of the capacity review of the National Ambulance Service; his plans to increase resources for the service; his engagement with the Minister of State with special responsibility for Local Government and Planning regarding funding for Dublin City Council to fund the Dublin Fire Brigade; and if he will make a statement on the matter.

— David Cullinane.

[59116/21] 183.


To ask the Minister for Health if he will report on the mid-term Review of National Drugs Strategy and the Strategic Priorities for 2021-2025.

— Paul McAuliffe.

[59426/21] 184.

To ask the Minister for Health if he plans to establish a carers’ commission to address the issues being experienced by family carers; and if he will make a statement on the matter.

— Denis Naughten.

[57449/21] 185.


To ask the Minister for Health his plans for addressing the crisis in general practice, generally and specifically in out-of-hours services; the impact of this on emergency departments; and if he will make a statement on the matter.

— David Cullinane.

[59114/21] 186.

To ask the Minister for Health if his Department will support and fund a more expansive ShannonDoc service in County Clare.

— Cathal Crowe.

[59199/21] 187.


To ask the Minister for Health if he will visit University Hospital Kerry to meet with key stakeholders in an effort to address the challenges facing the hospital; and if he will make a statement on the matter.

— Brendan Griffin.

[59377/21] 188.

To ask the Minister for Health his short- term and long-term plans for day care facilities for the elderly for County Laois.

— Brian Stanley.

[59223/21] 189.


To ask the Minister for Health the action that has been taken to increase the number of hospital beds available in the South Southwest HSE area in view of the fact that there are 200 less beds available compared to January 2020; and if he will make a statement on the matter.

— Colm Burke.

[59356/21] 190.


To ask the Minister for Health his plans to isolate the new Covid-19 virus originating in Africa and South Africa; the extent to which plans are being put in place to use every possible means to combat its progress; if new medicine is likely to become available to deal with the issue; and if he will make a statement on the matter.

— Bernard J. Durkan.

[59364/21] 191.


To ask the Minister for Health the status of a nursing home (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter.

— John Lahart.

[59233/21] 192.

To ask the Minister for Health if he will action a series of matters (details supplied) in relation to the legally mandated abortion review.

— Joan Collins.

[59220/21] 193.


To ask the Minister for Health if he will report on the primary care psychology waiting list reduction initiative; and if he will make a statement on the matter.

— Jackie Cahill.

[59352/21] 194.


To ask the Minister for Health the planned programme for the commencement of construction for the provision of new buildings at Galway University Hospital over the next five years; the services that will be provided from these new buildings when complete; if these proposed buildings will be located on the Newcastle Road site or the Merlin Park site; the additional beds that will be involved; and if he will make a statement on the matter.

— Éamon Ó Cuív.
— Éamon Ó Cuív.

[58582/21] P.T.O 5808 195.

To ask the Minister for Health his plans to expand neuro-rehabilitation services in Cork; his further plans to provide additional in-patient beds; and if he will make a statement on the matter.

— James O’Connor.

[59109/21] 196.

To ask the Minister for Health the number of dementia advisers currently in place; the number that are to be recruited in 2022; and if he will make a statement on the matter.

— Joe Flaherty.

[59354/21] 197.


To ask the Minister for Health the achievements to date in relation to the transfer of persons with disabilities under the age of 65 years who have been inappropriately placed in nursing homes back into the community; and if he will make a statement on the matter.

— Pauline Tully.

[59473/21] 198.

To ask the Minister for Health if he will report on the revised Implementation Plan for the National Maternity Strategy.

— Jennifer Murnane O’Connor.

[59351/21] 199.


To ask the Minister for Health if he will make a compulsory purchase order on the land owned by an organisation (details supplied) in which the new National Maternity Hospital is to be located; and if he will make a statement on the matter.

— Bríd Smith.

[59468/21] 200.

To ask the Minister for Health the details of progress made in addressing the National Clinical Programme for Eating Disorders Goals 2021.

— Holly Cairns.

[59345/21] 201.


To ask the Minister for Health the measures taken to tackle obesity in the context of the Healthy Ireland Framework; and if he will make a statement on the matter.

— David Stanton.

[59240/21] 202.

To ask the Minister for Health the way he plans to regulate the delivery of services across each CHO area in order that persons can get the access of care based on need not based on their postcode; and if he will make a statement on the matter.

— Mark Ward.

[59012/21] 203.


To ask the Minister for Health the furthest distance persons requiring PCR tests are required to travel to get these tests; if it is planned to set up new testing centres nearer the populations furthest away from the existing centres; and if he will make a statement on the matter.

— Éamon Ó Cuív.

[58583/21] 204.


To ask the Minister for Health the current status of his Department’s value for money review examining HSE nursing homes costs; when it is likely to be published; and if he will make a statement on the matter.

— Colm Burke.

[59357/21] 205.


To ask the Minister for Health his plans regarding expanding access to in-vitro fertilisation and surrogacy services; his plans to expand supports, financial and otherwise, for accessing these services; his plans to advance the assisted human reproduction Bill; and if he will make a statement on the matter.

— David Cullinane.

[59117/21] 206.


To ask the Minister for Health the reasons for the relocation of the vaccination centre to Ennis General Hospital; the reason this decision was made; and if he will make a statement on the matter.

— Violet-Anne Wynne.

[59226/21] 5809 207.

To ask the Minister for Health the number of persons currently waiting for a primary care psychology appointment in each local health office area in CHO7; and if he will make a statement on the matter.

— James Lawless.
— James Lawless.

[59247/21] 208.

To ask the Minister for Health the number of public health consultants working in the health service; the way this compares with the end of 2019; and if he will make a statement on the matter.

— Aindrias Moynihan.

[59361/21] 209.

To ask the Minister for Health the number of medical cards currently being provided on an emergency basis; and if he will make a statement on the matter.

— Dara Calleary.

[59072/21] 210.


To ask the Minister for Health his plans to provide a mobility allowance to persons who have been left without such an allowance for a decade; and if he will make a statement on the matter.

— Seán Canney.

[57014/21] 211.

To ask the Minister for Health his plans to expand access to antigen and PCR testing; the status of tracing capacity; and if he will make a statement on the matter.

— David Cullinane.

[59115/21] 212.


To ask the Minister for Health if he will report on the reopening of day centres for older people following closure in 2020.

— Michael Moynihan.

[59348/21] 213.

To ask the Minister for Health if he will ensure that all student nurses are paid properly for their placements particularly considering the current health crisis many of them are expected to fill in for fully qualified nurses; and if he will make a statement on the matter.

— Richard Boyd Barrett.


[58590/21] 214.

To ask the Minister for Health the respite supports that are available to families of children with autism at present across the State; and if he will make a statement on the matter.

— Violet- Anne Wynne.

[59228/21] 215.

To ask the Minister for Health if he will provide details on the access to disability services for children in CHO 4; and if he will make a statement on the matter.

— Pádraig O’Sullivan.

[57689/21] 216.


To ask the Minister for Health the reason that persons with disabilities are losing key services when they turn 18 years of age: if his attention has been drawn to instances in Cork in which people are not getting access to day services; if he has engaged with service providers in relation to this; and if he will make a statement on the matter.

— Pádraig O’Sullivan.

[57690/21] 217.


To ask the Minister for Health the progress being made on delivery of a seven-day service for (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter.

— Aindrias Moynihan.

[59358/21] 218.


To ask the Minister for Health the status of the backlog of assessments of needs for children; the number of applications received and completed by county in each of the years 2018 to 2020 and to date in 2021, in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter.

— Michael Moynihan.

[59461/21] 219.

To ask the Minister for Health when a report (details supplied) will be published; and if he will make a statement on the matter.

— Pearse Doherty.
— Pearse Doherty.

[58419/21] P.T.O 5810 220.

To ask the Minister for Health when the families of the victims of abuse at a home (details supplied) will have sight of the full contents of a report; and if he will make a statement on the matter.

— Pearse Doherty.

[58420/21] 221.

To ask the Minister for Health the planned allocation of supports for the disability sector as announced in Budget 2022; and if he will make a statement on the matter.

— Michael Moynihan.

[59460/21] Wt.

104647.

230.

12/21.


Essentra.

(90419).

Gr.

30-15 Printed on re-cycled paper.