Parliamentary questions

Mother and Baby Homes Inquiries

Pat Buckley

1271. Deputy Pat Buckley asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth if proposals have been brought to Cabinet regarding the redress scheme for survivors of mother and baby homes; when this process for payment will commence; the process for these payments; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [43887/22]

Health Services

Pat Buckley

1726. Deputy Pat Buckley asked the Minister for Health the number of new long-term and short-term respite beds that have been approved and allocated in each of the electoral areas in east Cork in each of the years 2019 to 2021 and to date in 2022, in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [42843/22]

Health Services

Pat Buckley

1727. Deputy Pat Buckley asked the Minister for Health the number of new long-stay and short-stay mental health respite beds that have been approved and allocated in each of the electoral areas in east Cork in each of the years 2016 to 2021 and to date in 2022, in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [42844/22]

Home Care Packages

Pat Buckley

1886. Deputy Pat Buckley asked the Minister for Health if a service will provide additional hours of care for a person (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [43483/22]

Hospital Waiting Lists

Pat Buckley

465. Deputy Pat Buckley asked the Minister for Health the reason that a person (details supplied) who needs urgent surgery will be on a waiting list for the next three years; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [38199/22]

Rail Network

Pat Buckley

273. Deputy Pat Buckley asked the Minister for Transport if the contracts for electrification of the Cork to Midleton and the Cork to Cobh railway lines have been signed; if his Department has signed any procurement contract to purchase new electric trains to service both railway lines; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [37582/22]

Rail Network

Pat Buckley

274. Deputy Pat Buckley asked the Minister for Transport if his Department has ringfenced moneys from the European Union stimulus plan (details supplied) to fund the new rail work in Cork; the amount that has been ringfenced; if this will also include a number of new railway stations along the existing lines on the Cork to Cobh and the Cork to Midleton railway lines; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [37583/22]

Rail Network

Pat Buckley

275. Deputy Pat Buckley asked the Minister for Transport when his Department will have approval of all procurement contracts for new electric trains and carriages for the Cork to Midleton and the Cork to Cobh railway lines to be signed off; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [37584/22]

Housing Policy

Pat Buckley

376. Deputy Pat Buckley asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage if his attention has been drawn to the fact that in some local authority areas including Cork County Council, recipients of the increased disability allowance payment will have this included in their means testing if they are also in receipt of HAP and will lose out on this increase through their rent contribution; the steps that he is taking to resolve this issue; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [37026/22]

Housing Policy

Pat Buckley

377. Deputy Pat Buckley asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the work that he is undertaking to ensure that HAP recipients benefit from increases in other social protection payments that they are entitled to and that means testing of income in relation to HAP does not cancel out such increases in future. [37027/22]

Budget Process

Pat Buckley

54. Deputy Pat Buckley asked the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform if his attention has been drawn to a pre-budget 2023 submission from an organisation (details supplied) asking for an investment of €941,000 for in-home care, outreach care and mental health supports for children and adults with epidermolysis bullosa; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [36598/22]

Covid-19 Pandemic Supports

Pat Buckley

314. Deputy Pat Buckley asked the Minister for Health when the staff at a hospice (details supplied) will receive their €1,000 pandemic bonus payment; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [36593/22]

School Funding

Pat Buckley

184. Deputy Pat Buckley asked the Minister for Education the number of secondary schools in east Cork that have applied to her Department for additional resources to cover the additional demand for secondary school places for September 2022; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [35036/22]

Driver Licences

Pat Buckley

175. Deputy Pat Buckley asked the Minister for Transport the reason that a person (details supplied) cannot change their driver licence for an Irish driver licence; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [33789/22]

School Funding

Pat Buckley

573. Deputy Pat Buckley asked the Minister for Education if her Department has plans to increase funding to schools to cover the ever-rising cost of lighting and heating owing to the rising costs of fuel; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [32531/22]

National Educational Psychological Service

Pat Buckley

574. Deputy Pat Buckley asked the Minister for Education if her Department has plans to increase NEPS services across the State and reinstate and expand the in-school and early years therapy support demonstration project; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [32532/22]

Departmental Funding

Pat Buckley

575. Deputy Pat Buckley asked the Minister for Education if her Department has plans to increase or fund an initial grant of €20 per pupil for onsite counselling services in primary and specials schools this year and will; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [32533/22]

Bus Services

Pat Buckley

5. Deputy Pat Buckley asked the Minister for Transport if the National Transport Authority will look at providing a new bus route from Youghal to Midleton train station which would service Youghal, Killeagh and Castlemartyr and increase connectivity between Youghal and Cork city via Midleton train station; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [31045/22]

School Admissions

Pat Buckley

987. Deputy Pat Buckley asked the Minister for Education the reason that a minor (details supplied) cannot be guaranteed a secondary school place in east Cork when the schools open after the summer recess; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [29574/22]

An Garda Síochána

Pat Buckley

1307. Deputy Pat Buckley asked the Minister for Justice the number of members of An Garda Síochána who bought their last six months of service to avail of a full pension after 30 years' service; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [29560/22]

An Garda Síochána

Pat Buckley

1308. Deputy Pat Buckley asked the Minister for Justice the level of training that is provided to members of An Garda Síochána to facilitate engagement with members of the disabled community, especially those with invisible disabilities such as autism, attention deficit hyperactivity disorder or ADHD, and acquired brain injury; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [29561/22]

An Garda Síochána

Pat Buckley

1309. Deputy Pat Buckley asked the Minister for Justice the level of knowledge within An Garda Síochána of initiatives such as the Just A Minute card or JAM card, and the Sunflower Lanyard, to assist them to identify that the person with whom they are interacting with requires reasonable accommodations to protect the individual rights; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [29562/22]

An Garda Síochána

Pat Buckley

1310. Deputy Pat Buckley asked the Minister for Justice the provisions that exist to provide appropriate adults to assist people with disabilities if they are arrested by a member of An Garda Síochána; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [29563/22]

An Garda Síochána

Pat Buckley

1311. Deputy Pat Buckley asked the Minister for Justice if she will report to the Houses of the Oireachtas the number of persons under the age of 18 years in 2019, 2020, 2021 and this year to date who informed the arresting member of An Garda Síochána and-or the member-in-charge of the Garda station that they were transported to, that they had ADHD or that they were a vulnerable person, were strip searched without the presence of an appropriate adult; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [29568/22]

An Garda Síochána

Pat Buckley

1312. Deputy Pat Buckley asked the Minister for Justice if she will report to the Houses of the Oireachtas the number of persons under the age of 18 years in 2019, 2020, 2021 and this year to date who informed the arresting member of An Garda Síochána and-or the member-in-charge of the Garda station that they were transported to, that they had ADHD or were a vulnerable person, were strip searched in the presence of an appropriate adult, and can the breakdown of the information be provided per Garda division; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [29569/22]

An Garda Síochána

Pat Buckley

1313. Deputy Pat Buckley asked the Minister for Justice if she will report to the Houses of the Oireachtas the number of persons under the age of 18 years in 2019, 2020, 2021 and this year to date who informed the arresting member of An Garda Síochána and-or the member-in-charge of the Garda station that they were transported to, that they had ADHD or were a vulnerable person, were assaulted while in the custody of An Garda Síochána, by Garda division; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [29570/22]

Harbours and Piers

Pat Buckley

2007. Deputy Pat Buckley asked the Minister for Rural and Community Development the status of stage 3 of the development of An Caladh Mór on Inis Meáin; and the schedule of works for An Caladh Mór; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [29173/22]

Harbours and Piers

Pat Buckley

2013. Deputy Pat Buckley asked the Minister for Rural and Community Development the status of stage 3 of the development of An Caladh Mór on Inis Meáin; the schedule of works for An Caladh Mór; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [29608/22]

Mental Health Services

Pat Buckley

198. Deputy Pat Buckley asked the Minister for Health if his attention has been drawn to the fact that the temporary mental health art classes and other associated activities at a community centre (details supplied) have been cancelled and that these services were originally part of mental health day services; the rational for cancelling these classes; if these classes will be reinstated in the near future; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [28206/22]

Hospital Waiting Lists

Pat Buckley

211. Deputy Pat Buckley asked the Minister for Health if his attention has been drawn to the urgency of tackling the waiting list for ophthalmology services in Cork University Hospital (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [28284/22]

Renewable Energy Generation

Pat Buckley

109. Deputy Pat Buckley asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications the reason that the Electric Ireland micro generation scheme is only for residential properties and not open to business properties; the rationale for this; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [28050/22]

Citizens Information Services

Pat Buckley

453. Deputy Pat Buckley asked the Minister for Social Protection if the attention of her Department has been drawn to the closure of the Citizens Information Centre in Cobh in east County Cork, despite there being a ten-year lease on the property since 2020; the reason for this closure; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [25719/22]

Citizens Information Services

Pat Buckley

454. Deputy Pat Buckley asked the Minister for Social Protection if the attention of her Department has been drawn to the decision by the Citizens Information Centre to reduce the number of volunteers in the citizens information office in County Cork from 230 to 100 for the entire country; the rationale for same; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [25720/22]

General Practitioner Services

Pat Buckley

653. Deputy Pat Buckley asked the Minister for Health the serious shortage of general practitioner places in east Cork which is leading many locals (details supplied) to go without GP care; and the efforts he will make to resolve same. [26288/22]

Public Transport

Pat Buckley

217. Deputy Pat Buckley asked the Minister for Transport if his Department has looked at increasing the frequency of train journeys on the Midleton to Cork line and the Cobh to Cork line; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [24296/22]

Schools Building Projects

Pat Buckley

222. Deputy Pat Buckley asked the Minister for Education if a successful contractor has been appointed to a school (details supplied); if so, when work will commence; the expected finishing date for same; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [21570/22]

Schools Building Projects

Pat Buckley

845. Deputy Pat Buckley asked the Minister for Education if she will provide a progress report on a school (details supplied); if tenders have been awarded to begin the school builds; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [19691/22]

Schools Building Projects

Pat Buckley

846. Deputy Pat Buckley asked the Minister for Education if her Department has plans to build a new additional secondary school in Midleton, County Cork; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [19692/22]

School Enrolments

Pat Buckley

847. Deputy Pat Buckley asked the Minister for Education if her Department had asked schools in Midleton to open additional classes last May and June as a short-term option; the rationale for this; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [19693/22]

Children in Care

Pat Buckley

149. Deputy Pat Buckley asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth if his attention has been drawn to a situation in Youghal, County Cork (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [18516/22]

Tax Code

Pat Buckley

246. Deputy Pat Buckley asked the Minister for Finance if his Department will consider lowering the VAT rate to 0% on the sale and repair of bicycles and electric bicycles; if his Department will follow the lead of Belgium which has already passed legislation to take advantage of European rule changes; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [17838/22]

Disability Services

Pat Buckley

635. Deputy Pat Buckley asked the Minister for Health the reason a child (details supplied) who was assessed as autistic in January 2020 has still not been accepted into a HSE-funded foundation after two years; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [18021/22]

Job Losses

Pat Buckley

114. Deputy Pat Buckley asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment if the 30-day waiting time for receivership of a company (details supplied) in County Limerick will be waived in order that employees can access social welfare assistance; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [14789/22]

Mental Health Services

Pat Buckley

911. Deputy Pat Buckley asked the Minister for Health if he will visit the Owenacurra Health Centre in Midleton, County Cork and instruct the HSE not to close the centre but to improve it and retain all the services that were present pre-Covid-19; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [14315/22]

Mental Health Services

Pat Buckley

912. Deputy Pat Buckley asked the Minister for Health if his attention has been drawn to that the two short-term respite beds in the Owenacurra Health Centre, Midleton, County Cork are now closed; the rationale for same; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [14316/22]

Mental Health Services

Pat Buckley

913. Deputy Pat Buckley asked the Minister for Health if his attention has been drawn to the fact that the two short-term respite beds are closed in the Owenacurra Centre, Midleton, County Cork and all the associated services with those beds have ceased; when these services will be reinstated; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [14317/22]

Mental Health Services

Pat Buckley

914. Deputy Pat Buckley asked the Minister for Health if his attention has been drawn to the fact that residents of the Owenacurra Health Centre, Midleton, County Cork have told the HSE that they do not want to leave the centre and want to remain in the centre as it is their forever home and want to see all the services retained despite the HSE saying that the centre is not fit for purpose (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [14318/22]

Mental Health Services

Pat Buckley

915. Deputy Pat Buckley asked the Minister for Health if he will obtain assurances from the HSE that the Owenacurra Health Centre, Midleton, County Cork will remain open and that all pre-Covid-19 services will be retained and enhanced; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [14319/22]

Mental Health Services

Pat Buckley

916. Deputy Pat Buckley asked the Minister for Health if his attention has been drawn to the fact that if the Owenacurra Health Centre, Midleton, County Cork is to be closed by the HSE that there will be a loss of 24 long stay residential beds and respite facilities for persons with severe and enduring mental health difficulties in east County Cork; the HSE plans to retain these services in Midleton, County Cork; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [14320/22]

Mental Health Services

Pat Buckley

917. Deputy Pat Buckley asked the Minister for Health the reason that the HSE will not commit to refurbishing the existing Owenacurra Health Centre, Midleton, County Cork and retaining all existing pre-Covid-19 services; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [14321/22]