Parliamentary questions

Healthcare Policy

Jennifer Whitmore

1586. Deputy Jennifer Whitmore asked the Minister for Health if he believes that non-inhalant nicotine products should be subject to the same plain packaging regulation as cigarettes are in Ireland; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [57074/23]

Healthcare Policy

Jennifer Whitmore

1587. Deputy Jennifer Whitmore asked the Minister for Health if he will examine the need to regulate the packaging, selling and advertising of non-inhalant nicotine products in Ireland; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [57075/23]

Ambulance Service

Jennifer Whitmore

1601. Deputy Jennifer Whitmore asked the Minister for Health for an update on the provision of a 24-hour, 7-days-per-week ambulance service for Arklow and Baltinglass; if this service will be operational in 2024; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [57184/23]

Health Services Staff

Jennifer Whitmore

1602. Deputy Jennifer Whitmore asked the Minister for Health if he will provide a copy of staffing levels at the Arklow primary health centre; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [57185/23]

Primary Care Services

Jennifer Whitmore

1603. Deputy Jennifer Whitmore asked the Minister for Health for a list of services that are currently available in the primary health facility in Arklow; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [57186/23]

Healthcare Policy

Jennifer Whitmore

1605. Deputy Jennifer Whitmore asked the Minister for Health for an update and detailed timeline for the publication of the HSE review of the cariban reimbursement scheme; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [57190/23]

Healthcare Policy

Jennifer Whitmore

1606. Deputy Jennifer Whitmore asked the Minister for Health how many patients to date have claimed reimbursement for cariban under the cariban reimbursement scheme which was introduced on 1 January 2023; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [57191/23]

Healthcare Policy

Jennifer Whitmore

1607. Deputy Jennifer Whitmore asked the Minister for Health for an update and detailed timeline for the licencing of medications (details supplied); when they will be available to patients with a prescription from their GP; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [57192/23]

Departmental Data

Jennifer Whitmore

1608. Deputy Jennifer Whitmore asked the Minister for Health how many patients presented at hospital emergency rooms suffering from hyperemesis gravidarum between the period of 1 January 2022 and 1 January 2023 and for the period 1 January 2023 and 1 January 2024; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [57193/23]

Departmental Data

Jennifer Whitmore

1627. Deputy Jennifer Whitmore asked the Minister for Health the number of patients who presented at hospital emergency rooms suffering from hyperemesis gravidarum between the period of 1 January 2022 and 1 January 2023 and for the period of 1 January 2023 and 1 January 2024; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [1021/24]

Health Services Waiting Lists

Jennifer Whitmore

1691. Deputy Jennifer Whitmore asked the Minister for Health if he is aware of the waiting list times for access to MRI scans for children in the public health service; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [1379/24]

Early Childhood Care and Education

Jennifer Whitmore

115. Deputy Jennifer Whitmore asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth the new core funding chart of accounts requirement for the early years sector; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [55875/23]

Disability Services

Jennifer Whitmore

712. Deputy Jennifer Whitmore asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth if he is aware that the previously funded programme under a waiting list initiative, ‘More Than Words’, considered to be an efficient and effective outsourcing of clinical specialist skills, in the context of the disability teams inability to provide timely intervention to children, who in Wicklow are waiting up to five years + for the commencement of their ASD interventions, has been cancelled; if he is aware that the programme cancellation will constitute a failure in duty of care to these children; what measures are in place to replace the programme; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [55303/23]

School Enrolments

Jennifer Whitmore

85. Deputy Jennifer Whitmore asked the Minister for Education if she is aware of the shortage of second-level school places in Wicklow for the 2024-2025 academic year; the steps being taken to resolve these issues; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [52479/23]

Departmental Schemes

Jennifer Whitmore

313. Deputy Jennifer Whitmore asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the valuation mechanism that is in place for properties accepted on the tenant-in-situ scheme; the protocols that are in place in incidences in which properties are undervalued by the council compared to valuations from independent estate agents; if he is aware that this disparity is contributing to private landlords not progressing the scheme for their tenants; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [51913/23]

Health Services Staff

Jennifer Whitmore

657. Deputy Jennifer Whitmore asked the Minister for Health if the HSE recruitment freeze will extend to the recruitment of staff intended for the planned delivery of a neurorehabilitation centre for CH06 (details supplied); if not, the progress in relation to same; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [52542/23]

Climate Change Policy

Jennifer Whitmore

4. Deputy Jennifer Whitmore asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications for an update on the national adaptation plan, including when it will be published; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [50260/23]

Energy Policy

Jennifer Whitmore

7. Deputy Jennifer Whitmore asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications for an update on the energy security review; how it will inform Government policy; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [50262/23]

Energy Conservation

Jennifer Whitmore

17. Deputy Jennifer Whitmore asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications if he is concerned about the high failure rate of retrofits following inspection; the steps he is taking to address this high rate; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [50261/23]

Energy Conservation

Jennifer Whitmore

33. Deputy Jennifer Whitmore asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications for an update on the low interest loans for retrofitting; when an interest rate will be determined; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [50263/23]

An Garda Síochána

Jennifer Whitmore

140. Deputy Jennifer Whitmore asked the Minister for Public Expenditure, National Development Plan Delivery and Reform when the interdepartmental working group examining the retirement requirements for post-1995 entrants to An Garda Síochána will complete its review; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [49977/23]

Citizenship Applications

Jennifer Whitmore

352. Deputy Jennifer Whitmore asked the Minister for Justice what the median processing times are for citizenship applications; what measures are in place to address the long processing times; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [49980/23]

Citizenship Applications

Jennifer Whitmore

353. Deputy Jennifer Whitmore asked the Minister for Justice when the applications of persons (details supplied) who applied for citizenship in October 2021 and completed the e-vetting process in October 2022, can expect their application to move from the processing stage; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [49981/23]

Hare Coursing

Jennifer Whitmore

375. Deputy Jennifer Whitmore asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if he will confirm if both Fermoy and Trim coursing meetings, scheduled to take place in recent weeks, were cancelled; if so, the reason for the cancellations; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [49471/23]

Early Childhood Care and Education

Jennifer Whitmore

473. Deputy Jennifer Whitmore asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth when he expects the Pobal Annual Early Years Sector Profile 2021-2022 and 2022-2023 to be published; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [49979/23]

Health Services Waiting Lists

Jennifer Whitmore

508. Deputy Jennifer Whitmore asked the Minister for Health the waiting times for CAMHS services in County Wicklow; the number of children on the waiting list broken down by wait times; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [49473/23]

Health Services Waiting Lists

Jennifer Whitmore

509. Deputy Jennifer Whitmore asked the Minister for Health the number of children awaiting an assessment with CAMHS; including the number of children waiting longer than six months in each county, in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [49474/23]

Mental Health Services

Jennifer Whitmore

510. Deputy Jennifer Whitmore asked the Minister for Health if he will extend CAMHS services to include children who have ADS; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [49475/23]

National Broadband Plan

Jennifer Whitmore

180. Deputy Jennifer Whitmore asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications if he is aware that the delivery of the National Broadband Ireland plan has been beset by further delays in rural Wicklow; if the new timeframe advised in October 2023 will be adhered to; and if he will conduct a review on the management of the plan, given NBI’s repeated failure to deliver the service to schedule. [48811/23]

Schools Building Projects

Jennifer Whitmore

549. Deputy Jennifer Whitmore asked the Minister for Education for an update on the tender process for a school (details supplied); when a contractor will be appointed; the timeframe for completion of the project; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [48638/23]

Schools Building Projects

Jennifer Whitmore

550. Deputy Jennifer Whitmore asked the Minister for Education for an update on the extension for a school (details supplied); when it is anticipated that planning permission will be sought; the timeframe for completion of the project; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [48639/23]

Schools Building Projects

Jennifer Whitmore

551. Deputy Jennifer Whitmore asked the Minister for Education for an update on the extension for a school (details supplied); when a contractor will be appointed; the timeframe for completion of the project; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [48640/23]

School Enrolments

Jennifer Whitmore

552. Deputy Jennifer Whitmore asked the Minister for Education what plans are in place to address the pending shortfall of secondary school places for the Greystones area for the September 2024 intake; what engagement has taken place with the secondary schools; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [48641/23]

Vaccination Programme

Jennifer Whitmore

1369. Deputy Jennifer Whitmore asked the Minister for Health if he is aware that the Covid vaccine novovax which is the only booster vaccine that can be administered to patients with myocarditis or other heart complaints is not currently available with the HSE; when it will be available; what he advises vulnerable patients for whom the booster is immediately necessary to do in the meantime; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [48809/23]

Health Services

Jennifer Whitmore

1370. Deputy Jennifer Whitmore asked the Minister for Health the reason employees working for an organisation (details supplied) in a long-term residential house for disabled persons are not assessed as Section 39 employees despite having worked throughout the pandemic; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [48810/23]

Departmental Data

Jennifer Whitmore

125. Deputy Jennifer Whitmore asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications to provide a copy of annual accounts of the Climate Action Fund, as submitted to the Comptroller and Auditor General for audit; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [46615/23]

Departmental Data

Jennifer Whitmore

140. Deputy Jennifer Whitmore asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications to provide the details of the source of the revenues paid into the Climate Action Fund, on an annual basis from 2020; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [46612/23]

Departmental Data

Jennifer Whitmore

141. Deputy Jennifer Whitmore asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications to detail, on an annual basis, the specific projects and associated funding allocated through the Climate Action Fund; whether the project is categorised as a climate or biodiversity one; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [46614/23]

Departmental Data

Jennifer Whitmore

156. Deputy Jennifer Whitmore asked the Minister for Transport the number of international ballast water management certificates issued by Ireland from the commencement of the statutory instrument that gave effect to the International Convention for the Control and Management of Ships' Ballast Water and Sediments, 2004; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [46282/23]

Departmental Data

Jennifer Whitmore

157. Deputy Jennifer Whitmore asked the Minister for Transport the number of type approval certificates of ballast water mandate system issued by Ireland from the commencement of the Statutory Instrument that gave effect to the International Convention for the Control and Management of Ships' Ballast Water and Sediments, 2004; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [46283/23]

Departmental Data

Jennifer Whitmore

158. Deputy Jennifer Whitmore asked the Minister for Transport the number of ballast water management systems which have been installed on or after 28 October 2020, certified by Ireland; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [46284/23]

Departmental Data

Jennifer Whitmore

159. Deputy Jennifer Whitmore asked the Minister for Transport the number of inspections under section 12(4) of the statutory instrument that gave effect to the International Convention for the Control and Management of Ships' Ballast Water and Sediments, 2004; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [46285/23]

International Agreements

Jennifer Whitmore

160. Deputy Jennifer Whitmore asked the Minister for Transport if he will commit to the ratification of the Hong Kong International Convention for the Safe and Environmentally Sound Recycling of Ships, 2009, in the coming legislative term; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [46286/23]

International Agreements

Jennifer Whitmore

161. Deputy Jennifer Whitmore asked the Minister for Transport if he will commit to the ratification of the protocol on Preparedness, Response and Co-operation to Pollution Incidents by Hazardous and Noxious Substances, 2000 (OPRC-HNS Protocol); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [46287/23]

Tax Code

Jennifer Whitmore

194. Deputy Jennifer Whitmore asked the Minister for Finance if he plans to review Ireland’s financial services tax regime, as encouraged by the Commission on Taxation and Welfare; if he plans to review the deemed disposal tax; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [46264/23]

Departmental Data

Jennifer Whitmore

213. Deputy Jennifer Whitmore asked the Minister for Public Expenditure, National Development Plan Delivery and Reform the amount of funding set aside, from windfall taxes, for the Climate Action Fund for 2024-2026, as referenced in the Summer Economic Statement 2023, including the amount ring-fenced for nature restoration; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [46611/23]

Air Quality

Jennifer Whitmore

227. Deputy Jennifer Whitmore asked the Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment if the Code of Practice for Indoor Air Quality, in accordance with section 60 of the Safety, Health and Welfare at Work Act 2005 (No. 10 of 2005) introduced in May 2023, applies to the offices/workplaces of the civil and public services; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [46265/23]

Air Quality

Jennifer Whitmore

228. Deputy Jennifer Whitmore asked the Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment how many civil and public sector employers for which the Code of Practice for Indoor Air Quality is relevant; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [46273/23]

Air Quality

Jennifer Whitmore

229. Deputy Jennifer Whitmore asked the Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment if he will consider it appropriate that employees of public and civil service organisations are working in locations where the Code of Practice on Indoor Air Quality has not been implemented due to lack of awareness or direction by management; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [46276/23]

Climate Action Fund

Jennifer Whitmore

74. Deputy Jennifer Whitmore asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications to provide the details of the source of the revenues paid into the Climate Action Fund, on an annual basis from 2020; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [45634/23]