Parliamentary questions

Agriculture Industry

Colm Burke

86. Deputy Colm Burke asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine what action his Department is taking to improve environmental sustainability on Irish farms, in particular in respect of soil health and nutrient management; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [8372/24]

Schools Building Projects

Colm Burke

131. Deputy Colm Burke asked the Minister for Education to clarify why a school (details supplied) has been refused approval for an application under the emergency works programme for an urgent project to address a situation that is causing health and safety hazards to staff and children in this school; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [8427/24]

Tax Reliefs

Colm Burke

59. Deputy Colm Burke asked the Minister for Finance if he will give due consideration to restoring the higher rate of tax relief for expenditure on GPs, consultants and prescriptions; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [8200/24]

Hospital Procedures

Colm Burke

158. Deputy Colm Burke asked the Minister for Health if he will invest in appropriate communication technologies to ensure that hospital e-discharges are delivered using Healthmail to support a standardised national approach to electronic discharges, such a change would dramatically improve patient care and improve efficiency both within hospitals and community settings; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [8194/24]

General Practitioner Services

Colm Burke

159. Deputy Colm Burke asked the Minister for Health if he will engage with the relevant bodies to provide funding and support to assist younger GPs to establish practices by providing purpose-built GP premises, thereby avoiding substantial capital expenditure on 'bricks and mortar' (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [8195/24]

General Practitioner Services

Colm Burke

160. Deputy Colm Burke asked the Minister for Health if he will commission research to determine innovative ways to attract GPs into general practice to replace those GPs rapidly approaching retirement (details supplied), including the use of video consultations; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [8196/24]

General Practitioner Services

Colm Burke

161. Deputy Colm Burke asked the Minister for Health if he will work with the relevant educational and professional bodies for the purposes of increasing the number of general practice nurses from the current figure of approximately 2,000 to 4,000; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [8199/24]

Medical Research and Training

Colm Burke

180. Deputy Colm Burke asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science if he will work with the relevant educational and professional bodies to advance a specific rural curriculum and pathway within undergraduate medical education and GP training (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [8197/24]

Medical Research and Training

Colm Burke

181. Deputy Colm Burke asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science if he will work with the relevant educational and professional bodies to increase the exposure time spent by medical students in general practice; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [8198/24]

Social Welfare Eligibility

Colm Burke

369. Deputy Colm Burke asked the Minister for Social Protection to clarify the current position where a person is in receipt of carer’s allowance, and they are also working part-time, but due to hospitalisation are not able to work for a period of time; if there are proposals to amend the current system that does not allow them to qualify for illness benefit; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [7573/24]

Health Services

Colm Burke

542. Deputy Colm Burke asked the Minister for Health if he will provide a status update in relation to the commencement date and roll-out of the National Advisory Group for Provision of Post-Mastectomy Products, Community Funded Schemes Service Improvement Programme in CHO1; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [7635/24]

Health Services

Colm Burke

543. Deputy Colm Burke asked the Minister for Health if he will provide a status update in relation to the commencement date and roll-out of the National Advisory Group for Provision of Post-Mastectomy Products, Community Funded Schemes Service Improvement Programme in CHO2; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [7636/24]

Health Services

Colm Burke

544. Deputy Colm Burke asked the Minister for Health if he will provide a status update in relation to the commencement date and roll-out of the National Advisory Group for Provision of Post-Mastectomy Products, Community Funded Schemes Service Improvement Programme in CHO3; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [7637/24]

Health Services

Colm Burke

545. Deputy Colm Burke asked the Minister for Health if he will provide a status update in relation to the commencement date and roll-out of the National Advisory Group for Provision of Post-Mastectomy Products, Community Funded Schemes Service Improvement Programme in CHO4; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [7638/24]

Health Services

Colm Burke

546. Deputy Colm Burke asked the Minister for Health if he will provide a status update in relation to the commencement date and roll-out of the National Advisory Group for Provision of Post-Mastectomy Products, Community Funded Schemes Service Improvement Programme in CHO5; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [7639/24]

Health Services

Colm Burke

547. Deputy Colm Burke asked the Minister for Health if he will provide a status update in relation to the anticipated commencement date and roll-out of the National Advisory Group for Provision of Post-Mastectomy Products, Community Funded Schemes Service Improvement Programme in CHO6; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [7640/24]

Health Services

Colm Burke

548. Deputy Colm Burke asked the Minister for Health if he will provide a status update in relation to the anticipated commencement date and roll-out date of the National Advisory Group for Provision of Post-Mastectomy Products, Community Funded Schemes Service Improvement Programme in CHO7; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [7641/24]

Health Services

Colm Burke

549. Deputy Colm Burke asked the Minister for Health if he will provide a status update in relation to the commencement date and roll-out of the National Advisory Group for Provision of Post-Mastectomy Products, Community Funded Schemes Service Improvement Programme in CHO8; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [7642/24]

Health Services

Colm Burke

550. Deputy Colm Burke asked the Minister for Health if he will provide a status update in relation to the commencement date and roll-out of the National Advisory Group for Provision of Post-Mastectomy Products, Community Funded Schemes Service Improvement Programme in CHO9; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [7643/24]

Health Services

Colm Burke

610. Deputy Colm Burke asked the Minister for Health if his Department will give priority to the completion and implementation of the National Review of Specialist Cardiac Services taking into account the growth in the population and in particular the increase in numbers of people over 65 years; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [7984/24]

Sports Funding

Colm Burke

31. Deputy Colm Burke asked the Minister for Tourism, Culture, Arts, Gaeltacht, Sport and Media the amount spent by her Department in supporting sports clubs and organisations in Cork in 2023; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [6818/24]

Housing Policy

Colm Burke

120. Deputy Colm Burke asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage if he will introduce appropriate measures, in partnership with industry, to ensure that over a five-year period, delivery is increased to an extent that 30% of all new dwellings are built to incorporate universal design principles to accommodate our ageing population; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [6952/24]

Schools Building Projects

Colm Burke

199. Deputy Colm Burke asked the Minister for Education when it will be possible for a school (details supplied) to make a decision to go ahead with a tender for a school extension; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [7163/24]

Citizenship Applications

Colm Burke

279. Deputy Colm Burke asked the Minister for Justice to confirm the current status of a person's (detail supplied) application for citizenship; when a decision is likely to be reached, in view of the fact that the application was submitted over two years ago; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [7167/24]

Departmental Expenditure

Colm Burke

330. Deputy Colm Burke asked the Minister for Health to confirm the non-capital (current) Government expenditure on Bantry General Hospital in 2019, 2020, 2021, 2022 and 2023; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [7202/24]

Departmental Data

Colm Burke

331. Deputy Colm Burke asked the Minister for Health the number of patients treated in Bantry General Hospital in 2019, 2020, 2021, 2022 and 2023; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [7203/24]

Housing Policy

Colm Burke

210. Deputy Colm Burke asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage if he will take the necessary steps to fully implement and fund the outstanding recommendations from the 2019 Joint Policy Statement, Housing Options for our Ageing Population; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [7037/24]

Housing Policy

Colm Burke

211. Deputy Colm Burke asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage to provide a revised timeline for the implementation of the outstanding recommendations from the 2019 Joint Policy Statement, Housing Options for our Ageing Population; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [7038/24]

Housing Policy

Colm Burke

212. Deputy Colm Burke asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage if he will review the housing allocation model in relation to the development of any future specific housing schemes for older people; if he will take steps to ensure that a partnership approach is adopted between the HSE and the relevant local authority to identify the most suitable residents for same; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [7039/24]

Housing Policy

Colm Burke

213. Deputy Colm Burke asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage if he will work with other Departments and bodies to ensure that appropriate social and clinical supports programmes are put in place for older people within the private rental sector; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [7040/24]

Housing Policy

Colm Burke

214. Deputy Colm Burke asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage to take the necessary steps to ensure that eligibility for housing subsidies is based on available household income after deduction of essential household expenditure such as health expenses, energy and heating expenses; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [7041/24]

Rental Sector

Colm Burke

215. Deputy Colm Burke asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage if he will fund a public awareness campaign to increase awareness of private residential tenancies legislation among older renters; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [7042/24]

Rental Sector

Colm Burke

216. Deputy Colm Burke asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage if he will give due consideration to increased ring fencing of social housing for older people in light of the particular difficulties experienced by this cohort in the private rental market; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [7043/24]

Rental Sector

Colm Burke

217. Deputy Colm Burke asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage if he take the necessary steps to ensure that 25% of social housing is reserved for older renters; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [7044/24]

Rental Sector

Colm Burke

218. Deputy Colm Burke asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage to take the necessary steps to increase investment and evaluation of and development of promising housing models for older people; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [7045/24]

Rental Sector

Colm Burke

219. Deputy Colm Burke asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage if he will allocate funding to invest in research for the purposes of collating age related, tenure specific data to better understand and predict the needs of older renters; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [7046/24]

Housing Policy

Colm Burke

220. Deputy Colm Burke asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage if he will liaise with the appropriate Departments for the purpose of establishing a distinct unit operating both within and across both the Departments of Housing Local Government and Heritage and Health to better plan for the growing needs of an ageing population; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [7047/24]

Housing Schemes

Colm Burke

221. Deputy Colm Burke asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage to increase investment in the housing adaption grant scheme and to provide incentives to private landlords to apply for same, similar to tax deductions granted to small scale landlords who undertake retrofitting works while tenants remain in situ; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [7048/24]

Rental Sector

Colm Burke

222. Deputy Colm Burke asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage to work with the relevant bodies to ensure higher levels of compliance with accommodation quality standards in the private rental sector; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [7050/24]

Rental Sector

Colm Burke

223. Deputy Colm Burke asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage to invest in alternative, secure and age appropriate housing for older people; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [7051/24]

Social Welfare Payments

Colm Burke

240. Deputy Colm Burke asked the Minister for Social Protection if she will give consideration to reviewing the housing assistance payment and rent supplement on an annual basis to ensure that the subsidy increases match increases in the private rental sector market; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [7049/24]

State Pensions

Colm Burke

241. Deputy Colm Burke asked the Minister for Social Protection if she will give due consideration to benchmarking the State pension, to ensure that older people do in the private rental sector do not experience undue hardship in the context of rent affordability and expenditure on critical items such as heating electricity and healthcare; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [7052/24]

Agriculture Schemes

Colm Burke

283. Deputy Colm Burke asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine when ACRES-CP payments to farmers in the scheme for 2023 will be issued; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [7099/24]

Bus Services

Colm Burke

80. Deputy Colm Burke asked the Minister for Education what action her Department is taking to deal with recruitment challenges of bus drivers under the school transport scheme; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [6378/24]

School Staff

Colm Burke

130. Deputy Colm Burke asked the Minister for Education the progress that has been made to date by her Department with regard to the establishment of a transfer/relocation scheme for post primary school teachers to stem the teacher retention crisis; to outline in detail her Department plans going forward in addressing this issue; if engagement is taking place with stakeholders (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [6377/24]

Schools Building Projects

Colm Burke

265. Deputy Colm Burke asked the Minister for Education the reason a school (details supplied) has been refused approval under the Emergency Works Programme for an urgent project which impacts children’s safety in this school; what programmes are available to schools to apply for works urgently due to the health and safety nature of the works, that the school can receive urgent funding for the project; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [6073/24]

School Transport

Colm Burke

302. Deputy Colm Burke asked the Minister for Education what measures are being taken by her Department to ensure that all eligible students who apply for school transport under the primary school transport scheme in an area (details supplied) for the 2024-2025 academic year will be facilitated, given there is a high probability that the service will be oversubscribed; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [6442/24]

School Transport

Colm Burke

328. Deputy Colm Burke asked the Minister for Education what provisions are being taken by her Department to ensure that all eligible students who apply for school transport under the post-primary school transport scheme in an area (details supplied) for the 2024-2025 academic year will be facilitated, given the high probability that the service will be oversubscribed; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [6565/24]

Sports Funding

Colm Burke

374. Deputy Colm Burke asked the Minister for Tourism, Culture, Arts, Gaeltacht, Sport and Media the up-to-date position in respect of an application by a club (details supplied) for the sports capital and equipment programme; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [6464/24]

Social Welfare Appeals

Colm Burke

427. Deputy Colm Burke asked the Minister for Social Protection the status of an appeal by a person (details supplied); when a decision is likely to be received, as this has been pending for some time; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [6085/24]