Written Answers Nos. 170-177
170. Deputy Jennifer Whitmore asked the Minister for Health if he intends to establish a new national contract for vasectomy provision for general services medical card holders; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [31609/23]
View answerAs this is a service matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond to the Deputy directly, as soon as possible.
171. Deputy Pearse Doherty asked the Minister for Health the reason why seriously ill young infants have to travel abroad for ECHMO treatment; if there are plans to make this treatment available in Ireland for all children; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [31610/23]
View answerAs this a service matter I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond to the Deputy directly, as soon as possible.
172. Deputy Thomas Gould asked the Minister for Health the status of the reopening of Keltoi. [31621/23]
View answerAs this is a service matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond to the deputy directly, as soon as possible.
173. Deputy Pearse Doherty asked the Minister for Health when a person (details supplied) will receive a date for a hospital admission to rehab, Letterkenny University Hospital; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [31622/23]
View answerAs this is a service matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond to the deputy directly, as soon as possible.
175. Deputy Alan Dillon asked the Minister for Health when a person (details supplied) will receive their Covid recognition payment; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [31662/23]
View answerAs this is a service matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond to the Deputy directly.
I would also like to remind the Deputy that it is against Department policy to comment on individual cases.
176. Deputy Joe Flaherty asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science if tutors currently working in the further education sector will retain the right to receive social welfare payments during holiday breaks if they decide to stay as they are and not accept the adult educator contracts recently offered to them by his Department; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [31575/23]
View answerEligibility criteria for social welfare payments are a matter for my colleague, the Minister for Social Protection.
Following discussions between my Department, the Department of Education and the Department of Public Expenditure, NDP Delivery and Reform, a proposal issued to the Unions to establish a grade of Adult Educator with a standardised pay scale aligned with the Youthreach Resource Person Scale. Tutors currently employed by ETBs will have the option of assimilating to the new scale or retaining their current employment arrangements. The Unions and Department officials are currently engaging on the operational aspects of the proposal. The provision of a pay scale will allow for incremental progression and a career path for tutors in the further education and training sector.
177. Deputy Danny Healy-Rae asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science if he will address a matter (details supplied) regarding student accommodation deposits; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [31635/23]
View answerStudents facing issues relating to college accommodation should, in the first instance, engage with their accommodation provider to see if an arrangement can be reached. Advice on tenant's rights can also be sought from the Residential Tenancies Board (RTB) www.rtb.ie/.
Restrictions have also been put in place to limit the amount that students can be required to pay up front for their accommodation, ending the practice whereby students were required to pay a lump sum up front each term. The total amount that anyone is required to pay to a landlord by way of a deposit or an advance rent payment to secure a tenancy to no more than the equivalent of 2 months’ rent- that is one month’s rent, and one month’s deposit. In addition, student accommodation is subject to Rent Pressure Zone caps. Under the Residential Tenancies (Amendment) Act 2019 students have access to the Dispute Resolution Services of the Residential Tenancies Board (RTB) and this should be used when such issues arise.
