Parliamentary questions

Special Educational Needs

Róisín Shortall

266. Deputy Róisín Shortall asked the Minister for Education if her attention has been drawn to issues raised regarding a school (details supplied) in Dublin 11; the steps her Department is taking to address these issues; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [45253/23]

Social Welfare Payments

Róisín Shortall

372. Deputy Róisín Shortall asked the Minister for Social Protection if her attention has been drawn to a disability allowance appeal (details supplied); the reason for the delay in an appeal decision being made; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [45255/23]

Tax Code

Róisín Shortall

77. Deputy Róisín Shortall asked the Minister for Finance to respond to matters raised in correspondence (details supplied); the reason for this change in tax treatment for GPs; if he has engaged with the Revenue Commissioners on this matter; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [44349/23]

School Accommodation

Róisín Shortall

93. Deputy Róisín Shortall asked the Minister for Education to provide an update on the installation of portacabins and a temporary car park at a school (details supplied); the expected timeline for delivery; the reason this work did not commence during the summer months to ensure that these temporary measures were in place for September 2023 to accommodate the increased enrolment that occurred on the basis of a commitment to provide extra rooms; to provide an update on the status of the phase one build of five permanent classrooms; if these classrooms will be delivered for September 2024; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [44246/23]

Special Educational Needs

Róisín Shortall

94. Deputy Róisín Shortall asked the Minister for Education if she plans to change the current enrolment criteria for specialist ASD units and classes to accommodate children who are on a waiting list for an assessment of needs but have not acquired that assessment, in view of the current backlog (details supplied); if her Department has a process in place to monitor if schools and preschools will be able to fill their specialist ASD classes in September 2024 due to the delays in acquiring formal assessments through the public system; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [44247/23]

Home Schooling

Róisín Shortall

95. Deputy Róisín Shortall asked the Minister for Education to provide details on the level of home tuition support approved for September 2023 versus the levels approved for each of the past five years, in tabular form; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [44248/23]

Special Educational Needs

Róisín Shortall

96. Deputy Róisín Shortall asked the Minister for Education if she has engaged with the Minister for Health in relation to the assessment of needs waiting list which could prevent children awaiting assessment from accessing specialist classes; if where a child is awaiting an assessment of needs and cannot acquire a place in a specialist class, there are any plans to accelerate their assessments; if there is an alternative process in place (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [44249/23]

Mortgage Interest Rates

Róisín Shortall

129. Deputy Róisín Shortall asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the reason local authority home loan mortgage interest rates have risen; his views on this increase; if he is aware of commercial banks now offering lower fixed rates than the State backed scheme; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [44347/23]

Health Service Executive

Róisín Shortall

226. Deputy Róisín Shortall asked the Minister for Health to provide an update on plans to move all HSE facilities to a single pay-roll system given that this was to be implemented by July 2023 according to a representative organisation (details supplied); the arrangements for Section 38 facilities; the timeline for implementation of a single payroll system; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [44363/23]

Health Strategies

Róisín Shortall

230. Deputy Róisín Shortall asked the Minister for Health if he is considering the fortification of bread and flour with folic acid, given its role in the prevention of neural tube defects such as spina bifida; the reason mandatory fortification has not been implemented, in view of the evidence to support this measure and the 2006 recommendation of the National Committee on Folic Acid Food Fortification in relation to white, brown and wholemeal breads (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [44428/23]

Healthcare Policy

Róisín Shortall

232. Deputy Róisín Shortall asked the Minister for Health if there is an ongoing collection of data regarding the relationship between pregnancy outcome indicators and alcohol consumption patterns during pregnancy; if he plans to establish a national register for foetal alcohol spectrum disorder; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [44431/23]

Healthcare Policy

Róisín Shortall

233. Deputy Róisín Shortall asked the Minister for Health if there are plans to develop clear clinical guidelines for the diagnosis of foetal alcohol spectrum disorder; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [44432/23]

Healthcare Policy

Róisín Shortall

234. Deputy Róisín Shortall asked the Minister for Health if his attention has been drawn to the concerning prevalence of foetal alcohol spectrum disorder in Ireland, along with the absence of dedicated health messaging addressing this issue; if there are plans in place to initiate a new public health awareness campaign outlining the dangers of alcohol consumption, and discouraging its use during pregnancy; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [44433/23]

Health Strategies

Róisín Shortall

235. Deputy Róisín Shortall asked the Minister for Health to provide a comprehensive summary of any task forces or committees established within the past decade that have focused on alcohol consumption during pregnancy, including their respective recommendations and the status of implementing these recommendations; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [44434/23]

Healthcare Policy

Róisín Shortall

236. Deputy Róisín Shortall asked the Minister for Health the current strategies in place to ensure clinical staff receive sufficient training in foetal alcohol spectrum disorder (FASD) to seek information on the efforts being made to enhance awareness of FASD among healthcare professionals and educators; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [44435/23]

Healthcare Policy

Róisín Shortall

237. Deputy Róisín Shortall asked the Minister for Health the measures being taken to ensure that individuals with foetal alcohol spectrum disorder (FASD) and their families have access to FASD-informed services in healthcare, education and social services tailored to their specific needs; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [44436/23]

Housing Provision

Róisín Shortall

81. Deputy Róisín Shortall asked the Minister for Finance the number of vacant properties upon which the vacant homes tax will be levied; the source of this calculation; his plans, if any, to expand the cohort of liable properties; the expected revenue from this new tax; the steps the Revenue Commissioners will take in the event of a non-payment; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [43388/23]

Tax Code

Róisín Shortall

201. Deputy Róisín Shortall asked the Minister for Finance if he has considered recommendation one of the Commission on Taxation and Welfare that, given the medium-to long-term threats to the State’s fiscal sustainability, the tax base should be broadened; if he will commit to implementing this recommendation; if he intends to act on this key recommendation in budget 2024; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [43389/23]

Raidió Teilifís Éireann

Róisín Shortall

127. Deputy Róisín Shortall asked the Minister for Tourism, Culture, Arts, Gaeltacht, Sport and Media further to Parliamentary Question No. 415 of 13 July 2023, if, in relation to RTÉ pensioners, many of whom are surviving on low to middle incomes, she intends to sanction RTÉ to release funds so that the pensions' trustees can pay out the pension increase, which has been frozen for a number of years; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [43088/23]

Medical Cards

Róisín Shortall

212. Deputy Róisín Shortall asked the Minister for Health the position regarding a discretionary medical card for a person (details supplied) in Dublin 9; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [43023/23]

Legislative Measures

Róisín Shortall

216. Deputy Róisín Shortall asked the Minister for Health the timeline he is working towards for the publication of his amendments to the Health (Assisted Human Reproduction) Bill 2022; when he expects this Bill to reach Committee Stage; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [43036/23]

Health Services

Róisín Shortall

217. Deputy Róisín Shortall asked the Minister for Health for a progress report on the spending of funding allocated in budget 2023 for the development of a national paediatric diabetes audit, in conjunction with NOCA, following the publication of a detailed feasibility study; the status of the recruitment of a programme manager and data analytics staff; if recruitment has been paused in view of the recruitment freeze; if so, if he will request the HSE to immediately begin recruiting these new posts; if unused funding from Budget 2023 will carry over to 2024; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [43072/23]

Health Services

Róisín Shortall

218. Deputy Róisín Shortall asked the Minister for Health to report on the spending of the €110,000 which was allocated in budget 2023 for the development of a diabetes register; if unused funding from budget 2023 will carry over to 2024; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [43073/23]

Health Services

Róisín Shortall

219. Deputy Róisín Shortall asked the Minister for Health if he will request that the HSE immediately begin recruiting the project manager post for the diabetes register; to provide a timeline as to when the HSE recruitment freeze will end; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [43086/23]

Departmental Inquiries

Róisín Shortall

178. Deputy Róisín Shortall asked the Minister for Education further to Parliamentary Question No. 770 of 11 September 2023, if the inquiry team will be asked to respond to the survivor's request; her views on whether the emphasis on "recompense" in the guidance booklet is likely to steer survivors in that direction; if the inquiry team will proactively explore options for a "learning-oriented" approach in its future work (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [41946/23]

Covid-19 Pandemic

Róisín Shortall

208. Deputy Róisín Shortall asked the Minister for Social Protection further to Parliamentary Question No. 712 of 25 July 2023, the status of her Department's consideration of the European Commission's recommendation to recognise Covid-19 as an occupational illness; if she has concluded her engagements with other Departments and Ministers; the timeline she is working towards in making her decision; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [42008/23]

Family Reunification

Róisín Shortall

222. Deputy Róisín Shortall asked the Minister for Justice the status of her Department's review of eligibility requirements for family reunification; the timeline she is working towards; if this review will address issues related to family reunification for non-EEA healthcare assistants under the general employment permit (details supplied); the engagements she has had with the Minister for Health and the Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment regarding non-EEA healthcare assistants; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [41971/23]

Cancer Services

Róisín Shortall

271. Deputy Róisín Shortall asked the Minister for Health if the national cancer screening taskforce intends to update the screening guidelines to reduce the age of bowel cancer screening; the timeline the taskforce is working towards; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [41969/23]

Cancer Services

Róisín Shortall

272. Deputy Róisín Shortall asked the Minister for Health the steps he is taking to improve the bowel screening programme; his plans to improve GP access to the programme for patient referrals, particularly younger cohorts of patients; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [41970/23]

Hospital Services

Róisín Shortall

289. Deputy Róisín Shortall asked the Minister for Health to arrange for the publication of the review of spinal surgeries in Crumlin Hospital, which has been completed for some time; to commit to publishing that review during the week commencing 25 September 2023; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [42039/23]

Health Services

Róisín Shortall

290. Deputy Róisín Shortall asked the Minister for Health to provide an update on the development of the national diabetes registry, which received funding in Budget 2023; the status of the project manager post; the timeline for the recruitment of same; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [42041/23]

Health Services Staff

Róisín Shortall

135. Deputy Róisín Shortall asked the Minister for Health if the 6,000 additional staff across acute and social care services announced in Budget 2023 have been recruited; to provide a breakdown, in tabular form, by discipline and recruitment status; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [41733/23]

Special Educational Needs

Róisín Shortall

233. Deputy Róisín Shortall asked the Minister for Education the steps she is taking to ensure special education teachers for a DEIS school (details supplied) in Dublin 11; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [41038/23]

Health Service Executive

Róisín Shortall

4. Deputy Róisín Shortall asked the Minister for Health to provide an update on the significant underfunding of the HSE national service plan; the current projected deficit to year-end; the reason his Department did not address this matter when its implications were highlighted by the HSE at the start of 2023; how he will address this deficit up to the end of 2023 in a way which ensures service capacity, activity volumes and access times are not adversely impacted for patients and service users; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [40910/23]

Departmental Schemes

Róisín Shortall

244. Deputy Róisín Shortall asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth if he will provide an update on the little baby bundle pilot initiative; if an estimated timeframe will be provided for the completion of the pilot scheme; if his Department is committed to a wider roll-out of the little baby bundle scheme after it takes into account the feedback of parents participating in the pilot initiative; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [40783/23]

Public Sector Pensions

Róisín Shortall

198. Deputy Róisín Shortall asked the Minister for Public Expenditure, National Development Plan Delivery and Reform if he will take steps to approve the long-awaited pension increase for An Post pensioners (details supplied); the reason for the delay; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [39700/23]

School Curriculum

Róisín Shortall

335. Deputy Róisín Shortall asked the Minister for Education the steps she is taking to ensure that schools-based gambling education and awareness remains free from the influence of the gambling industry; if she intends to introduce gambling education and awareness in the post-primary curriculum at both junior and senior cycle; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [40180/23]

Local Authorities

Róisín Shortall

524. Deputy Róisín Shortall asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the reason the role of Chief Executive of Dublin City Council was not advertised and appointed ahead of the previous Chief Executive vacating the post, thereby removing the necessity to appoint an acting Chief Executive; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [40178/23]

Legislative Programme

Róisín Shortall

953. Deputy Róisín Shortall asked the Minister for Health the status of new legislation to replace the Dentists Act 1985; the timeline he is working towards; the reason for the delay in progressing this legislation; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [40065/23]

Health Services Staff

Róisín Shortall

954. Deputy Róisín Shortall asked the Minister for Health further to Parliamentary Questions Nos. 403 and 404 of 8 February 2023 and No. 481 of 3 May 2023, if he is aware of the position of the HSE's Heads of Psychology Services Ireland, HPSI, and the Psychological Society of Ireland, PSI, on the use of certain titles, given that these titles are not recognised as being currently in use by the HSE's national HR office; if not, if he will engage with the HPSI and the PSI on this matter to establish how these titles came to be in use; if these individual managers should refrain from using these titles as they imply a wider remit or higher level of authority than the title that is in use for such managers; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [40067/23]

Hospital Staff

Róisín Shortall

967. Deputy Róisín Shortall asked the Minister for Health the steps he is taking to ensure that non-consultant hospital doctors (NCHDs) are not consistently emergency taxed each time they change hospitals; to respond to matters raised in correspondence (details supplied); the engagements he has had with the HSE and the Minister for Finance on this matter; when he expects this unsustainable problem for NCHDs to be addressed; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [40141/23]

Hospital Staff

Róisín Shortall

968. Deputy Róisín Shortall asked the Minister for Health the date at which he expects the National Taskforce on NCHD Workforce to publish its report; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [40142/23]

Medicinal Products

Róisín Shortall

970. Deputy Róisín Shortall asked the Minister for Health his views on the number of pregabalin-related deaths between 2012 and 2020, as reported by the Health Research Board (details supplied); the actions he intends to take to address the substantial rise in pregabalin-related deaths; if he intends to curtail the source of pregabalin; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [40177/23]

Departmental Funding

Róisín Shortall

971. Deputy Róisín Shortall asked the Minister for Health if, further to the announcement of additional annual funding of €3.5 million for drugs and inclusion health services, he will provide further details on how this additional funding is to be allocated if this money is to be used to remediate deficits in local and regional drug and alcohol task force projects' funding; if it will apply to all DATF projects, including those projects that are not aligned to or channelled through the HSE; if so, the role DATFs have in its allocation; if the additional monies will be recurring; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [40179/23]

Addiction Treatment Services

Róisín Shortall

972. Deputy Róisín Shortall asked the Minister for Health his views on partnerships between gambling industry-funded bodies and addiction services (details supplied); his views on whether it is appropriate for agencies in receipt of State funding to be engaged in such partnerships; the steps he is taking to ensure gambling addiction treatment is free from the influence of the gambling industry; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [40181/23]

Gambling Sector

Róisín Shortall

1071. Deputy Róisín Shortall asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science his views on partnerships between gambling industry-funded bodies and addiction studies programmes in higher education institutes (details supplied); his views on whether such partnerships are appropriate; the steps he is taking to ensure addiction studies is free from the influence of the gambling industry; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [40182/23]

Energy Conservation

Róisín Shortall

147. Deputy Róisín Shortall asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications whether he is aware that the current waiting time with the Sustainable Energy Association of Ireland between application and completion of works under the free energy upgrade scheme is in the region of 24 months; if he is taking steps to improve the situation and reduce the waiting time; if not, the reason; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [38627/23]

An Garda Síochána

Róisín Shortall

375. Deputy Róisín Shortall asked the Minister for Transport the current position regarding commencement of the new Garda powers contained in the Road Traffic and Roads Bill 2021; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [38628/23]

Tax Code

Róisín Shortall

486. Deputy Róisín Shortall asked the Minister for Finance if he will respond to matters raised in correspondence (details supplied) regarding the importing of vehicles bought from the United Kingdom to Ireland; if his Department will examine the possibility of introducing a system whereby a person importing a vehicle purchased from the United Kingdom can know, before purchasing the vehicle, the full amount that they will have to pay for the vehicle after additional charges such as VAT, VRT and customs duty are applied to the overall cost of the vehicle; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [39001/23]

Departmental Inquiries

Róisín Shortall

770. Deputy Róisín Shortall asked the Minister for Education to respond to matters raised in correspondence (details supplied) regarding the “Guide to Potential Government Responses” booklet sent to survivors of institutional abuse taking part in the scoping inquiry; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [39232/23]