Parliamentary questions

Visa Applications

Thomas Gould

774. Deputy Thomas Gould asked the Minister for Justice if consideration will be given to the extension of visas for persons currently residing here whose visas are due to expire but are planning to return on a work visa and have a legitimate offer of employment given current travel restrictions and to avoid unnecessary international travel. [16303/21]

Vaccination Programme

Thomas Gould

854. Deputy Thomas Gould asked the Minister for Health if his attention has been drawn to reports that vaccine clinics in Cork City Hall and Melbourne Road, Cork were closed on 20 and 21 March 2021, the opening hours of these clinics on the days in question; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [16304/21]

Vaccination Programme

Thomas Gould

855. Deputy Thomas Gould asked the Minister for Health the number of persons vaccinated in the mass vaccine clinic in Cork City Hall on 20 and 21 March 2021 respectively. [16305/21]

Vaccination Programme

Thomas Gould

856. Deputy Thomas Gould asked the Minister for Health the number of persons vaccinated in the mass vaccine clinic on Melbourne Road, Cork on 20 and 21 March 2021, respectively. [16306/21]

Covid-19 Tests

Thomas Gould

870. Deputy Thomas Gould asked the Minister for Health the difference between a PCR test and a regular Covid-19 test. [16356/21]

General Practitioner Services

Thomas Gould

964. Deputy Thomas Gould asked the Minister for Health the number of general practitioners who retired by county in each of the years 2015 to 2020 and to date in 2021, in tabular form. [16680/21]

General Practitioner Services

Thomas Gould

965. Deputy Thomas Gould asked the Minister for Health the number of general practitioners who left employment, by county, in each of the years 2015 to 2020 and to date in 2021, in tabular form. [16681/21]

General Practitioner Services

Thomas Gould

966. Deputy Thomas Gould asked the Minister for Health the number of general practitioners who were recruited as interns or newly qualified in each of the years 2015 to 2020 and to date in 2021, in tabular form. [16682/21]

General Practitioner Services

Thomas Gould

967. Deputy Thomas Gould asked the Minister for Health the number of general practitioners recruited through means other than new qualification or internship, by county, in each of the years 2015 to 2020 and to date in 2021, in tabular form. [16683/21]

Covid-19 Pandemic

Thomas Gould

1144. Deputy Thomas Gould asked the Minister for Health if a person is allowed to visit a second home or a mobile home that is located within the allowable travel distance. [17366/21]

National Broadband Plan

Thomas Gould

216. Deputy Thomas Gould asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications the estimated completion date of the national broadband plan; the original estimated date; and the number of delays in the plan. [14115/21]

Bus Services

Thomas Gould

273. Deputy Thomas Gould asked the Minister for Transport his views on whether improperly installed bus shelters acting as barriers to public transport should be addressed as a priority by the NTA. [14114/21]

Flood Relief Schemes

Thomas Gould

548. Deputy Thomas Gould asked the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform if a flood relief scheme is proposed for the Bridgestown and Moneyfluigh area, Inniscarra, County Cork. [15367/21]

Homelessness Strategy

Thomas Gould

650. Deputy Thomas Gould asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage if eviction protections in place due to Covid-19 extend to tenants for whom the landlord has sold their property. [14436/21]

Homelessness Strategy

Thomas Gould

651. Deputy Thomas Gould asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage if there is an exception to the current tenancy protections in the case of property sale. [14437/21]

Vacant Properties

Thomas Gould

688. Deputy Thomas Gould asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the funding provided to Cork City Council for voids refurbishment in each of the years 2010 to 2020 and to date in 2021, in tabular form. [15136/21]

School Accommodation

Thomas Gould

906. Deputy Thomas Gould asked the Minister for Education the funding streams available to primary schools to build outdoor classrooms in view of social distancing guidelines; and the criteria for eligibility of such streams. [15244/21]

School Facilities

Thomas Gould

907. Deputy Thomas Gould asked the Minister for Education the funding streams available to schools to build sensory gardens whereby a special educational unit already exists within the school; and the criteria for eligibility of such streams. [15245/21]

School Admissions

Thomas Gould

921. Deputy Thomas Gould asked the Minister for Education if her attention has been drawn to the situation of eight children who left a school (details supplied) in June 2020 and have no secondary school place and that some of the children have instead been offered home tuition. [15373/21]

School Admissions

Thomas Gould

922. Deputy Thomas Gould asked the Minister for Education the support available to parents who are unable to source a special secondary school place for their children. [15374/21]

Schools Building Projects

Thomas Gould

926. Deputy Thomas Gould asked the Minister for Education the status of the construction of a new building for a school (details supplied). [15450/21]

Courts Service

Thomas Gould

1180. Deputy Thomas Gould asked the Minister for Justice if divorce proceedings can continue remotely under level 5 restrictions. [13882/21]

Courts Service

Thomas Gould

1181. Deputy Thomas Gould asked the Minister for Justice the guidance given to family courts on operating under level 5 restrictions, particularly in relation to divorce proceedings. [13883/21]

Legislative Measures

Thomas Gould

1199. Deputy Thomas Gould asked the Minister for Justice if the general scheme of a gambling control Bill has been published; and if not, when it will be published. [14112/21]

Legislative Measures

Thomas Gould

1200. Deputy Thomas Gould asked the Minister for Justice the substantial changes planned for the gambling control Bill due to be published, in comparison with the previous general scheme published in 2013. [14113/21]

Garda Deployment

Thomas Gould

1213. Deputy Thomas Gould asked the Minister for Justice the number of community gardaí in Cork city by month in 2020 and to date in 2021. [14279/21]

Freedom of Information

Thomas Gould

1257. Deputy Thomas Gould asked the Minister for Justice if family members can access prison records of deceased family who were interned in the Curragh in 1940 through freedom of information; and if these records are sealed. [15093/21]

Freedom of Information

Thomas Gould

1258. Deputy Thomas Gould asked the Minister for Justice the person or body to which freedom of information requests by family members of deceased relatives who were interned in the Curragh in the 1940s should be submitted. [15094/21]

Residential Institutions

Thomas Gould

1389. Deputy Thomas Gould asked the Minister for Health the number of persons waiting for periods (details supplied) for access to residential rehabilitation or detoxification treatment from March 2019 to date. [14107/21]

Health Services Provision

Thomas Gould

1390. Deputy Thomas Gould asked the Minister for Health the planned reopening date for Southdoc Blackpool, County Cork. [14108/21]

Health Services Provision

Thomas Gould

1391. Deputy Thomas Gould asked the Minister for Health the number of out-of-hours doctors facilities closed in Dublin, Limerick or Galway from March 2020 to date; and the date for reopening of same. [14109/21]

HSE Staff

Thomas Gould

1392. Deputy Thomas Gould asked the Minister for Health if the clinical lead appointed to the HSE dual diagnosis programme has commenced in the role. [14110/21]

National Drugs Strategy

Thomas Gould

1393. Deputy Thomas Gould asked the Minister for Health the status of the investigation by the Minister for State with responsibility for the national drugs strategy into the possibility of abolishing assessment fees for rehabilitation treatment. [14111/21]

Vaccination Programme

Thomas Gould

1394. Deputy Thomas Gould asked the Minister for Health if vaccinations will be completed in each cohort before moving on to the next excluding the cohort of over-75s given the clinical decision that such persons cannot receive a particular vaccine (details supplied). [14116/21]

Cannabis for Medicinal Use

Thomas Gould

1395. Deputy Thomas Gould asked the Minister for Health if he has continued conversation with a person (details supplied); and the status of the inclusion of the products of a company in the medical cannabis access programme. [14117/21]

Treatment Abroad Scheme

Thomas Gould

1439. Deputy Thomas Gould asked the Minister for Health if cataract procedures under the Cross-Border Directive can continue under level 5 Covid-19 restrictions. [14218/21]

National Drugs Strategy

Thomas Gould

1454. Deputy Thomas Gould asked the Minister for Health the date for publication of the mid-term review of the national drugs strategy. [14280/21]

National Drugs Strategy

Thomas Gould

1455. Deputy Thomas Gould asked the Minister for Health the status of the mid-term review of the national drugs strategy. [14281/21]

National Drugs Strategy

Thomas Gould

1456. Deputy Thomas Gould asked the Minister for Health if he will publish the analysis of supports available to service users by the drug related intimidation training co-ordinator. [14282/21]

National Drugs Strategy

Thomas Gould

1457. Deputy Thomas Gould asked the Minister for Health if he will publish the analysis of the prevalence of drug related intimidation as conducted under the DRIVE programme. [14283/21]

Residential Institutions

Thomas Gould

1458. Deputy Thomas Gould asked the Minister for Health the average wait time, by facilities, for residential rehabilitation or detoxification treatment in March 2020 and 2021, in tabular form. [14284/21]

National Public Health Emergency Team

Thomas Gould

1474. Deputy Thomas Gould asked the Minister for Health the date of the last meeting of the NPHET vulnerable people subgroup. [14352/21]

Covid-19 Pandemic

Thomas Gould

1519. Deputy Thomas Gould asked the Minister for Health if travelling to visit a spouse in another country is considered essential travel and exempt from possible Garda fines. [14532/21]

Drug Treatment Programmes

Thomas Gould

1637. Deputy Thomas Gould asked the Minister for Health the estimated cost of establishing a needle exchange service. [14897/21]

Drug Treatment Programmes

Thomas Gould

1638. Deputy Thomas Gould asked the Minister for Health the estimated cost of staffing and running a needle exchange service. [14898/21]

Hospital Waiting Lists

Thomas Gould

1871. Deputy Thomas Gould asked the Minister for Health the number of persons waiting for orthopaedic surgery in Cork University Hospital by length of time waiting in tabular form. [15745/21]

Hospital Waiting Lists

Thomas Gould

1872. Deputy Thomas Gould asked the Minister for Health his plans to reopen trauma theatres in St. Steven’s Hospital, Cork to deal with orthopaedic surgery waiting times; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [15746/21]

Hospital Data

Thomas Gould

1873. Deputy Thomas Gould asked the Minister for Health the number of orthopaedic surgeries cancelled in Cork University Hospital by the hospital due to capacity issues by quarter in 2019, 2020 and to date in 2021, in tabular form. [15747/21]

Hospital Waiting Lists

Thomas Gould

1874. Deputy Thomas Gould asked the Minister for Health the average waiting time for orthopaedic surgery in Cork University Hospital in 2019, 2020 and to date in 2021, in tabular form. [15748/21]

Covid-19 Pandemic

Thomas Gould

1882. Deputy Thomas Gould asked the Minister for Health the number of front-line healthcare workers in an organisation (details supplied) in Cork who have been vaccinated. [15778/21]

Special Educational Needs

Thomas Gould

120. Deputy Thomas Gould asked the Minister for Education the number of special needs secondary school places available in Cork city for September 2021. [13793/21]

Special Educational Needs

Thomas Gould

121. Deputy Thomas Gould asked the Minister for Education the number of children in primary special schools in need of a secondary place in September 2021. [13794/21]

Home Tuition Scheme

Thomas Gould

122. Deputy Thomas Gould asked the Minister for Education the number of children availing of home tuition due to the fact that no secondary school place is available in Cork city in each of the years 2015 to 2020 and to date in 2021. [13795/21]

Residency Permits

Thomas Gould

172. Deputy Thomas Gould asked the Minister for Justice the steps that have been taken to create an awareness campaign to ensure that non-EEA citizen family members of UK nationals, previously resident in the State on the basis of Directive 2004/38EC, are aware that they are now legally required to exchange their current valid IRP card for a new one stating that they benefit from the Withdrawal Agreement before 31 December 2021. [13586/21]

International Protection

Thomas Gould

173. Deputy Thomas Gould asked the Minister for Justice the number of international protection applicants waiting to receive a first instance decision from the International Protection Office and the average length of time persons have waiting for a decision. [13587/21]

International Protection

Thomas Gould

174. Deputy Thomas Gould asked the Minister for Justice if she plans to introduce legislation or other measures to implement the recommendation made in the Report of the Advisory Group on the Provision of Support including Accommodation to Persons in the International Protection Process to deal with unsuccessful applicants that are deemed non-returnable. [13588/21]

National Broadband Plan

Thomas Gould

123. Deputy Thomas Gould asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications the status of broadband roll-out in Clogheen, County Tipperary. [13259/21]

National Broadband Plan

Thomas Gould

124. Deputy Thomas Gould asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications the status of broadband roll-out in Rathpeacon, Old Mallow Road, Cork. [13258/21]

Credit Unions

Thomas Gould

282. Deputy Thomas Gould asked the Minister for Finance the process by which credit union members can call an annual general meeting; and if the process was affected by the Finance (Miscellaneous Provisions) Act 2020. [12787/21]

Credit Unions

Thomas Gould

283. Deputy Thomas Gould asked the Minister for Finance the length of time that may lapse between annual general meetings before the board of a credit union is under an obligation to convene such a meeting; and if the matter was affected by the Finance (Miscellaneous Provisions) Act 2020 or any Covid-19 measures related legislation. [12788/21]

Residential Tenancies Board

Thomas Gould

407. Deputy Thomas Gould asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the number of prosecutions that have been taken by the Residential Tenancies Board in relation to unregistered landlords. [13378/21]

Housing Policy

Thomas Gould

408. Deputy Thomas Gould asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the provisions in place to protect those in multi-occupancies from unsuitable conditions and in particular to prevent two to three-bedroom houses from renovation into large occupancy units of five to ten persons in cramped conditions. [13379/21]

Housing Issues

Thomas Gould

409. Deputy Thomas Gould asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage if his attention has been drawn to the concerns of residents living near colleges in relation to the 2021 summer months and the prospect of short-term large occupancy rentals. [13380/21]

Apprenticeship Programmes

Thomas Gould

681. Deputy Thomas Gould asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science the location in which guidance counsellors can access information on apprenticeship vacancies. [13375/21]

Apprenticeship Programmes

Thomas Gould

682. Deputy Thomas Gould asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science the plans to develop a portal for prospective apprentices to explore apprenticeship vacancies. [13376/21]

Health Services

Thomas Gould

844. Deputy Thomas Gould asked the Minister for Health the estimated cost of the national survey on drug and alcohol use in Ireland conducted by the Health Research Board. [12935/21]

Vaccination Programme

Thomas Gould

904. Deputy Thomas Gould asked the Minister for Health the status of the roll-out of vaccines to front-line healthcare workers; when this is expected to be completed; and if healthcare assistants are included in this phase. [13145/21]

Garda Training

Thomas Gould

170. Deputy Thomas Gould asked the Minister for Justice the training given to gardaí on implementation of the Criminal Justice (Psychoactive Substances) Act 2010. [12271/21]

Airport Policy

Thomas Gould

116. Deputy Thomas Gould asked the Minister for Transport if a commitment will be given to keep Cork Airport open and to support its success upon the eventual return to international travel. [11163/21]

Airport Policy

Thomas Gould

117. Deputy Thomas Gould asked the Minister for Transport the supports in place and those planned for Cork Airport. [11164/21]

Local Authority Housing

Thomas Gould

349. Deputy Thomas Gould asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the number of refurbishments carried out under each of the void casual let refurbishment schemes, respectively, by local authority in 2020, in tabular form. [11934/21]

Vaccination Programme

Thomas Gould

386. Deputy Thomas Gould asked the Minister for Defence if his attention has been drawn to the fact that members of the Defence Forces who are due to deploy overseas are awaiting vaccination; and when they are due to receive their vaccines, particularly in view of the worrying situation in which a deployment is due to Mali in the next two weeks. [12059/21]

Private Security Authority

Thomas Gould

676. Deputy Thomas Gould asked the Minister for Justice if consideration will be given to an extension to Private Security Authority, PSA, licences given the cost of renewing the licences and the restrictions on the sectors many of them would be used within; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [11491/21]

General Practitioner Services

Thomas Gould

762. Deputy Thomas Gould asked the Minister for Health the status of the continued closure of SouthDoc Blackpool and Listowel. [11154/21]

Service Level Agreements

Thomas Gould

763. Deputy Thomas Gould asked the Minister for Health if his attention has been drawn to a situation in which SouthDoc could be in breach of a service level agreement with the HSE worth almost €7.3 million; the steps he has taken or plans to take to investigate this possible breach; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [11155/21]

Health Services Access

Thomas Gould

801. Deputy Thomas Gould asked the Minister for Health the number of persons who have been waiting for podiatry appointments in County Cork for six, 12 and more than 24 months, respectively. [11333/21]

Hospital Waiting Lists

Thomas Gould

802. Deputy Thomas Gould asked the Minister for Health the number of persons who have been waiting for oncology appointments in County Cork for six, 12 and more than 24 months, respectively. [11335/21]

Cancer Services

Thomas Gould

803. Deputy Thomas Gould asked the Minister for Health the number of cancer screenings carried out by cancer type in 2019, 2020 and to date in 2021, respectively, in County Cork. [11336/21]

Vaccination Programme

Thomas Gould

804. Deputy Thomas Gould asked the Minister for Health the number of persons it is expected that general practitioner and pharmacy services in County Cork will be able to vaccinate daily; and the number expected to be vaccinated in each vaccination clinic in the city and county. [11337/21]

Addiction Treatment Services

Thomas Gould

973. Deputy Thomas Gould asked the Minister for Health the reasoning behind a change in narrative in the HSE national service plan with the addiction services section now referred to as drug and alcohol services and no commitment for any measures to address behavioural addictions; and if he or any of his Ministers of State were involved in this decision. [11977/21]

Flood Relief Schemes

Thomas Gould

80. Deputy Thomas Gould asked the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform the status of the Blackpool flood relief scheme. [11049/21]

Covid-19 Pandemic

Thomas Gould

208. Deputy Thomas Gould asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science if Safepass courses are still operating. [10657/21]

Addiction Treatment Services

Thomas Gould

311. Deputy Thomas Gould asked the Minister for Health if an external report and the subsequent recommendations on the Keltoi facility is to be published; and the timeline for this publication. [10859/21]

Recycling Policy

Thomas Gould

44. Deputy Thomas Gould asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications the initiatives currently operating and those planned to encourage domestic recycling. [9456/21]

Gambling Sector

Thomas Gould

214. Deputy Thomas Gould asked the Minister for Finance the way in which betting duty is used to combat the social costs of problem gambling as outlined as a purpose of the duty in his Department's general excise paper 2019, given that no Department has specific funding for combatting problem gambling. [10307/21]

Local Authority Housing

Thomas Gould

324. Deputy Thomas Gould asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage if funding for the voids programme is planned to be wound down, as suggested in circular 5 of 2019 issued to Cork City Council; if so, the timeline for same; and the measures that will be implemented for preventative maintenance in this instance. [10103/21]

Local Authority Housing

Thomas Gould

325. Deputy Thomas Gould asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage if local authorities are limited to applying only for the number of voids as set out in Rebuilding Ireland targets. [10119/21]

Local Authority Housing

Thomas Gould

326. Deputy Thomas Gould asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the difference between the standard refurbishment option and the homeless refurbishment option in relation to voids. [10128/21]

Garda Operations

Thomas Gould

734. Deputy Thomas Gould asked the Minister for Justice the details of the An Garda Síochána Operation Cribbage; and the current status of this operation. [10106/21]

Vaccination Programme

Thomas Gould

821. Deputy Thomas Gould asked the Minister for Health the way in which the vaccination clinic locations were chosen; if his attention has been drawn to the fact that there are none on the northside of Cork city; if consideration was given to a facility on the northside of Cork city; and the reason for the decision not to establish a mass vaccine clinic in this area. [9638/21]

Mental Health Services

Thomas Gould

862. Deputy Thomas Gould asked the Minister for Health the number of persons employed in the child and adolescent mental health services, CAMHS, on the north side of Cork city; the number who should be employed; and the number of vacancies waiting to be filled. [9822/21]

Mental Health Services

Thomas Gould

863. Deputy Thomas Gould asked the Minister for Health the waiting list for child and adolescent mental health services, CAMHS, by county. [9823/21]

Vaccination Programme

Thomas Gould

907. Deputy Thomas Gould asked the Minister for Health when persons who regularly work in front-line settings, for example, contract air ventilation installers who work primarily in a number of nursing homes and hospitals but are neither direct employees of the setting nor permanently stationed in one setting will receive the Covid-19 vaccine. [9946/21]

Hospital Services

Thomas Gould

993. Deputy Thomas Gould asked the Minister for Health when a full return to outpatient service is expected; and the metrics that will be used to decide same. [10276/21]

Vaccination Programme

Thomas Gould

310. Deputy Thomas Gould asked the Minister for Health when persons with Addison’s disease will be included in the vaccine roll-out. [9298/21]

National Transport Authority

Thomas Gould

123. Deputy Thomas Gould asked the Minister for Transport if local authorities applied for funding for specific projects under the sustainable transport fund; if these submissions are to be published; the projects submitted by Cork City Council; and the outcome of each in tabular form. [8947/21]

Mortgage Lending

Thomas Gould

153. Deputy Thomas Gould asked the Minister for Finance if he will engage with banks to request them to extend approval in principle for the duration of the level 5 lockdown and the ban on house visiting. [8445/21]

Covid-19 Pandemic

Thomas Gould

290. Deputy Thomas Gould asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage if consideration will be given to financial support for those who have carried out renovations or have incurred delays in housebuilding due to Covid-19 restrictions and have incurred additional financial delays due to same such as extended renting. [8519/21]

Covid-19 Pandemic

Thomas Gould

919. Deputy Thomas Gould asked the Minister for Health the services in place or planned for those persons suffering with long Covid. [8774/21]

Housing Provision

Thomas Gould

94. Deputy Thomas Gould asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the percentage of affordable, social and private houses, respectively, to be built on the St. Kevin's site in Cork city. [7543/21]