Parliamentary questions

Hospital Staff

Denis Naughten

774. Deputy Denis Naughten asked the Minister for Health further to Parliamentary Question No. 278 of 28 April 2022, when the post of Parkinson's disease nurse specialist in University Hospital Galway will be filled; the interim measures that will be put in place prior to the filling of this post; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [35792/22]

Hospital Services

Denis Naughten

812. Deputy Denis Naughten asked the Minister for Health the locations of the eight outpatient department respiratory medicine initiatives approved for funding so far in 2022 by the National Treatment Purchase Fund; the details of each initiative; the number of patients that each initiative is expected to take from the current waiting lists; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [36040/22]

Industrial Development

Denis Naughten

96. Deputy Denis Naughten asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment further to Parliamentary Question No. 10 of 19 May 2022, if his Department has received a reply from IDA Ireland in relation to acquiring lands in Ballinasloe; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [35152/22]

Flood Risk Management

Denis Naughten

132. Deputy Denis Naughten asked the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform the steps that are being taken at present to protect meadows within the Shannon Callows from flooding given the expected fodder shortage this winter following the significant levels of rainfall within the upper Shannon catchment recently; the number of sluice gates that were open and closed by the ESB and Waterways Ireland on 24 and 27 June 2022; the number of boards removed at Meelick Weir and Athlone for June 2022; the corresponding water level reference point north of each location in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [35153/22]

Flood Risk Management

Denis Naughten

136. Deputy Denis Naughten asked the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform the current status of works on the removal of the pinch points in the Shannon Callows between Athlone and Meelick Weir; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [35154/22]

Health Services

Denis Naughten

277. Deputy Denis Naughten asked the Minister for Health further to Parliamentary Question No. 49 of 26 May 2022, if he will list the sites set to provide a service to children; the sites providing long-Covid and post-acute clinics respectively on an interim basis to children; the current number of children awaiting an appointment at each clinic; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [35034/22]

Medicinal Products

Denis Naughten

290. Deputy Denis Naughten asked the Minister for Health the steps that are being taken to increase the volume of generic medicines used to fulfil prescriptions to achieve the European Union average of 70%; the estimated savings to the annual drug bill as a result; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [35122/22]

School Transport

Denis Naughten

88. Deputy Denis Naughten asked the Minister for Education when the review of the school transport scheme will be completed; if there is any proposal to increase the current rates of payment for the remote transport grant in light of rising fuel costs; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [34673/22]

Mental Health Services

Denis Naughten

153. Deputy Denis Naughten asked the Minister for Health if he has plans for the development of a new acute adult mental health unit to replace the existing unit at Roscommon University Hospital; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [34636/22]

Covid-19 Pandemic Supports

Denis Naughten

184. Deputy Denis Naughten asked the Minister for Health if agency staff working with patients in HSE facilities will receive the pandemic bonus payment; the person or body that is responsible for the decision as to which staff receive the payment in each hospital setting; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [34711/22]

Exports Growth

Denis Naughten

131. Deputy Denis Naughten asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment the financial supports that are available for start-up food export businesses in terms of capital and other supports; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [33754/22]

Irish Language

Denis Naughten

603. Deputy Denis Naughten asked the Minister for Education her plans to review the criteria to grant an exemption from learning Irish; the reason that the criteria focus on literacy scores rather than considering other factors of children with disabilities and additional learning needs; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [33889/22]

State Pensions

Denis Naughten

646. Deputy Denis Naughten asked the Minister for Social Protection if she will implement recommendation No. 27 of the pre-budget submission by the Oireachtas Joint Committee on Social Protection to provide State contributory PRSI credits to those who provide long-term foster care to ensure entitlement to a State pension after a lifetime of providing foster care and assisting the State; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [33958/22]

Social Welfare Benefits

Denis Naughten

656. Deputy Denis Naughten asked the Minister for Social Protection the number of claims submitted and the number of persons who have received enhanced illness benefit for Covid-19; the number of persons who were in payment for two, four, six, eight and ten weeks, respectively; the number of persons who transferred over to illness benefit after the ten-week payment period had expired; the number of these claims that were in payment for more than two weeks; the number that was transferred over to disability allowance after the ten-week payment period had expired; the number of these claims that were in payment for more than two weeks; the number of such claims that were rejected or pending; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [34470/22]

Health Services Staff

Denis Naughten

809. Deputy Denis Naughten asked the Minister for Health the steps he is taking to appoint additional neurology nurse specialists throughout the HSE; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [33955/22]

Hospital Staff

Denis Naughten

810. Deputy Denis Naughten asked the Minister for Health the steps he is taking to appoint nine extra neurology nurse specialists at University Hospital Galway; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [33956/22]

Health Services

Denis Naughten

869. Deputy Denis Naughten asked the Minister for Health the number of children awaiting physiotherapy appointments in counties Roscommon and Galway; the current waiting times for appointments; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [34283/22]

Medical Cards

Denis Naughten

877. Deputy Denis Naughten asked the Minister for Health the reason that medical card holders entitled to a medical card as a result of getting a social security pension from the United Kingdom or working and paying social insurance in the UK are not entitled to treatment under the cross-Border directive; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [34330/22]

Medical Cards

Denis Naughten

878. Deputy Denis Naughten asked the Minister for Health the reason that medical card holders entitled to a medical card as a result of getting a social security pension from the United Kingdom or working and paying social insurance in the UK are not informed that they will not receive cover under the cross-Border directive; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [34331/22]

Covid-19 Pandemic Supports

Denis Naughten

913. Deputy Denis Naughten asked the Minister for Health if kitchen staff, including cooks will receive the pandemic bonus payment; the person or body responsible for the decision as to which staff receive the payment in each hospital setting; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [34444/22]

Vaccination Programme

Denis Naughten

914. Deputy Denis Naughten asked the Minister for Health when it is expected that healthcare workers will receive the second Covid vaccine booster; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [34445/22]

Hospital Waiting Lists

Denis Naughten

399. Deputy Denis Naughten asked the Minister for Health the current waiting time for COPD assessments at the hospitals within the Saolta Group; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [33267/22]

Medical Aids and Appliances

Denis Naughten

424. Deputy Denis Naughten asked the Minister for Health when a person (details supplied) will receive their medical appliance; the reason for the delay in same; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [33379/22]

Covid-19 Pandemic Supports

Denis Naughten

5. Deputy Denis Naughten asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment the number of claims submitted and the number of persons that have received enhanced illness benefit for Covid-19; the number of persons that were in payment for two, four, six, eight and ten weeks, respectively; the number of persons who transferred over to illness benefit after the ten week payment period had expired; the number of these claims that were in payment for more than two weeks; the number that were transferred over to disability allowance after the ten week payment period had expired; the number of these claims that were in payment for more than two weeks; the number of such claims that were rejected or pending; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [33101/22]

Covid-19 Pandemic

Denis Naughten

197. Deputy Denis Naughten asked the Minister for Health further to Parliamentary Question No. 49 of 26 May 2022, if he will list the sites providing long-Covid and post-acute clinics respectively on an interim basis; the current number awaiting an appointment at each clinic; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [33100/22]

Research Funding

Denis Naughten

103. Deputy Denis Naughten asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications further to Parliamentary Question No. 247 of 14 June 2022, if he will publish the interim report; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [32667/22]

Disadvantaged Status

Denis Naughten

579. Deputy Denis Naughten asked the Minister for Education the current status of a DEIS appeal by a school (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [32649/22]

Hospital Waiting Lists

Denis Naughten

763. Deputy Denis Naughten asked the Minister for Health the current waiting times for routine and urgent x-rays and routine and urgent scans, respectively at Roscommon University Hospital; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [32135/22]

Hospital Equipment

Denis Naughten

775. Deputy Denis Naughten asked the Minister for Health if x-rays and scans performed across the Saolta Hospital Group can be accessed and read in each hospital within the group; if patient files can be accessed and edited at all locations within the Saolta Hospital Group; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [32231/22]

Hospital Appointments Status

Denis Naughten

814. Deputy Denis Naughten asked the Minister for Health when a person (details supplied) will receive a date for surgery; the reason for the delay; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [32520/22]

Defence Forces

Denis Naughten

369. Deputy Denis Naughten asked the Minister for Defence if he will consider Custume Barracks, Athlone, as the location for the proposed Army headquarters as recommended in the report of the Commission on the Defence Forces; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [31654/22]

Special Educational Needs

Denis Naughten

374. Deputy Denis Naughten asked the Minister for Education further to the Topical Issue of 18 May 2022 with regard to ASD primary and post-primary places in Athlone and south County Roscommon in September 2022, the progress to date; the number of parents who have been offered a local place for their child since 18 May 2022 at primary and post-primary level, respectively; the number of children that the National Council for Special Education is aware of who still have not been offered a local placement for September 2022; the specific steps that she is taking to address this situation; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [31390/22]

Hospital Facilities

Denis Naughten

495. Deputy Denis Naughten asked the Minister for Health if he will commence plans for an urgently needed 50-bed ward block extension at Portiuncula Hospital, Ballinasloe to meet the growing needs of the hospital and the catchment it serves now that construction has commenced on the 50-bed replacement ward block at the hospital; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [31656/22]

Health Services

Denis Naughten

526. Deputy Denis Naughten asked the Minister for Health the areas in which the two super-regional specialist centres for complex endometriosis care will be located; the areas in which the six hospital-based teams involved in the holistic treatment of endometriosis will be located; the make-up of each team and the staffing and services that will be provided at the specialist centres; the current services that are available to support patients with endometriosis in the west and north west; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [31694/22]

Research Funding

Denis Naughten

247. Deputy Denis Naughten asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications when the analysis of the warmth and well-being scheme that was carried out by a university (details supplied) commenced; when preliminary results were presented to his Department; when the final report will be presented to his Department; the total funding allocated to date for the research; the total funding drawn down to date for the research; if the institution concerned has issued an apology for its failure to provide research in a timely manner in order that it can facilitate policy development in this area by his Department; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [30948/22]

Tax Code

Denis Naughten

411. Deputy Denis Naughten asked the Minister for Finance his plans to zero rate animal vaccines; his plans to zero rate human vaccines; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [30646/22]

Hospital Appointments Status

Denis Naughten

1515. Deputy Denis Naughten asked the Minister for Health when a person (details supplied) will be called for surgery; the reason for the delay in same; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [29525/22]

Hospital Procedures

Denis Naughten

1930. Deputy Denis Naughten asked the Minister for Health when a person (details supplied) will be called for a procedure; the reason for the delay; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [30953/22]

Agriculture Schemes

Denis Naughten

1987. Deputy Denis Naughten asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if he will allow farmers under the GLAS low input permanent pasture measure to take a forage crop off in 2022 to meet projected animal feed demands this winter; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [30647/22]

Agriculture Schemes

Denis Naughten

1988. Deputy Denis Naughten asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if the traditional hay meadow measure under GLAS is eligible for the recently announced silage scheme; if he will bring forward the harvest date to allow for a second crop to be harvested; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [30648/22]

Library Services

Denis Naughten

2014. Deputy Denis Naughten asked the Minister for Rural and Community Development if the €155,240 allocated to Roscommon County Council for the refurbishment of Ballaghaderreen Library has been drawn down; if her Department has been advised of an opening date for the library; when she intends to visit the refurbished library; the reason for the delay in the library reopening; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [29708/22]

Library Services

Denis Naughten

2015. Deputy Denis Naughten asked the Minister for Rural and Community Development if the €40,000 allocated to Roscommon County Council for the refurbishment of Strokestown Library has been drawn down; if so, when; if her Department has been advised of an opening date for the library; the reason for the exceptional delay in the library reopening; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [29709/22]

Childcare Services

Denis Naughten

38. Deputy Denis Naughten asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth the steps he is taking to address the current recruitment crisis within the childcare sector; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [28263/22]

Childcare Services

Denis Naughten

63. Deputy Denis Naughten asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth the steps he is taking to address the current retention crisis within the childcare sector; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [28264/22]

Telecommunications Services

Denis Naughten

112. Deputy Denis Naughten asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications the steps that he is taking to improve mobile phone coverage in rural areas; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [28254/22]

Community Employment Schemes

Denis Naughten

295. Deputy Denis Naughten asked the Minister for Social Protection the reason that her Department has failed to honour an Enhanced Redundancy Agreement for community employment supervisors since 2014; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [28691/22]

Covid-19 Pandemic

Denis Naughten

377. Deputy Denis Naughten asked the Minister for Health when the pandemic special recognition payment of up to a maximum of €1,000 per person will be made to non-HSE frontline healthcare workers; when staff in private nursing homes will receive the payment; the reason for the delay; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [28615/22]

Medical Aids and Appliances

Denis Naughten

380. Deputy Denis Naughten asked the Minister for Health when a person (details supplied) will receive their approved appliance; the reason for the delay in same; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [28640/22]

Forestry Sector

Denis Naughten

236. Deputy Denis Naughten asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the area of land planted with new forestry in each of the past ten years; the areas for which a grant was provided; the area of land felled in each corresponding year; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [28246/22]

Hospital Appointments Status

Denis Naughten

705. Deputy Denis Naughten asked the Minister for Health when a person (details supplied) will receive a date for surgery; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [27618/22]