Parliamentary questions

Maritime Safety

Fergus O'Dowd

62. Deputy Fergus O'Dowd asked the Minister for Transport further to Parliamentary Question Nos. 198 of 13 December 2022 and 160 of 18 January 2023m to detail if any State body is responsible to compel ship owners to progress survey application to the MSO, in particular in situations whereby the ship is causing environmental and general safety concerns as the Hebble Ship continues to cause as it lies on the Boyne River in the centre of Drogheda; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [7569/23]

Tourism Funding

Fergus O'Dowd

81. Deputy Fergus O'Dowd asked the Minister for Tourism, Culture, Arts, Gaeltacht, Sport and Media the works that have been completed to date under the €700 thousand awarded to Drogheda under Fáilte Ireland’s urban animation capital investment scheme; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [7702/23]

Housing Schemes

Fergus O'Dowd

87. Deputy Fergus O'Dowd asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage if consideration is being given to expand the Croí Cónaithe scheme to include properties that could be rented to help alleviate the housing crisis; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [7536/23]

General Practitioner Services

Fergus O'Dowd

169. Deputy Fergus O'Dowd asked the Minister for Health if a review can be undertaken to examine the viability of the out of hours GP north east contract (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [7500/23]

Care of the Elderly

Fergus O'Dowd

205. Deputy Fergus O'Dowd asked the Minister for Health if he will seek an update on future development plans for the St. Marys Hospital site on the Dublin Road, Drogheda following completion of the new 30 bed community nursing units due for completion in 2023; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [7701/23]

Public Sector Pensions

Fergus O'Dowd

116. Deputy Fergus O'Dowd asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications the further progress being made in signing-off on pension increases due to retired An Post workers for 2023; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [6578/23]

Third Level Costs

Fergus O'Dowd

456. Deputy Fergus O'Dowd asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science his views on matters raised by a person (details attached) in respect of the financial pressures on medical graduates; if there are any financial supports that can be drawn down in such a situation; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [7047/23]

Medicinal Products

Fergus O'Dowd

548. Deputy Fergus O'Dowd asked the Minister for Health if he will respond to concerns raised from a person (details supplied) in respect of access to cariban; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [6501/23]

Nursing Homes

Fergus O'Dowd

619. Deputy Fergus O'Dowd asked the Minister for Health if a response will issue to queries raised by an organisation (details supplied) in respect of nursing home charges; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [6667/23]

Primary Care Centres

Fergus O'Dowd

659. Deputy Fergus O'Dowd asked the Minister for Health if he will provide an update on the refurbishment, refitting and extension of the Castlebellingham health centre to a new primary care centre; the total expected cost of the project; the list of services that will be provided in the new premises; the expected completion date; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [6782/23]

Departmental Programmes

Fergus O'Dowd

911. Deputy Fergus O'Dowd asked the Minister for Rural and Community Development the total number of applications received for funding under the Community Services Programme for County Louth, by organisation name and location for 2023 [6748/23]

Greenways Provision

Fergus O'Dowd

914. Deputy Fergus O'Dowd asked the Minister for Rural and Community Development if she will provide an update on the proposed works for the Mell Greenway, Drogheda, following the further engagement from her Department offering an extension to 31 January 2023 to allow the local authority to progress the project; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [7096/23]

Departmental Schemes

Fergus O'Dowd

112. Deputy Fergus O'Dowd asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications if progress has been made to provide a mechanism that will allow full-time residents of mobile homes to access some form of energy credit to deal with the crippling energy prices through the €10 million fund announced in the energy poverty action plan, given that they have not benefitted from the energy credits to date; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [6389/23]

Social Welfare Schemes

Fergus O'Dowd

196. Deputy Fergus O'Dowd asked the Minister for Social Protection if there is any further update with respect to making free travel passes available to persons diagnosed with epilepsy who are temporarily unable to drive due to their illness, further to the discussions that took place with an organisation (details supplied) in 2022; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [6390/23]

Employment Rights

Fergus O'Dowd

51. Deputy Fergus O'Dowd asked the Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment his views on concerns raised by a small business owner (details supplied) in respect of upcoming sick leave changes; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [5553/23]

Third Level Education

Fergus O'Dowd

78. Deputy Fergus O'Dowd asked the Minister for Transport if he will seek an update from a company (details supplied) as to whether it will be providing the 50% reduction to students in the Louth and Meath area on their route to Maynooth University, which, to date, has seen no reduction in price since the Government’s announcement last year; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [5601/23]

Primary Care Centres

Fergus O'Dowd

345. Deputy Fergus O'Dowd asked the Minister for Health to provide an update on the refurbishment, refitting and extension of the Castlebellingham health centre to a new primary care centre; the total expected cost of the project; the list of services that will be provided in the new premises; the expected completion date; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [5628/23]

Health Service Executive

Fergus O'Dowd

406. Deputy Fergus O'Dowd asked the Minister for Health , further to Parliamentary Question No. 301 of 27 October 2022, received on 23 January 2023, the names of the persons and the companies involved in carrying out these reports; the moneys paid to each; the title of each report; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [5810/23]

Departmental Data

Fergus O'Dowd

426. Deputy Fergus O'Dowd asked the Minister for Health the number and cost of independent investigations carried out and finalised by his Department since January 2019; the persons and companies carrying out the investigations; the outcome of these investigations; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [5925/23]

Special Educational Needs

Fergus O'Dowd

128. Deputy Fergus O'Dowd asked the Minister for Education her views on the key recommendations of the report on the summer programme 2023 (details supplied), published by the Joint Oireachtas Committee on Autism in November 2022; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [4882/23]

Mental Health Services

Fergus O'Dowd

252. Deputy Fergus O'Dowd asked the Minister for Health the total number of staff working in all CAMHS services in County Louth, by name and location of service, total number of staff employed, and the number of vacant posts, in each of the years 2020 to 2022 and to date in 2023 in tabular form covering south Louth and east Meath as of 1 December 2022; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [4997/23]

Northern Ireland

Fergus O'Dowd

24. Deputy Fergus O'Dowd asked the Taoiseach if he will provide an update on his most recent engagement with political representatives and groups from Northern Ireland since he returned to Oifig an Taoisigh. [1679/23]

Northern Ireland

Fergus O'Dowd

69. Deputy Fergus O'Dowd asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs if he will provide an update on the latest information regarding the Northern Ireland protocol and related negotiations; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [4400/23]

Northern Ireland

Fergus O'Dowd

78. Deputy Fergus O'Dowd asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs if he will provide an update on the efforts being made to assist in the re-establishment of the Northern Ireland Executive; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [4401/23]

Tax Code

Fergus O'Dowd

255. Deputy Fergus O'Dowd asked the Minister for Finance his views on the concerns raised by a person (details supplied) in respect of the application of VAT for hairdressers; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [4071/23]

Departmental Schemes

Fergus O'Dowd

323. Deputy Fergus O'Dowd asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage when he expects to make an announcement on the allocated 2023 budget for housing adaptation grants for older people and people with disabilities and housing aid for older people to local authorities for private dwellings; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [4034/23]

School Transport

Fergus O'Dowd

461. Deputy Fergus O'Dowd asked the Minister for Education to provide details on how a community can propose a school bus route where a large number of school children have been identified as in need for school transport.; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [4683/23]

State Bodies

Fergus O'Dowd

580. Deputy Fergus O'Dowd asked the Minister for Health if he will establish the office of an independent commissioner for ageing and older people. [4572/23]

Mental Health Services

Fergus O'Dowd

667. Deputy Fergus O'Dowd asked the Minister for Health his views on concerns and proposals for a coordinated response from an organisation (details supplied) in respect of the CAMHS report released this week; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [4190/23]

Health Service Executive

Fergus O'Dowd

701. Deputy Fergus O'Dowd asked the Minister for Health the date the HSE received its commissioned report from an organisation (details supplied) into the running of St. Mary’s Hospital, Phoenix Park, following a protected disclosure; the cost to date of this report; if it has now been finalised; if not, the reason for this delay; when it will be published; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [4459/23]

Care of the Elderly

Fergus O'Dowd

721. Deputy Fergus O'Dowd asked the Minister for Health if he will establish an independent commissioner for aging and older people; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [4571/23]

Departmental Schemes

Fergus O'Dowd

741. Deputy Fergus O'Dowd asked the Minister for Health the progress made to date on the introduction of a statutory home care scheme as promised in the Programme for Government; the timetable for its introduction; the number and rank of civil servants working full-time on this scheme for each year since 2019; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [4730/23]

Care of the Elderly

Fergus O'Dowd

742. Deputy Fergus O'Dowd asked the Minister for Health the progress to date on the establishment of a commission for care as promised in the Programme for Government, which will examine care and supports for older people; the timeline for its introduction; the number and grade of civil servants working full-time on this policy commitment; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [4731/23]

Nursing Homes

Fergus O'Dowd

743. Deputy Fergus O'Dowd asked the Minister for Health the progress made by him to date on implementing the Programme for Government promise to ensure that no nursing home support scheme resident is charged for services that they do not use; the number of nursing homes that have such additional charges and how, by which agency the scheme is notified to residents where these additional charges are applied; the success to date; if he will publish the data held by his Department and the HSE in relation to the homes that have such charges; the number of residents who now are no longer are paying these additional charges; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [4732/23]

Sport and Recreational Development

Fergus O'Dowd

53. Deputy Fergus O'Dowd asked the Minister for Tourism, Culture, Arts, Gaeltacht, Sport and Media to provide details on the way the Government is encouraging national sporting bodies/organisations to actively promote integration, unity and activity for asylum seekers and refugees nationwide; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [3506/23]

Sports Funding

Fergus O'Dowd

75. Deputy Fergus O'Dowd asked the Minister for Tourism, Culture, Arts, Gaeltacht, Sport and Media the expected timeline for the opening of the next round of the sports capital grant scheme; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [3507/23]

Road Projects

Fergus O'Dowd

150. Deputy Fergus O'Dowd asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage if he will provide a full updated brief on the Narrow Water Bridge project, including expected commencement dates, expected funding requirements and expected funding schemes which will be utilised to progress the long-awaited project; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [3239/23]

School Staff

Fergus O'Dowd

110. Deputy Fergus O'Dowd asked the Minister for Education further to Parliamentary Question No. 677 of 18 January 2023, in respect of the concerns and requests by an organisation (details supplied), if he will meet with the stakeholders to discuss this issue, with a view to considering and discussing options to find a solution agreeable to all parties; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [3474/23]

Company Closures

Fergus O'Dowd

115. Deputy Fergus O'Dowd asked the Minister for Social Protection if she will ensure that all available supports are made available to the employees of a company (details supplied) affected by the company's announcement to close their Irish operations in June 2023; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [3463/23]

Medicinal Products

Fergus O'Dowd

169. Deputy Fergus O'Dowd asked the Minister for Health if Saxenda will be approved for persons covered by a medical card; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [3464/23]

Tax Reliefs

Fergus O'Dowd

95. Deputy Fergus O'Dowd asked the Minister for Finance if he will respond to concerns raised by the many thousands of benefit-in-kind recipients who are facing much higher payments following the introduction of new rates as of January 2023; his views on the new EV BIK rates considering the potential knock-on effect of reducing the number of electric vehicles purchased under the scheme due to extortionate BIK payments; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [2995/23]

Tax Code

Fergus O'Dowd

154. Deputy Fergus O'Dowd asked the Minister for Finance his views on the possible easing of VAT rates for retrofitting works or renewable energy works for domestic purposes, to assist homeowners in reducing reliance on energy providers in a crippling energy crisis; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [2996/23]

National Broadband Plan

Fergus O'Dowd

188. Deputy Fergus O'Dowd asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications if he will respond to queries raised in correspondence by a person (details supplied) in respect of the frustration felt in rural areas at the delays to the roll-out of the national broadband plan; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [2861/23]

Business Supports

Fergus O'Dowd

234. Deputy Fergus O'Dowd asked the Minister for Finance if he will provide details on the way new businesses can apply for and access the much-needed temporary business energy support scheme; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [62066/22]

Inflation Rate

Fergus O'Dowd

237. Deputy Fergus O'Dowd asked the Minister for Finance what further measures his Department is considering in dealing with rising inflation in the year 2023; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [56473/22]

Education and Training Boards

Fergus O'Dowd

358. Deputy Fergus O'Dowd asked the Minister for Education if she will provide an update on the progress of the LMETB headquarters plans for Drogheda; if plans for the headquarters will be funded; if so, when; when the project is expected to commence; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [3118/23]

Road Projects

Fergus O'Dowd

15. Deputy Fergus O'Dowd asked the Minister for Transport the current status of the Meath County Council draft appraisal for the proposed Julianstown bypass, which aims to deal with the relentless congestion experienced in the village; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [1343/23]

Rail Network

Fergus O'Dowd

71. Deputy Fergus O'Dowd asked the Minister for Transport if he will commit to engaging with Iarnród Éireann in respect of the urgent need to reopen the Dunleer train station in County Louth, which lies between the main Drogheda and Dundalk stations, in order to reduce the significant number of commuters using vehicles in the mid-Louth area for their daily commute and to provide much-needed choice to residents of the area at a time when the cost of living is greatly affecting commuters; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [1342/23]

National Monuments

Fergus O'Dowd

122. Deputy Fergus O'Dowd asked the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform the status of the future use of a location (details supplied), following his visit to Drogheda in 2022 and his Department’s constructive engagement on the matter; if he will provide details of Louth County Council’s plan to develop the site to become a public realm for tourism and events; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [1345/23]

Interest Rates

Fergus O'Dowd

155. Deputy Fergus O'Dowd asked the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform the further measures his Department is considering in dealing with crippling rising interest rates, which are greatly affecting thousands of households across the country; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [1344/23]