Parliamentary questions

Transport Policy

Fergus O'Dowd

265. Deputy Fergus O'Dowd asked the Minister for Transport the progress which has been made since both Drogheda and Dundalk were included in the 35 exemplar transport projects announced as part of the Pathfinder programme in October 2022; the expected timelines for the commencement of both projects respectively; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [1705/23]

Tax Reliefs

Fergus O'Dowd

353. Deputy Fergus O'Dowd asked the Minister for Finance if he will respond to concerns raised by a person (details supplied) in respect of the changes to benefit-in-kind for 2023 which will negatively impact the vast majority of benefit-in-kind recipients; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [1628/23]

Tax Credits

Fergus O'Dowd

378. Deputy Fergus O'Dowd asked the Minister for Finance his views on matters raised in correspondence (details supplied) in respect of the recently introduced rent relief; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [2176/23]

Housing Schemes

Fergus O'Dowd

495. Deputy Fergus O'Dowd asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage if he will respond to concerns raised by a person (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [63693/22]

Housing Schemes

Fergus O'Dowd

496. Deputy Fergus O'Dowd asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage if he will provide details on the much-anticipated review of the first-time home scheme ceiling prices, in particular for counties Louth and Meath, further to previous calls by this Deputy, given there are few to no new homes in the Louth area for less than the current €300,000 ceiling price; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [63694/22]

Housing Policy

Fergus O'Dowd

562. Deputy Fergus O'Dowd asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage if the Inflation Co-Operation Framework, which sees the State bearing up to 70% of the additional inflationary costs on public works contracts, will encompass Part V builds; if so, if he will outline if it is the responsibility of the relevant local authority to progress such an application to the scheme or if it lies with the developer; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [1668/23]

School Staff

Fergus O'Dowd

677. Deputy Fergus O'Dowd asked the Minister for Education her views on matters raised in correspondence (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [63372/22]

School Transport

Fergus O'Dowd

781. Deputy Fergus O'Dowd asked the Minister for Education if she will outline when the long-awaited review of the school transport scheme is due to be completed and the recommendations published; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [1784/23]

Educational Disadvantage

Fergus O'Dowd

789. Deputy Fergus O'Dowd asked the Minister for Education if her Department assesses the number of medical card holders within a school as an accurate measurement of gathering vital information on pupils, as opposed to the Eircode, which can inaccurately represent families in regard to the data used to decide DEIS status; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [1937/23]

Social Welfare Benefits

Fergus O'Dowd

930. Deputy Fergus O'Dowd asked the Minister for Social Protection if she will provide an update on the proposals that have been raised by an organisation (details supplied) with respect to making free travel passes available to persons diagnosed with epilepsy who are temporarily unable to drive due to their illness; the steps that have been taken since she met with the organisation in 2022; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [2180/23]

International Protection

Fergus O'Dowd

966. Deputy Fergus O'Dowd asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth if he will urgently review a matter (details supplied) reported over the weekend that families have been given only 48 hours’ notice before being moved to the other side of the country; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [63803/22]

Nursing Homes

Fergus O'Dowd

1240. Deputy Fergus O'Dowd asked the Minister for Health the date on which the external audit of temporary assistance payments scheme to nursing homes was received by the NTPF; the cost of this audit to date; the findings of the audit; if it has been received by his Department; if so, the date on which it was received; if he will publish this audit in full; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [63527/22]

General Practitioner Services

Fergus O'Dowd

1329. Deputy Fergus O'Dowd asked the Minister for Health the measures that are being taken to support Ukrainians currently in State-provided accommodation to get access to appropriate GP care (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [63843/22]

Mental Health Services

Fergus O'Dowd

1332. Deputy Fergus O'Dowd asked the Minister for Health if the appropriate official within the mental health services can contact a person (details supplied) with respect to their views on the provision of mental health services; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [63856/22]

Mental Health Services

Fergus O'Dowd

1333. Deputy Fergus O'Dowd asked the Minister for Health the total number of persons awaiting a psychologist report for MHID services in each of the CHO 8 areas; the current expected waiting time for an assessment; if he plans to expand services within this area in 2023; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [63857/22]

Health Services Staff

Fergus O'Dowd

1346. Deputy Fergus O'Dowd asked the Minister for Health if any consideration has been given to fast-tracking the medical registration of Ukrainian health care professionals in order to ensure that any available doctors and nurses are in a position to assist in our health staff recruitment crisis; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [63887/22]

Dental Services

Fergus O'Dowd

1413. Deputy Fergus O'Dowd asked the Minister for Health the total amount of moneys provided by the HSE to dentists under the dental treatment services scheme contracts for services provided to medical card holders by county in each of the years 2018 to 2022 and to date in 2023; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [1152/23]

Emergency Departments

Fergus O'Dowd

1445. Deputy Fergus O'Dowd asked the Minister for Health if a decision has been agreed upon to provide the appropriate resources to the accident and emergency department in Our Lady of Lourdes Hospital, Drogheda, identified in the HSE review of the closure of the accident and emergency department in Navan Hospital; if the review will be published; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [1291/23]

Medicinal Products

Fergus O'Dowd

1500. Deputy Fergus O'Dowd asked the Minister for Health the details of the way that the Government is actively addressing the serious shortage of penicillin-based antibiotics along with a significant number of additional high-level drugs; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [1486/23]

General Practitioner Services

Fergus O'Dowd

1527. Deputy Fergus O'Dowd asked the Minister for Health if he will outline the Government’s plan to attract much needed GPs into the country notwithstanding the existing plan to train 350 GPs per year by 2026; the additional resources that are being provided to encourage GPs back into the system; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [1621/23]

General Practitioner Services

Fergus O'Dowd

1529. Deputy Fergus O'Dowd asked the Minister for Health if he will provide details on the way that he and his Department are actively engaging with the providers of the North East Doctor on Call service to address the major pressures on the current service which is leaving many persons unable to access out of hours GPs (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [1625/23]

Healthcare Infrastructure Provision

Fergus O'Dowd

1723. Deputy Fergus O'Dowd asked the Minister for Health if he will provide an update on the progression of the new community nursing development at St. Mary's Hospital, Dublin Rd, Drogheda; when the project is expected to be completed; if he will supply other relevant information; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [2381/23]

Coillte Teoranta

Fergus O'Dowd

1851. Deputy Fergus O'Dowd asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine his views on concerns and proposals raised by a person (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [1766/23]

Library Projects

Fergus O'Dowd

6. Deputy Fergus O'Dowd asked the Minister for Rural and Community Development if further progress has been made with regard to the purchase and location of a new library for Dunleer, County Louth, given the large increase in local population and the welcome increase in the numbers attending the current facility over the past number of years; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [62718/22]

Greenways Provision

Fergus O'Dowd

18. 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 extensions and assistance to Louth County Council to ensure that the monies would not be lost further to the approvement of €200,000 for the project through the outdoor recreational scheme in February 2020; if a final decision has been made on the project; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [62717/22]

Air Quality

Fergus O'Dowd

96. Deputy Fergus O'Dowd asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications if he will provide an update on the required establishment of dedicated resources within regional lead authorities to provide co-ordination, expertise and advice to ensure enforcement of the new air-quality regulations nationwide; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [62729/22]

Energy Prices

Fergus O'Dowd

104. Deputy Fergus O'Dowd asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications if he and his Department have made any progress with respect to supporting full-time residents in mobile homes by providing much-needed vital access to the €200 electricity payments given that the payment is intended to be issued to all principal residences; if he will issue a statement of intent to support this vulnerable cohort; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [62728/22]

Transport Infrastructure Ireland

Fergus O'Dowd

183. Deputy Fergus O'Dowd asked the Minister for Transport the estimated total cost to the State and total length of time remaining on the M1 toll contract; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [62879/22]

Disadvantaged Status

Fergus O'Dowd

242. Deputy Fergus O'Dowd asked the Minister for Education the total number of DEIS appeals that have been received by county and location; the reason for refusals in tabular form; the mechanism by which a school can be independently reviewed after a failed review if it disagrees with the appeal; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [63094/22]

Health Services

Fergus O'Dowd

267. Deputy Fergus O'Dowd asked the Minister for Health if he has received the audit of TAPS payments undertaken by both the NTPF and the HSE; if so, if he will publish the audit in full; if the audit is not completed when he expects to receive the report and publish same; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [62520/22]

Work Permits

Fergus O'Dowd

87. Deputy Fergus O'Dowd asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment if he will provide an update on the way that the Government is addressing and providing more employment opportunities to healthcare staff in both the home care sector and the broader health sector through the employment permit process to help deal with Ireland's current staff shortages; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [62067/22]

Departmental Communications

Fergus O'Dowd

198. Deputy Fergus O'Dowd asked the Minister for Transport to provide details on the communications received by his Department from the vessel owners of the Hebble Sand dredge ship currently moored in Drogheda after being refloated following its sinking earlier this year, in respect of their plan to remove the unsightly and environmentally impactful vessel; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [62012/22]

Financial Services

Fergus O'Dowd

242. Deputy Fergus O'Dowd asked the Minister for Finance his views on matters raised in correspondence (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [61906/22]

Planning Issues

Fergus O'Dowd

309. Deputy Fergus O'Dowd asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage with regard to SI 309 of 2022 which provides for planning exemptions for temporary accommodation for displaced Ukrainians, if any proposals are being brought forward to streamline the required building regulations to ensure a timely turnaround on proposals; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [62135/22]

Disabilities Assessments

Fergus O'Dowd

476. Deputy Fergus O'Dowd asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science if any explanation can be given to students suffering from a diagnosis of dyscalculia where they are having to source and pay a psychologist to complete an assessment report in order to apply for the DARE scheme, when required assessments for dyslexia and other assessment are undertaken by the school; if he will provide details; if there are any plans to address the matter; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [62011/22]

Health Services

Fergus O'Dowd

568. Deputy Fergus O'Dowd asked the Minister for Health his views on matters raised in correspondence (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [61813/22]

Dental Services

Fergus O'Dowd

621. Deputy Fergus O'Dowd asked the Minister for Health the total number of dentists who are registered to provide services to patients with medical cards in counties Louth and Meath over the years 2019 to date in 2022, in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [62168/22]

Nursing Homes

Fergus O'Dowd

70. Deputy Fergus O'Dowd asked the Minister for Health the total funding allocated under each individual scheme of support for nursing homes during the Covid-19 pandemic; if he will ensure that this funding is audited and the audit findings will be published; if he will carry out an inquiry into the way that nursing homes performed during the Covid-19 pandemic; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [60912/22]

Mental Health Services

Fergus O'Dowd

301. Deputy Fergus O'Dowd asked the Minister for Health his views on the considerable savings that the State may make by frontloading investment in mental health services, rather than the current funding model; if he would like to see changes in the funding model going forward; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [56474/22]

Dental Services

Fergus O'Dowd

304. Deputy Fergus O'Dowd asked the Minister for Health the number of patients seen for emergency care only at HSE dental clinics, broken down by county for each of the past four years; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [61406/22]

Sports Funding

Fergus O'Dowd

26. Deputy Fergus O'Dowd asked the Minister for Tourism, Culture, Arts, Gaeltacht, Sport and Media if a response will issue to issues raised in correspondence by a local football club (details supplied) with regard to funding issues; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [61188/22]

Schools Building Projects

Fergus O'Dowd

52. Deputy Fergus O'Dowd asked the Minister for Education the progress that has been made, from the date of the original application to date, on the construction of a school (details supplied); the reason for the delays, if any, in progressing the application; the expected commencement date for the construction of the school; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [61109/22]

Third Level Fees

Fergus O'Dowd

95. Deputy Fergus O'Dowd asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science if a response will issue to correspondence from a person (details supplied) in respect of third level fees; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [61281/22]

Crime Prevention

Fergus O'Dowd

51. Deputy Fergus O'Dowd asked the Minister for Justice if she will provide an update on progress to date on implementing the Gerian Report by the Drogheda Implementation Board; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [60454/22]

Health Services

Fergus O'Dowd

577. Deputy Fergus O'Dowd asked the Minister for Health if a response will issue to correspondence (details supplied) in relation to supports for persons living with neurological conditions; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [60383/22]

Departmental Reports

Fergus O'Dowd

596. Deputy Fergus O'Dowd asked the Minister for Health if a response will issue to correspondence (details supplied) regarding the McHugh Report; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [60443/22]

Community Care

Fergus O'Dowd

653. Deputy Fergus O'Dowd asked the Minister for Health when a community neuro-rehabilitation team will be set up in CHO8 (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [60758/22]

Housing Schemes

Fergus O'Dowd

6. Deputy Fergus O'Dowd asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the status of the Croí Cónaithe vacant property refurbishment grant; if the current grant amounts will be reviewed to entice more persons into the scheme; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [59669/22]

Site Acquisitions

Fergus O'Dowd

47. Deputy Fergus O'Dowd asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage if he will provide details in relation to the announcement that €100 million is being allocated to fund land legacy debt and €125 million is being allocated to establish a land acquisition fund under the Housing Agency; the way that this will assist in the case of Louth County Council and its applicable sites; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [59670/22]

Education and Training Boards

Fergus O'Dowd

100. Deputy Fergus O'Dowd asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science his views with respect to the campaign for better working conditions and pay led by personal assistants working in institutes for further education; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [59672/22]