Parliamentary questions

Hospice Services Provision

Mattie McGrath

401. Deputy Mattie McGrath asked the Minister for Health when construction will proceed on the new hospice unit at St Theresa's Hospital; the efforts are being made to bring into operation further hospices, the construction of which local communities have funded; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [32325/17]

Mental Health Services Data

Mattie McGrath

403. Deputy Mattie McGrath asked the Minister for Health to set down the number of children and adolescents waiting for mental health services in County Tipperary; the waiting times for services in County Tipperary; the efforts that have been taken to improve capacity in the child and adolescent mental health services to ensure that all children and teenagers receive the appropriate care; if he has satisfied himself with the waiting times for CAMHS; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [32330/17]

Nursing Homes Support Scheme

Mattie McGrath

411. Deputy Mattie McGrath asked the Minister for Health to outline his plans to address concerns that are emerging regarding the incurring of additional social charges for nursing home residents; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [32399/17]

Hospital Waiting Lists

Mattie McGrath

416. Deputy Mattie McGrath asked the Minister for Health the number of children waiting for scoliosis treatment in Our Lady's Children's hospital, Crumlin; the waiting times; the number of children waiting more than four months; the co-ordinators appointed to co-ordinate the scoliosis service across treating hospitals as set out under the HSE scoliosis waiting list action plan; the plans being put in place for children waiting more than six months; when they will receive treatment; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [32422/17]

Health Services Provision

Mattie McGrath

417. Deputy Mattie McGrath asked the Minister for Health the progress that has been made in the employment of additional resources in south Tipperary therapy services to meet the need for assessment of need and to address the waiting lists for assessment; the number of new therapists who have been employed by the HSE in south Tipperary in the past six months; the number of new therapists required and the specialties of each; the length of time that such therapist vacancies have existed; the exact steps taken to fill these vacancies; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [32423/17]

Health Services Provision

Mattie McGrath

422. Deputy Mattie McGrath asked the Minister for Health when diagnostic services will be extended to a medical centre (details supplied) to help alleviate pressures on South Tipperary General Hospital; if he will issue a response on this matter as promised by An Taoiseach during Leaders' Questions on 23 May 2017; the exact date of an extension of such a contract following a successful short-term initiative carried out by community healthcare organisation, CHO, 5 to relieve pressures in South Tipperary General Hospital; if his attention has been drawn to the fact that this short-term initiative was not continued despite the fact that the hospital continues to operate a full capacity protocol; the steps he will take to ensure that the HSE finalise this matter; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [32443/17]

National Children's Hospital

Mattie McGrath

427. Deputy Mattie McGrath asked the Minister for Health further to Parliamentary Question No. 1195 of 20 June 2017, the details of the referenced 25 UK hospitals, 200 US hospitals and those hospitals in the Middle East; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [32485/17]

National Maternity Strategy

Mattie McGrath

428. Deputy Mattie McGrath asked the Minister for Health the status of the application for planning permission for the new national maternity hospital; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [32495/17]

National Maternity Strategy

Mattie McGrath

429. Deputy Mattie McGrath asked the Minister for Health if he will report on the implementation of the national maternity strategy; the composition of the steering group; the number of times it has met; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [32496/17]

Hospital Accommodation Provision

Mattie McGrath

430. Deputy Mattie McGrath asked the Minister for Health the details of plans to develop a new master plan for South Tipperary General Hospital; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [32497/17]

Treatment Abroad Scheme

Mattie McGrath

494. Deputy Mattie McGrath asked the Minister for Health when a person (details supplied) in County Tipperary will be approved for treatment under the treatment abroad scheme; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [32774/17]

Control of Horses

Mattie McGrath

554. Deputy Mattie McGrath asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the costs incurred by his Department over the past four years relating to the seizure of animals, specifically horses; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [32235/17]

Farm Safety

Mattie McGrath

555. Deputy Mattie McGrath asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the efforts his Department is making to address the dangers related to slurry pits and tanks on farms; the number of deaths associated with such pits and tanks to which the attention of his Department was drawn in each of the past five years; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [32236/17]

Mental Health Services

Mattie McGrath

709. Deputy Mattie McGrath asked the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs the areas of responsibility for the management of child mental health issues that fall under the remit of Tusla; the areas that remain under the remit of the Health Service Executive; if she has satisfied herself that the system of interaction between Tusla and the HSE relating to child mental health is the most appropriate one; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [32293/17]

Child Protection

Mattie McGrath

710. Deputy Mattie McGrath asked the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs the details of the signs of safety strategy for child protection that Tusla has been preparing to implement; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [32294/17]

Care Orders

Mattie McGrath

711. Deputy Mattie McGrath asked the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs the number of emergency care orders under section 13(7) of the Child Care Act 1991 that have been granted in the past five years; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [32295/17]

Illness Benefit Eligibility

Mattie McGrath

745. Deputy Mattie McGrath asked the Minister for Social Protection when extra supports will be made available to the self-employed; if the self-employed will become eligible for the illness benefit in addition to the invalidity pension; the short-term benefits available to self-employed people who become ill and are unable to work; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [32445/17]

Exceptional Needs Payment Data

Mattie McGrath

749. Deputy Mattie McGrath asked the Minister for Social Protection the amount paid out by her Department under the exceptional needs payment in each of the past four years, by county, in tabular form; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [32533/17]

Exceptional Needs Payment Data

Mattie McGrath

750. Deputy Mattie McGrath asked the Minister for Social Protection the number of applications made to her Department for assistance in covering the cost of a funeral in each of the past four years; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [32534/17]

Voluntary Housing Sector

Mattie McGrath

798. Deputy Mattie McGrath asked the Minister for Housing, Planning, Community and Local Government the efforts his Department has made to work with the voluntary housing sector; if he has developed a central co-ordination support section to work with the voluntary sector; if it has examined the establishment of a special purpose vehicle to provide long-term finance for the sector as promised in the programme for Government; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [32260/17]

Planning Issues

Mattie McGrath

800. Deputy Mattie McGrath asked the Minister for Housing, Planning, Community and Local Government the steps his Department has taken to seek planning reforms to incentivise the use of under utilised or vacant areas over ground floor premises in towns, for both residential and commercial use; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [32316/17]

Housing Assistance Payment Implementation

Mattie McGrath

801. Deputy Mattie McGrath asked the Minister for Housing, Planning, Community and Local Government the steps being taken to assist those that have been approved for the housing assistance payment and that cannot source private rented accommodation; if his attention has been drawn to the Government commitment to improve the security of tenure for HAP tenants; the options available to those that cannot even source an initial rental property; if he will carry out a review into the numbers of persons that have been approved for HAP but are unsuccessful in sourcing accommodation; if he has satisfied himself with the housing assistance payment scheme as being an effective means of delivery for tenants; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [32318/17]

Psychological Assessments

Mattie McGrath

111. Deputy Mattie McGrath asked the Minister for Education and Skills when a person (details supplied) in County Tipperary will receive a NEPS educational assessment; the reason for the delay in receiving an assessment; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [31645/17]

Job Initiatives

Mattie McGrath

79. Deputy Mattie McGrath asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation her plans to address the high levels employment deprivation in County Tipperary, specifically in areas of the north of the county; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [31432/17]

National Treatment Purchase Fund Eligibility

Mattie McGrath

370. Deputy Mattie McGrath asked the Minister for Health if a person (details supplied) can recoup expenses incurred for their child's dental treatment under the National Treatment Purchase Fund; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [31018/17]

Mental Health Services

Mattie McGrath

463. Deputy Mattie McGrath asked the Minister for Health his views on the suitability of congregated settings for those with mental health challenges; the number of service users in such settings; the locations of such settings; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [31433/17]

Renewable Energy Generation Targets

Mattie McGrath

500. Deputy Mattie McGrath asked the Minister for Communications, Climate Action and Environment his Department's objectives for the roll-out of solar farms in the future; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [30916/17]

Renewable Energy Generation Targets

Mattie McGrath

501. Deputy Mattie McGrath asked the Minister for Communications, Climate Action and Environment his Department's targets regarding the provision of energy through solar power to the national grid; the number of applications to join the national grid from potential supplies of solar power in County Tipperary from solar farms; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [30923/17]

Renewable Energy Projects

Mattie McGrath

616. Deputy Mattie McGrath asked the Minister for Housing, Planning, Community and Local Government the guidelines for the installation of solar farms on farmland which bounds residential areas and residential houses; if assessments or reports have been carried out as to possible health and wellbeing issues associated with solar farms close to residential areas; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [30915/17]

Renewable Energy Projects

Mattie McGrath

626. Deputy Mattie McGrath asked the Minister for Housing, Planning, Community and Local Government if his Department has issued guidelines or directives to local authorities in relation to the rollout of solar farms; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [30916/17]

Marine Casualty Investigations Board

Mattie McGrath

25. Deputy Mattie McGrath asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport if he is satisfied that the Marine Casualty Investigation Board, MCIB, is fit for purpose; the details of the appeals mechanism open to families or persons dissatisfied with the findings of the MCIB; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [30240/17]

Special Educational Needs Service Provision

Mattie McGrath

108. Deputy Mattie McGrath asked the Minister for Education and Skills if his Department will prioritise the availability of school supports for primary school students with severe dyslexia; if he will address a matter (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [30301/17]

Departmental Meetings

Mattie McGrath

160. Deputy Mattie McGrath asked the Minister for Arts, Heritage, Regional, Rural and Gaeltacht Affairs the names and positions of those that attended a meeting between the national monuments service and the officials of Tipperary County Council on 13 June 2017; the location where the meeting was held; the duration of the meeting; the items which were on the agenda; the correspondence and documents which were provided to attendees; if she will provide a copy of the minutes of the meeting; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [30468/17]

Marine Casualty Investigations Board

Mattie McGrath

229. Deputy Mattie McGrath asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport the role his Department has in selecting members of the Marine Casualty Investigations Board; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [30241/17]

National Broadband Plan Implementation

Mattie McGrath

73. Deputy Mattie McGrath asked the Minister for Communications, Climate Action and Environment the status of his Department's work on the national broadband plan; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [27548/17]

Property Ownership

Mattie McGrath

206. Deputy Mattie McGrath asked the Minister for Education and Skills his plans for a site following amalgamation to form a school (details supplied); the body which has responsibility for this building; the body which the community should contact to establish new uses for this building; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [29622/17]

EU Funding

Mattie McGrath

255. Deputy Mattie McGrath asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade the details of all financial contributions Ireland has made to the instrument for pre-accession assistance fund; if he will address concerns that Turkey has received almost €1 billion from the EU to support rule of law, civil society, fundamental rights, democracy and governance despite reports of over 50,000 arrests, 100,000 detentions, 138,000 job sackings and close to 2,100 schools being shut down since July 2016; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [29916/17]

Disabilities Assessments

Mattie McGrath

369. Deputy Mattie McGrath asked the Minister for Health when an assessment of needs will be provided for a person (details supplied) in south County Tipperary; the actions he will take against the HSE for failing to meet its requirements under the Disability Act 2005 to provide an assessment of needs within three months of referral; if children waiting for an assessment of needs for more than three months can be provided with a private assessment in view of the backlogs in south County Tipperary; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [29711/17]

Election Management System

Mattie McGrath

608. Deputy Mattie McGrath asked the Minister for Housing, Planning, Community and Local Government if he will address concerns raised in correspondence (details supplied) regarding voter irregularities; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [29675/17]

Dairy Sector

Mattie McGrath

40. Deputy Mattie McGrath asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if he will address the ongoing price volatility in the dairy sector; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [27970/17]

Fisheries Protection

Mattie McGrath

41. Deputy Mattie McGrath asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if he will address concerns that the fisheries industry is in a state of crisis; the measures he is taking to address this; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [27971/17]

Coillte Teoranta

Mattie McGrath

179. Deputy Mattie McGrath asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if he will address a matter (details supplied) regarding agricultural policy; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [29272/17]

Social Welfare Benefits

Mattie McGrath

212. Deputy Mattie McGrath asked the Minister for Social Protection her plans to introduce an allowance for refuse collection for persons (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [29310/17]

Official Engagements

Mattie McGrath

5. Deputy Mattie McGrath asked the Taoiseach the engagements that he has had with the British Prime Minister following the recent Manchester Arena and London Bridge terrorist incidents. [27549/17]

Hospital Accommodation Provision

Mattie McGrath

49. Deputy Mattie McGrath asked the Minister for Health the status of the procurement of modular patient facilities at South Tipperary General Hospital; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [27646/17]

Hospital Accommodation Provision

Mattie McGrath

102. Deputy Mattie McGrath asked the Minister for Health if he will address concerns that South Tipperary General Hospital has been operating on the full capacity protocol for over 17 months; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [27647/17]

Action Plan for Rural Development

Mattie McGrath

66. Deputy Mattie McGrath asked the Minister for Arts, Heritage, Regional, Rural and Gaeltacht Affairs the status of the implementation of the action plan for rural development; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [27547/17]

Tax Code

Mattie McGrath

217. Deputy Mattie McGrath asked the Minister for Finance if the Revenue Commissioners were notified of a feed price increase by a processor in the poultry sector prior to that processor proceeding with the increase; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [26836/17]

Special Educational Needs Service Provision

Mattie McGrath

422. Deputy Mattie McGrath asked the Minister for Education and Skills if a school (details supplied) in County Tipperary can be provided with extra special needs hours to meet the needs of their students; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [26615/17]

Garda Accommodation

Mattie McGrath

716. Deputy Mattie McGrath asked the Minister for Justice and Equality the status of the development of a new Garda barracks in Clonmel, County Tipperary; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [26724/17]