Parliamentary questions

National Children's Hospital Expenditure

Mattie McGrath

1195. Deputy Mattie McGrath asked the Minister for Health the details of the benchmarked post tender construction costs of the new children's hospital against comparable construction costs for major acute hospitals internationally; the name of the major acute hospitals that were used for the purposes of such comparisons; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [27245/17]

National Children's Hospital

Mattie McGrath

1196. Deputy Mattie McGrath asked the Minister for Health the details of the business case made with respect to the new national children's hospital project; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [27246/17]

Protection of Life During Pregnancy Reviews

Mattie McGrath

1445. Deputy Mattie McGrath asked the Minister for Health the number of terminations per year carried out under the Protection of Life During Pregnancy Act 2013; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [28489/17]

JobPath Implementation

Mattie McGrath

29. Deputy Mattie McGrath asked the Minister for Social Protection if his attention has been drawn to the detrimental effect the Turas Nua scheme is having on participants, community employment schemes, Tús and other job placement schemes which have been the bedrock of communities over the years; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [26226/17]

School Meals Programme

Mattie McGrath

67. Deputy Mattie McGrath asked the Minister for Social Protection the funding provided to schools in County Tipperary for the school meals scheme; if he will expand the scheme; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [24779/17]

Vaccination Programme

Mattie McGrath

428. Deputy Mattie McGrath asked the Minister for Health his plans to conduct a review of all those adversely affected by the Gardasil vaccine; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [25462/17]

Early Childhood Care and Education Funding

Mattie McGrath

649. Deputy Mattie McGrath asked the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs her plans to reconsider the level of funding provided for the early years capital funding scheme 2017; if her attention has been drawn to concerns that the level of funding is insufficient to meet the demands of the sector; the reason private child care facilities are not eligible to access funding under strand 2 of the capital funding scheme; the reason for the short timeframe set out within the guidelines to complete the application; her views on whether it will be extremely difficult to have building works completed by the 30 November 2017 deadline; her plans to extend this deadline; her further plans to support private child care practitioners in a more comprehensive manner to ensure that sufficient child care places will be made available; if she will ensure that all future funding schemes will be open to all child care providers; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [25334/17]

Departmental Policy Reviews

Mattie McGrath

651. Deputy Mattie McGrath asked the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs further to Parliamentary Question No. 676 of 23 May 2017, if, prior to the current matters before the courts, her Department's definition of "child" included the unborn child; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [25600/17]

DEIS Status

Mattie McGrath

28. Deputy Mattie McGrath asked the Minister for Education and Skills the status of the assessment methodology in respect of all schools applying for DEIS status; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [24778/17]

Cabinet Committee Meetings

Mattie McGrath

97. Deputy Mattie McGrath asked the Taoiseach the number of times each of the Cabinet committees has met since the formation of the current Government. [24142/17]

Departmental Schemes

Mattie McGrath

297. Deputy Mattie McGrath asked the Minister for Housing, Planning, Community and Local Government his plans to introduce a grant scheme to assist those on low income and in receipt of Department of Social Protection payments in view of the fact that numerous households in County Tipperary have been transferred to a hard water supply with the associated cost of installing and the upkeep of water softeners; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [24516/17]

Gender Recognition

Mattie McGrath

675. Deputy Mattie McGrath asked the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs the research in the area of gender recognition for children that her Department has undertaken; the position regarding the research or consultation process that is being undertaken and if she will name the relevant NGOs or other organisations that are a part of the consultation process; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [24749/17]

Departmental Policy Reviews

Mattie McGrath

676. Deputy Mattie McGrath asked the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs the definition of a child that the policy of her Department is guided by; her views on whether such a definition must include the unborn child; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [24750/17]

Cabinet Committee Meetings

Mattie McGrath

18. Deputy Mattie McGrath asked the Taoiseach the number of times the Cabinet committee on arts, Irish and the Gaeltacht has met since the formation of the current Government. [21840/17]

Electronic Tagging

Mattie McGrath

122. Deputy Mattie McGrath asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Justice and Equality the position regarding the use of electronic tagging by An Garda Síochána; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [23122/17]

Departmental Funding

Mattie McGrath

207. Deputy Mattie McGrath asked the Minister for Housing, Planning, Community and Local Government the levels of funding his Department has provided over the past five years for the seniors alert scheme; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [23056/17]

Departmental Funding

Mattie McGrath

208. Deputy Mattie McGrath asked the Minister for Housing, Planning, Community and Local Government if he will consider increasing the funding supports and availability of the seniors alert scheme in particular items such as pendant alarms and panic buttons; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [23057/17]

Local Infrastructure Housing Activation Fund

Mattie McGrath

222. Deputy Mattie McGrath asked the Minister for Housing, Planning, Community and Local Government when it is expected that the first development will commence on a site (details supplied); the way the housing units will be constructed, that is, turnkey, private or local authority build; the number of public, private and social housing units that will be delivered; when it is envisaged that they will be fully completed; if Tipperary County Council has committed to delivering social housing units on the site; if these units will be rolled out as soon as possible, perhaps in a three year period; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [22881/17]

Gender Recognition

Mattie McGrath

269. Deputy Mattie McGrath asked the Minister for Social Protection to set down the number of applications and the number of approved applications needed to obtain a gender recognition certificate under the Gender Recognition Act 2015; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [23001/17]

Gender Recognition

Mattie McGrath

270. Deputy Mattie McGrath asked the Minister for Social Protection if it is legally possible for children aged between six and eight years of age to obtain a gender recognition certificate; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [23002/17]

Diabetes Strategy

Mattie McGrath

390. Deputy Mattie McGrath asked the Minister for Health the services in place to manage children with type one diabetes in University Hospital Waterford; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [22897/17]

Diabetes Strategy

Mattie McGrath

391. Deputy Mattie McGrath asked the Minister for Health the services which have been put in place to manage children with type one diabetes on insulin pumps attending University Hospital Waterford; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [22898/17]

Diabetes Strategy

Mattie McGrath

392. Deputy Mattie McGrath asked the Minister for Health the reason for the delay in holding interviews for the vacant consultant paediatrician post to provide services for children with type one diabetes in University Hospital Waterford; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [22899/17]

Diabetes Strategy

Mattie McGrath

393. Deputy Mattie McGrath asked the Minister for Health the number of children under 16 years of age with type one diabetes who attend University Hospital Waterford; the number of those that are on insulin pump therapy; the number awaiting insulin pump initiation training; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [22900/17]

Fáilte Ireland

Mattie McGrath

533. Deputy Mattie McGrath asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport his plans to extend the opening period of Cahir tourist office in view of its importance for the local economy; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [22753/17]

Fáilte Ireland

Mattie McGrath

535. Deputy Mattie McGrath asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport if his attention has been drawn to the fact that the tourist office in Cahir, County Tipperary, will remain closed until the end of May 2017 in view of the fact that, in previous years, it opened from 1 May; if he will extend the opening dates further to facilitate persons who visit Cahir town in view of the fact that visitor numbers are up on previous years; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [22769/17]

Teacher Data

Mattie McGrath

114. Deputy Mattie McGrath asked the Minister for Education and Skills to set out the number of teachers employed in the voluntary secondary sector and in receipt of salary from his Department who were listed as being subject to salary deductions to facilitate membership of a union (details supplied) on 31 March 2010, 31 March 2015, 31 March 2016, 30 September 2016 and 31 March 2017; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [22533/17]

Health Services Access

Mattie McGrath

197. Deputy Mattie McGrath asked the Minister for Health the healthcare facilities that are providing access to diagnostic services for GMS patients in Munster; the reason some facilities have been approved to provide diagnostic services while other general practices that have the facilities to do so have not been approved to offer such services; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [22254/17]

Cabinet Committee Meetings

Mattie McGrath

5. Deputy Mattie McGrath asked the Taoiseach the number of times the Cabinet Committee on Regional and Rural Affairs has met since the formation of the current Government. [21839/17]

Hospital Beds Data

Mattie McGrath

410. Deputy Mattie McGrath asked the Minister for Health the position regarding the proposed reduction in ward capacity at St. Patrick's Hospital, Cashel, and the Sacred Heart community hospital, Dungarvan; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [21682/17]

Nursing Home Accommodation Provision

Mattie McGrath

411. Deputy Mattie McGrath asked the Minister for Health the level of funding his Department has provided for capital investment in public nursing homes since 2011; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [21683/17]

National Children's Hospital

Mattie McGrath

101. Deputy Mattie McGrath asked the Minister for Health to provide details of the cost benefit analysis that has been performed by his Department for the national children's hospital; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [19111/17]

Road Safety

Mattie McGrath

312. Deputy Mattie McGrath asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport the details of accidents which took place on the M8 motorway south of Cahir town, County Tipperary caused by aquaplaning; and the extent of the works that were carried out to alleviate the issue. [20922/17]

Cabinet Committees

Mattie McGrath

91. Deputy Mattie McGrath asked the Taoiseach the name, composition and functions of all Cabinet Committees and when they meet. [19394/17]

JobPath Implementation

Mattie McGrath

596. Deputy Mattie McGrath asked the Minister for Social Protection the reason unemployed persons in Cashel, County Tipperary are expected to travel up to 20 miles to meet with their Turas Nua personal adviser at times which are not practical with local public transport times; the reason appointments are not available in Cashel and other towns in which there is a number of persons from the area; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [20427/17]

Rural Development Programme Funding

Mattie McGrath

695. Deputy Mattie McGrath asked the Minister for Arts, Heritage, Regional, Rural and Gaeltacht Affairs the details of all projects in County Tipperary that applied for funding in 2016 and to date in 2017 under the rural development programme; the projects which have had their funding applications rejected in 2016 and to date in 2017; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [19393/17]

Health Services Data

Mattie McGrath

787. Deputy Mattie McGrath asked the Minister for Health the amount charged in 2016 to the NHS for Britons being treated here by the HSE; the number of persons this charge applied to; the cost to the HSE for Irish persons being treated by the NHS; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [19177/17]

Hospitals Building Programme

Mattie McGrath

789. Deputy Mattie McGrath asked the Minister for Health the status of plans for a major trauma centre in Dublin; if the project has been sent to tender; the tender criteria for the project; the hospitals which have been invited to bid for the major trauma centre; if such hospitals are being asked to submit major incident plans for their hospitals; if considerations are being given to facilities for paediatric trauma; the closing date for submission of tenders; when a decision is expected on the tender process; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [19189/17]

Nursing Homes Support Scheme Review

Mattie McGrath

821. Deputy Mattie McGrath asked the Minister for Health the status of the review being carried out into the nursing support scheme and the manner in which the current scheme is discriminating against farmers and small business owners; when this review will be carried out; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [19325/17]

Chaplaincy Services Provision

Mattie McGrath

904. Deputy Mattie McGrath asked the Minister for Health if he will reconsider extending the availability of chaplaincy services and support services to the existing chaplains at South Tipperary General Hospital; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [19607/17]

Services for People with Disabilities

Mattie McGrath

931. Deputy Mattie McGrath asked the Minister for Health the reason facilities (details supplied) in Clonmel and Grange, County Tipperary, are only operating on a part-time basis; if these facilities will be supported to allow them open full time to provide improved respite services to families of children with special needs; the estimated costs associated with operating these houses as opposed to the costs of full-time residential care; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [19680/17]

Medicinal Products Reimbursement

Mattie McGrath

963. Deputy Mattie McGrath asked the Minister for Health if he will review all the evidence relating to alpha-1 Respreeza and enter into meaningful discussions with a company (details supplied) to find a solution to make Respreeza available for persons as soon as possible; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [19850/17]

Medicinal Products Reimbursement

Mattie McGrath

964. Deputy Mattie McGrath asked the Minister for Health if he will engage with a company (details supplied) with a view to lifting the 31 May 2017 deadline for providing alpha-1 Respreeza therapy to the 21 persons currently on Respreeza in order to allow discussions take place in a favourable environment; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [19851/17]

Maternity Services

Mattie McGrath

982. Deputy Mattie McGrath asked the Minister for Health his plans to extend the baby box scheme to all maternity hospitals; when the scheme will be available at South Tipperary General Hospital; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [19966/17]

Bituminous Fuel Ban

Mattie McGrath

1295. Deputy Mattie McGrath asked the Minister for Communications, Climate Action and Environment his plans to ban or limit the use of bituminous fuels; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [20478/17]

Brexit Issues

Mattie McGrath

4. Deputy Mattie McGrath asked the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform the measures his Department is putting in place in response to and in anticipation of the challenges posed by Brexit; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [19113/17]

Student Grant Scheme Eligibility

Mattie McGrath

125. Deputy Mattie McGrath asked the Minister for Education and Skills if expenses related to nursing home costs for a parent can be taken into consideration by SUSI in its assessment for the higher education grant; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [19048/17]

Good Friday Agreement

Mattie McGrath

45. Deputy Mattie McGrath asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade if he will provide an update on the efforts his Department is making to maintain and strengthen the Good Friday Agreement. [13878/17]

Religious Persecution

Mattie McGrath

48. Deputy Mattie McGrath asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade if he will provide an update on discussions he has had at European Council level relating to the persecution of the Christian population in the Middle East. [13879/17]

Disabled Drivers and Passengers Scheme

Mattie McGrath

142. Deputy Mattie McGrath asked the Minister for Finance if his attention has been drawn to fact that the waiting list for a primary medical certificate appeal is six to seven months; the efforts being taken to address this waiting list; if there is an option to seek review from the area medical office in cases where further medical evidence is available but was not considered by the area medical officer; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [17701/17]