Parliamentary questions

Healthcare Policy

Paul Murphy

1234. Deputy Paul Murphy asked the Minister for Health his views on the introduction of an individualised risk assessment system which is not based on gender and sexuality for all prospective blood donors by the end of 2021, similar to that now in place in Britain and Northern Ireland since 16 August 2021. [42160/21]

Departmental Regulations

Paul Murphy

1328. Deputy Paul Murphy asked the Minister for Health if he will make the HSPC guidelines in relation to visits to residential care facilities statutory regulations under the powers invested in him under Health Act 2007, with those not meeting the regulations having to provide an explanation and resolve the issue within a timely manner, with the possibility of facing financial penalties for facilitates that repeatedly fail regulation; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [42465/21]

Departmental Meetings

Paul Murphy

1329. Deputy Paul Murphy asked the Minister for Health if he will meet with a group (details supplied). [42466/21]

Nursing Homes

Paul Murphy

1330. Deputy Paul Murphy asked the Minister for Health if he will introduce legislation to implement best practice nursing home universal design that is dementia-friendly and suitable for family connection and quality of life during pandemics (details supplied). [42467/21]

State Bodies

Paul Murphy

1331. Deputy Paul Murphy asked the Minister for Health if he will expand and strengthen HIQA powers in relation to care home facilitates and rotate HIQA inspectors with unannounced inspections only. [42468/21]

Covid-19 Pandemic

Paul Murphy

1332. Deputy Paul Murphy asked the Minister for Health his views on whether there needs to be a full public inquiry into nursing home deaths, denial of resident rights and unsafe practices during the Covid-19 pandemic with suggestions of a way forward that will safeguard and protect residents; and his further views on the need for his Department to make the inquiry public for transparency and for a national conversation on the ecology of care to take place. [42469/21]

Covid-19 Pandemic

Paul Murphy

1333. Deputy Paul Murphy asked the Minister for Health if he will provide a non-electronic alternative to the electronic passenger locator form to facilitate those who do not have access or an understanding of the technology involved; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [42471/21]

Health Service Executive

Paul Murphy

1362. Deputy Paul Murphy asked the Minister for Health when the HSE IT systems will be back to normal service; and when Members can resubmit parliamentary questions on HSE operational issues for answer (details supplied). [42558/21]

Covid-19 Pandemic

Paul Murphy

1403. Deputy Paul Murphy asked the Minister for Health if the HSE will report on the number of Covid-19 related deaths on a daily basis. [42834/21]

Road Safety

Paul Murphy

191. Deputy Paul Murphy asked the Minister for Transport if his attention has been drawn to the difficulties and costs young drivers face in order to get on the road (details supplied); if he will implement an amendment to the Clancy amendment to include provisions for approved driver instructors to sign off competent drivers; and if he will take actions to reduce the insurance premiums for young drivers. [39624/21]

School Staff

Paul Murphy

962. Deputy Paul Murphy asked the Minister for Education if her attention has been drawn to the circular sent which advised schools if they could not find a substitute teacher that a non-mainstream class teacher should be used, a non-mainstream class teacher in primary schools are special education teachers (details supplied); and if it will be ensured that the hours built up due to be used for special needs education can be brought forward and used in the next school year. [39680/21]

School Transport

Paul Murphy

974. Deputy Paul Murphy asked the Minister for Education if her attention has been drawn to the difficulties some parents are facing in relation to claiming their refund with regard to the compensation scheme which allows parents with children eligible for free school transport to get compensation if their child is unable to use public transport due to safety fears in relation to Covid-19 (details supplied); if her Department plans to make clear guidelines for Bus Éireann to advise on eligibility; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [39803/21]

Schools Building Projects

Paul Murphy

1053. Deputy Paul Murphy asked the Minister for Education the reason planning permission for a permanent site for a school (details supplied) was not expedited in 2020 given her Department was aware the school was in an accommodation crisis. [40869/21]

Social Welfare Benefits

Paul Murphy

1099. Deputy Paul Murphy asked the Minister for Social Protection if an instruction can be given by her Department to a recipient of rent supplement to apply for the housing assistance payment; and the circumstances under which such an instruction would be issued. [39220/21]

Social Welfare Benefits

Paul Murphy

1105. Deputy Paul Murphy asked the Minister for Social Protection the number of persons who have been cut-off rent supplement in each of the past five years. [39329/21]

Employment Support Services

Paul Murphy

1111. Deputy Paul Murphy asked the Minister for Social Protection if her attention has been drawn to matters in relation to the local employment service (details supplied); and the way in which she proposes getting these clients into full-time sustainable work within such a short timeframe given that payment is for employment only as outlined in this model and who will focus on those facing barriers to employment. [39447/21]

Employment Support Services

Paul Murphy

1112. Deputy Paul Murphy asked the Minister for Social Protection the way in which local employment services can operate under financial uncertainty in view of the fact local employment service income is dependent on referrals from her Department and given that to date her Department has never met its target for referrals to the local employment services. [39448/21]

Employment Support Services

Paul Murphy

1113. Deputy Paul Murphy asked the Minister for Social Protection if her attention has been drawn to the fact that all local employment services staff are trained in adult guidance and counselling, funded using public money; the reason her Department will not utilise this investment in the new scheme, instead of introducing a model that does not fit with a guidance service; and the further reason her Department has not chosen to focus on addressing the need for continuous improvement for all local employment service operations within a public service quality model. [39449/21]

Employment Support Services

Paul Murphy

1116. Deputy Paul Murphy asked the Minister for Social Protection her plans to use private contractors to provide case officer staff to link in with participants and hosts taking part in the work placement experience programme. [39495/21]

Employment Support Services

Paul Murphy

1117. Deputy Paul Murphy asked the Minister for Social Protection if all participants in the work placement experience programme will receive a basic payment of €306 a week regardless of age. [39496/21]

Hospital Trusts

Paul Murphy

1433. Deputy Paul Murphy asked the Minister for Health the category of St. Vincent’s University Hospital under the Health Act 2004; and if there have been changes in such categorisation since 1 January 2016. [33198/21]

Hospital Trusts

Paul Murphy

1434. Deputy Paul Murphy asked the Minister for Health the funding arrangements under which St. Vincent’s University Hospital receives funds from the HSE; and if there have been changes in such funding arrangements since 1 January 2016. [33199/21]

Animal Welfare

Paul Murphy

1461. Deputy Paul Murphy asked the Minister for Health his views on whether the Government has the competence under EU law to ban animal testing in Ireland; and if introducing such a ban will be considered. [33461/21]

Animal Welfare

Paul Murphy

1665. Deputy Paul Murphy asked the Minister for Health if Ireland could independently ban the use of animals in experiments for both medical and non-medical research; if not, if the ruling has to come from the EU; and the way licensing and subsequent approval or refusal of an experiment would work in a case in which the EU deems it acceptable but Ireland does not. [34469/21]

Hospital Procedures

Paul Murphy

1722. Deputy Paul Murphy asked the Minister for Health the way in which the consultant and surgeon triage patients for elective surgeries; and the location in which this is recorded. [35118/21]

Hospital Procedures

Paul Murphy

1723. Deputy Paul Murphy asked the Minister for Health the location in which waiting lists of patients who are pending elective surgeries are recorded. [35119/21]

Hospital Procedures

Paul Murphy

1724. Deputy Paul Murphy asked the Minister for Health the way in which the consultants and surgeons communicate with the admission office in relation to patients and waiting lists changes for elective surgeries. [35120/21]

Disability Services

Paul Murphy

2141. Deputy Paul Murphy asked the Minister for Health the number of children with special needs living in south-western areas of Dublin; the number of therapists working in the area to provide essential services for these children; his plans to ensure that these services which are crucial for the families of these children will resume to pre-Covid-19 levels; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [36059/21]

Health Service Executive

Paul Murphy

2208. Deputy Paul Murphy asked the Minister for Health the correct procedure is in which a complaint is made to yoursay@hse.ie in relation to the behaviour of a social worker. [36964/21]

Hospital Procedures

Paul Murphy

2259. Deputy Paul Murphy asked the Minister for Health the number of terminations of pregnancy that were carried out in St. Vincent’s University Hospital in each of the years 2016 to 2020; the number of surgical sterilisation procedures that were carried out on women in St. Vincent’s University Hospital in each of the years 2016 to 2020; the number of surgical sterilisation procedures that were carried out on men in St. Vincent’s University Hospital in each of the years 2016 to 2020; and the number of IVF and assisted reproduction procedures that were carried out in St. Vincent’s University Hospital in each of the years 2016 to 2020; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [37184/21]

Hospital Procedures

Paul Murphy

2260. Deputy Paul Murphy asked the Minister for Health the number of terminations of pregnancy that were carried out in the National Maternity Hospital, Holles St. in each of the years 2016 to 2020; the number of surgical sterilisation procedures that were carried out on women in the National Maternity Hospital, Holles St. in each of the years 2016 to 2020; the number of surgical sterilisation procedures that were carried out on men in the National Maternity Hospital, Holles St. in each of the years 2016 to 2020; and the number of IVF and assisted reproduction procedures that were carried out in the National Maternity Hospital, Holles St. in each of the years 2016 to 2020. [37185/21]

Hospital Procedures

Paul Murphy

2261. Deputy Paul Murphy asked the Minister for Health the number of terminations of pregnancy that were carried out in St. Michael’s Hospital, Dún Laoghaire in each of the years 2016 to 2020; the number of surgical sterilisation procedures that were carried out on women in St. Michael’s Hospital, Dún Laoghaire in each of the years 2016 to 2020; the number of surgical sterilisation procedures that were carried out on men in St. Michael’s Hospital, Dún Laoghaire in each of the years 2016 to 2020; and the number of IVF and assisted reproduction procedures that were carried out in St. Michael’s Hospital, Dún Laoghaire in each of the years 2016 to 2020. [37186/21]

Hospital Procedures

Paul Murphy

2262. Deputy Paul Murphy asked the Minister for Health the number of terminations of pregnancy that were carried out in the Mater Misericordiae University Hospital in each of the years 2016 to 2020; the number of surgical sterilisation procedures that were carried out on women in the Mater Misericordiae University Hospital in each of the years 2016 to 2020; the number of surgical sterilisation procedures that were carried out on men in the Mater Misericordiae University Hospital in each of the years 2016 to 2020; and the number of IVF and assisted reproduction procedures that were carried out in the Mater Misericordiae University Hospital in each of the years 2016 to 2020. [37187/21]

Hospital Procedures

Paul Murphy

2263. Deputy Paul Murphy asked the Minister for Health the number of terminations of pregnancy that were carried out in Tallaght University Hospital in each of the years 2016 to 2020; the number of surgical sterilisation procedures that were carried out on women in Tallaght University Hospital in each of the years 2016 to 2020; the number of surgical sterilisation procedures that were carried out on men in Tallaght University Hospital in each of the years 2016 to 2020; and the number of IVF and assisted reproduction procedures that were carried out in Tallaght University Hospital in each of the years 2016 to 2020. [37188/21]

Hospital Procedures

Paul Murphy

2264. Deputy Paul Murphy asked the Minister for Health the number of terminations of pregnancy that were carried out in the Rotunda Hospital in each of the years 2016 to 2020; the number of surgical sterilisation procedures that were carried out on women in the Rotunda Hospital in each of the years 2016 to 2020; the number of surgical sterilisation procedures that were carried out on men in the Rotunda Hospital in each of the years 2016 to 2020; and the number of IVF and assisted reproduction procedures that were carried out in the Rotunda Hospital in each of the years 2016 to 2020. [37189/21]

Hospital Procedures

Paul Murphy

2362. Deputy Paul Murphy asked the Minister for Health the number of terminations of pregnancy, number of male and female surgical sterilisation procedures, respectively and number of IVF and assisted reproduction procedures that were carried out in St. James’s Hospital in each of the years from 2016 to 2020, inclusive. [37503/21]

Covid-19 Pandemic

Paul Murphy

2445. Deputy Paul Murphy asked the Minister for Health the number of children with special needs living in south-western areas of Dublin; the number of therapists working in the area to provide essential services for these children; his plans to ensure that these services which are crucial for the families of these children will resume to pre-Covid-19 levels; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [37861/21]

Medical Aids and Appliances

Paul Murphy

2916. Deputy Paul Murphy asked the Minister for Health if he will ring-fence some of the anticipated 2021 cost savings from the recent HSE medicines management programme preferred blood glucose strips for adults with type 1 and 2 diabetes evaluation to fund the provision of the FreeStyle Libre flash glucose monitoring system to persons with diabetes over 21 years of age based on clinical need; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [39637/21]

Health Services

Paul Murphy

2917. Deputy Paul Murphy asked the Minister for Health if he will extend the type 2 diabetes cycle of care programme to all persons with type 2 diabetes; his views on whether it is equitable that persons with type 2 diabetes without a GMS or general practitioner visit card but who otherwise meet the HSE criteria for uncomplicated type 2 diabetes to be managed in primary care are excluded from the programme; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [39638/21]

Medical Aids and Appliances

Paul Murphy

2918. Deputy Paul Murphy asked the Minister for Health if he will extend eligibility to the long-term illness scheme for reimbursement of blood glucose test strips to all women who develop gestational diabetes during pregnancy; his views on the decision to remove them from the scheme; if he will now reverse that decision; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [39639/21]

Health Services Staff

Paul Murphy

2919. Deputy Paul Murphy asked the Minister for Health if he will provide funding to appoint a clinical psychologist to each acute hospital diabetes multi-disciplinary team; his views on the fact that psychosocial support in diabetes care is not formally embedded as part of diabetes management; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [39640/21]

Health Services Staff

Paul Murphy

2920. Deputy Paul Murphy asked the Minister for Health when the specialist community diabetes teams under the enhanced community care programme will be appointed; if it will be available to all persons with diabetes free of charge; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [39641/21]

Health Services

Paul Murphy

2921. Deputy Paul Murphy asked the Minister for Health his views on the need for a national diabetes register; the reason there is no current register; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [39642/21]

Food Safety

Paul Murphy

3014. Deputy Paul Murphy asked the Minister for Health if his attention has been drawn to a series of matters (details supplied) in relation to the series of checks being done by the HSE environmental health department on soup runs. [39993/21]

Animal Welfare

Paul Murphy

184. Deputy Paul Murphy asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage if he will introduce a ban on hare coursing. [38988/21]

Medicinal Products

Paul Murphy

316. Deputy Paul Murphy asked the Minister for Health when zolgensma will be made available for a child (details supplied) given the fact that the sooner the drug is received the better the outcome in cases in which the drug is administered before the child is two years of age. [31681/21]

Covid-19 Pandemic

Paul Murphy

367. Deputy Paul Murphy asked the Minister for Health if he can remove the visitation rules for the partner and or other nominated birth companion after the baby is born so that those who have given birth can be supported; if attendance for partners and or other nominated birth companions through all stages of labour including induction can be ensured; and if it can be ensured that partners and or other nominated birth companions can be present at all antenatal appointments given that all antenatal appointments have the potential to contain news of emotional significance as per the HSPC guidelines. [32363/21]

Disability Services

Paul Murphy

381. Deputy Paul Murphy asked the Minister for Health if his attention has been drawn to the lack of follow-up physiotherapy for stroke survivors in Tallaght University Hospital; if his attention has been further drawn to the fact that patients who had been receiving daily physiotherapy sessions while staying in hospital have found themselves with no physiotherapy support provided when they are discharged leaving them with no other option but privately paid physio at a cost of €70 per half hour; and if his Department will be providing these facilities given that this service is vital to the progress for stroke survivors to lead a relatively independent life. [32540/21]

Covid-19 Pandemic

Paul Murphy

438. Deputy Paul Murphy asked the Minister for Health the number of persons who have arrived in Ireland from the UK since the requirement for home quarantining was introduced; the number of those who have taken PCR tests after five days of quarantining as has been the rule up until now; and the percentage of those PCR tests that are negative and positive, respectively. [33015/21]

National Economic and Social Council

Paul Murphy

10. Deputy Paul Murphy asked the Taoiseach if he will report on the work of the National Economic and Social Council, an independent statutory agency operating under the aegis of his Department. [37718/21]