Parliamentary questions

Vacant Properties

Dessie Ellis

148. Deputy Dessie Ellis asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the details of the €7,746,404 payment (details supplied) made by Dublin City Council to the receivers with regard to the vacant 58 units at Prospect Hill, Finglas in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [17924/21]

Vacant Properties

Dessie Ellis

149. Deputy Dessie Ellis asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage if the payments totalling €7,746,404 made by Dublin City Council to the receiver for the 58 vacant units at Prospect Hill, Finglas includes the potential or projected costs of the refurbishment of any or all of the individual units; if the figure does not include such costs, the projected costs to Dublin City Council of refurbishing any or all of the units; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [17925/21]

Special Educational Needs

Dessie Ellis

558. Deputy Dessie Ellis asked the Minister for Education the resources required for an ASD unit to be put in place at a school; the resources that can be provided to the school by the NCSE; the additional resources the school must provide from its current funding sources; if there are other funding sources to assist the school to provide ASD units; the reason that may be given by a school that decides it cannot provide an ASD unit or additional places; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [16349/21]

Special Educational Needs

Dessie Ellis

559. Deputy Dessie Ellis asked the Minister for Education her plans to work with primary or post-primary schools in Ballymun, Dublin 11, to assist in providing ASD units for children in the area; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [16350/21]

Covid-19 Pandemic

Dessie Ellis

154. Deputy Dessie Ellis asked the Minister for Justice the mechanisms in place to inform persons whose attendance at court is requested that the courts are closed as a consequence of Covid restrictions given persons are currently being requested to attend court without being notified of the court's closure; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [16109/21]

Vaccination Programme

Dessie Ellis

192. Deputy Dessie Ellis asked the Minister for Health if those who have particular underlying conditions which make them more vulnerable to the potential side effects of certain Covid vaccines, for example those who require blood-thinning medication, those who have hypertension and so on, can be offered the option of being vaccinated with another vaccine which does not give rise to those side effects; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [16115/21]

Vacant Properties

Dessie Ellis

646. Deputy Dessie Ellis asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage if his attention has been drawn to the fact that 58 apartments have been idle since their construction almost 15 years ago (details supplied); when these vacant properties will be allocated to those on the housing list; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [14361/21]

Vacant Properties

Dessie Ellis

678. Deputy Dessie Ellis asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the estimated cost of providing security on a site (details supplied) that has been vacant since construction; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [14910/21]

Vacant Properties

Dessie Ellis

681. Deputy Dessie Ellis asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the projected cost of the 58 apartments that have been idle since construction in 2005 in an area (details supplied) including the cost being paid to the receivers by Dublin City Dublin Council; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [14923/21]

Special Educational Needs

Dessie Ellis

903. Deputy Dessie Ellis asked the Minister for Education if plans are in place to put ASD units in primary or post-primary schools in Ballymun, Dublin 11 in the near future; the number of children with a Ballymun address on the waiting list for a placement; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [15140/21]

Special Educational Needs

Dessie Ellis

904. Deputy Dessie Ellis asked the Minister for Education the number of children on waiting lists for placements in ASD units from an area (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [15141/21]

Hospital Facilities

Dessie Ellis

920. Deputy Dessie Ellis asked the Minister for Health the actions he plans to take to end the practice of imposing parking fees at all public hospitals given that they have proved a costly burden on those attending the hospital; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [13179/21]

Mental Health Services

Dessie Ellis

207. Deputy Dessie Ellis asked the Minister for Health the status of the mental health services at the pine and ash wards in Connolly Hospital Blanchardstown; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [12273/21]

Mental Health Services

Dessie Ellis

208. Deputy Dessie Ellis asked the Minister for Health the mental health services that are currently available at Connolly Hospital Blanchardstown; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [12274/21]

Mental Health Services

Dessie Ellis

209. Deputy Dessie Ellis asked the Minister for Health the number of staff, the role of each and availability of each that are currently attached to the mental health services at Connolly Hospital Blanchardstown; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [12275/21]

Motor Insurance

Dessie Ellis

218. Deputy Dessie Ellis asked the Minister for Finance if professional drivers in receipt of the pandemic unemployment payment will have issues with insurance cover directly relating to the period they were off work due to the gap in insurance coverage addressed (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [39892/20]

Student Universal Support Ireland

Dessie Ellis

566. Deputy Dessie Ellis asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science the reason those that are on the pandemic unemployment payment since March 2020 are not considered to be permanently impacted and do not qualify for the SUSI grant in 2020 under the change of circumstances appeal criteria; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [34615/20]

Schools Building Projects

Dessie Ellis

179. Deputy Dessie Ellis asked the Minister for Education the e-tendering process for quantity surveyors with regard to school construction projects; the quantity surveyors that were successful in the tendering process; the school projects for which their tenders were accepted from January 2020 to date, in tabular form; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [27832/20]

Social and Affordable Housing

Dessie Ellis

396. Deputy Dessie Ellis asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the current available supply of social and affordable housing; the number available in each category; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [26959/20]

Primary Care Centres

Dessie Ellis

910. Deputy Dessie Ellis asked the Minister for Health when the commencement of the building of the primary healthcare centre in Finglas on the site of the Church of the Annunciation will take place; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [26944/20]

National Children's Hospital

Dessie Ellis

912. Deputy Dessie Ellis asked the Minister for Health the length of the delay to the construction of the new children’s hospital due to Covid-19; the amount this delay and halting in construction added to the existing costs; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [26958/20]

Public Parks

Dessie Ellis

118. Deputy Dessie Ellis asked the Minister for Housing, Planning and Local Government his plans to ensure that facilities such as public toilets are open at public amenities such as parks and beaches in view of the fact that this is not the case at Dollymount Strand; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [17717/20]

Covid-19 Pandemic

Dessie Ellis

606. Deputy Dessie Ellis asked the Minister for Health the procedures carried out with respect to Covid-19 for travellers arriving at points of entry here, in particular for passengers that have arrived from the United States of America; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [16482/20]

Covid-19 Pandemic

Dessie Ellis

471. Deputy Dessie Ellis asked the Minister for Health if additional HSE staff will be seconded to nursing homes (details supplied) to help with delivering care during the Covid-19 crisis; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [12171/20]

Covid-19 Pandemic

Dessie Ellis

456. Deputy Dessie Ellis asked the Minister for Business, Enterprise and Innovation her plans for reopening open air markets such as those held in Fairyhouse, Ratoath, County Dublin, and Liberty Market, Dublin 8; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [11459/20]

Health Services

Dessie Ellis

502. Deputy Dessie Ellis asked the Minister for Health the reason for the continued placement of a person (details supplied) discharged after eight months from James Connolly Memorial Hospital to St. Margaret’s nursing home, in which the person has been resident for the past ten weeks, as opposed to the person returning home according to the person's wishes and the wishes of the person's family; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [10681/20]

Substance Misuse

Dessie Ellis

688. Deputy Dessie Ellis asked the Minister for Health the options available which will be explored for the banning of the use or sale of nitrous oxide capsules, also known as hippie crack (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [11455/20]

Covid-19 Pandemic

Dessie Ellis

689. Deputy Dessie Ellis asked the Minister for Health the measures that will be put in place to deal with the increasing number of deaths by suicide and the increase in those presenting with suicidal ideation resulting from measures implemented to deal with the Covid-19 pandemic; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [11456/20]

Revenue Commissioners Staff

Dessie Ellis

59. Deputy Dessie Ellis asked the Minister for Finance if the number of staff dealing with customers experiencing difficulties contacting the Revenue Commissioners regarding tax queries will be increased; if the tax office is taking telephone queries at this time; the measures that can be put in place to improve the response time for queries submitted online through the Revenue website; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [7375/20]

Mental Health Services

Dessie Ellis

612. Deputy Dessie Ellis asked the Minister for Health the status of the availability of psychiatric services at James Connolly Memorial Hospital, Blanchardstown for those that present at the hospital with mental health issues; his views on whether it is acceptable that on 19 May 2020 up to seven persons that presented to the hospital with mental health issues had to wait up to 24 hours before they were assessed; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [8072/20]

Addiction Treatment Services

Dessie Ellis

613. Deputy Dessie Ellis asked the Minister for Health when the HSE addiction tier 4 residential service (details supplied) will be reopened; if the asymptomatic persons presently accommodated in the facility would be better accommodated in other facilities that are available to house same in order that this facility be reopened as soon as possible to help reduce the risk of deaths from substance misuse and underlying mental health issues; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [8073/20]

Covid-19 Pandemic

Dessie Ellis

637. Deputy Dessie Ellis asked the Minister for Business, Enterprise and Innovation her views on whether boutique gyms, micro gyms and those that offer personal training and small group personal training would be more suited to inclusion in phase 3 of the Covid-19 re-opening phases which allows for indoor sporting activities in which social distancing is adhered to behind closed doors rather than in phase 5 (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [6801/20]

Disabilities Assessments

Dessie Ellis

668. Deputy Dessie Ellis asked the Minister for Health the last occasion a service has seen or assessed a person (details supplied) who was originally assessed when the person was four or five years of age; the status of the services; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [5618/20]

Hospital Services

Dessie Ellis

800. Deputy Dessie Ellis asked the Minister for Health the bed and staff capacity of the Silverbirch Unit in Blanchardstown Hospital; if this unit is currently in use; if not, the locations where the staff are currently employed; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [6863/20]

Covid-19 Tests

Dessie Ellis

801. Deputy Dessie Ellis asked the Minister for Health the status of testing, retesting and tracing of all staff and residents in nursing homes and residential units to allow the eventual opening of these facilities to visitors; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [6864/20]

Cannabis for Medicinal Use

Dessie Ellis

697. Deputy Dessie Ellis asked the Minister for Health if medicinal cannabis can be provided here without the necessity of patients having to travel abroad to acquire the product; if so, the location it can be sourced; the requirements for acquiring same; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [4863/20]

Cannabis for Medicinal Use

Dessie Ellis

699. Deputy Dessie Ellis asked the Minister for Health the mechanism and criteria to reimburse families that have had to travel abroad to obtain medicinal cannabis; the length of time it takes for families to be reimbursed; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [4867/20]

Hospital Appointments Status

Dessie Ellis

700. Deputy Dessie Ellis asked the Minister for Health the status of a procedure for a person (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [4871/20]

Hospital Appointments Status

Dessie Ellis

368. Deputy Dessie Ellis asked the Minister for Health the status of an appointment for a hip operation for a person (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [47291/19]

Domiciliary Care Allowance Appeals

Dessie Ellis

605. Deputy Dessie Ellis asked the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection the status of an appeal by a person (details supplied) for the domiciliary care allowance; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [41993/19]

Emergency Services

Dessie Ellis

163. Deputy Dessie Ellis asked the Minister for Housing, Planning and Local Government the procedures for when an emergency call is received; the services called to respond to the emergency; if both the fire brigade and the ambulance services are called; if so, the services which are contacted first; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [41303/19]

Domiciliary Care Allowance Applications

Dessie Ellis

242. Deputy Dessie Ellis asked the Minister for Health the status of an application by a person (details supplied) for a domiciliary care allowance; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [40740/19]

Drug Treatment Programmes Data

Dessie Ellis

784. Deputy Dessie Ellis asked the Minister for Health if costs are determined by costs per treatment episode; the number of episodes in each of the years since 2012 by medical detoxification unit, community based residential detoxification beds and adolescent community based residential detoxification beds in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [34694/19]

Criminal Assets Bureau

Dessie Ellis

173. Deputy Dessie Ellis asked the Minister for Finance the amount or percentage of the moneys seized or raised through the confiscation of assets, and which is returned to the Revenue Commissioners as stated by the CAB, that is ring-fenced or returned to the local communities most affected by criminal activity; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [32230/19]

School Meals Programme

Dessie Ellis

801. Deputy Dessie Ellis asked the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection if the provision of a third school meal being provided to schools in Ballymun can be extended to include schools (details supplied) in response to the closure of clubs in the schools. [29673/19]

Garda Deployment

Dessie Ellis

230. Deputy Dessie Ellis asked the Minister for Justice and Equality the number of gardaí in the national drugs unit in each of the years 2015 to 2018 and to date in 2019; the number of gardaí working in local drugs units in each of the years 2015 to 2018 and to date in 2019, in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [24900/19]

Garda Expenditure

Dessie Ellis

231. Deputy Dessie Ellis asked the Minister for Justice and Equality the annual cost of the national drugs unit in each of the years 2015 to 2018 and to date in 2019; the annual cost of each local drugs unit per area for the same period in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [24901/19]

Drugs Crime

Dessie Ellis

232. Deputy Dessie Ellis asked the Minister for Justice and Equality the amount of money and assets seized as a result of drug-related crime in each of the years 2012 to 2018 and to date in 2019; the amount from these seizures given to community projects and similar in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [24902/19]

Substance Misuse

Dessie Ellis

310. Deputy Dessie Ellis asked the Minister for Health the cost in total and for each year of the implementation of Reducing Harm, Supporting Recovery 2017-2025 strategy addressing the harm caused by substance misuse in society over the next eight years; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [24893/19]

Drug and Alcohol Task Forces

Dessie Ellis

311. Deputy Dessie Ellis asked the Minister for Health the funding for each of the drugs and alcohol task forces in each of the years 2011 to 2018 and to date in 2019, in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [24894/19]