Parliamentary questions

Health Services

Fergus O'Dowd

507. Deputy Fergus O'Dowd asked the Minister for Health if he will reply to concerns raised and proposals offered by an organisation (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [55564/21]

Covid-19 Tests

Fergus O'Dowd

535. Deputy Fergus O'Dowd asked the Minister for Health if further discussions have taken place in respect of the much needed provision of a full-time Covid-19 test centre for Drogheda, County Louth; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [55662/21]

Vacant Properties

Fergus O'Dowd

94. Deputy Fergus O'Dowd asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the number of vacant homes in County Louth that Louth County Council applied for voids funding to bring back into use in each of the years 2019, 2020 and to date in 2021; the number of units Louth County Council has successfully brought back into use over the same period which are now occupied or ready for allocation; if a breakdown of the figures between north Louth, mid Louth and south Louth will be provided to compare the number of units applied for against the total number of available vacant units in council stock; the number of vacant council homes across the county at present by location; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [54801/21]

Public Sector Staff

Fergus O'Dowd

163. Deputy Fergus O'Dowd asked the Taoiseach the number of civil servants that are employed by the Chief State Solicitors Office for each of the past three years; the grade of each; and the budget allocated to the Office for each of the past three years. [54624/21]

School Equipment

Fergus O'Dowd

447. Deputy Fergus O'Dowd asked the Minister for Education the number of defibrillators which are currently physically on site in primary and post-primary schools nationwide; if figures are not available, if she will commission a report urgently to identify schools which do not have defibrillators on site in order to address any shortfall; if there is a requirement on all registered teachers to have undertaken basic first aid and defibrillator training; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [54625/21]

Air Quality

Fergus O'Dowd

48. Deputy Fergus O'Dowd asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications the way he plans to improve air quality in Ireland; the projected investment in air quality measurement infrastructure over the coming years; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [53481/21]

Fuel Sales

Fergus O'Dowd

65. Deputy Fergus O'Dowd asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications the way the sale and supply of domestic solid fuels will be deterred in circumstances in which that fuel does not meet the new regulations and standards to be introduced in advance of winter heating season 2022 in particular in circumstances in which that fuel is sold in large quantities through online sales or advertisements and in which the fuel is sold from outside Ireland; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [53480/21]

Public Transport

Fergus O'Dowd

107. Deputy Fergus O'Dowd asked the Minister for Transport his plans to make public transport more affordable and accessible for other age groups particularly in view of changed travel patterns including the introduction of a three day commuter ticket option; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [53494/21]

Road Projects

Fergus O'Dowd

143. Deputy Fergus O'Dowd asked the Minister for Transport if a commitment will be made to liaise directly with the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage to assess the feasibility of Louth County Council’s Drogheda Northern Cross Route (PANCR) proposal through the urban regeneration fund from a joint perspective similar to the successful Waterford north quays project in which his Department committed €30 million towards the final project through the NTA; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [53495/21]

Departmental Strategies

Fergus O'Dowd

355. Deputy Fergus O'Dowd asked the Minister for Health if he will address the queries raised in correspondence (details supplied) regarding the National Stroke Strategy; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [53783/21]

Health Services

Fergus O'Dowd

146. Deputy Fergus O'Dowd asked the Minister for Health if a copy will be provided of the independent review that was recently commissioned and completed by the HSE which assessed addiction services in counties Louth and Meath; the recommendations on same; the follow up actions which will now take place; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [53440/21]

Health Services Staff

Fergus O'Dowd

147. Deputy Fergus O'Dowd asked the Minister for Health further to Parliamentary Question No. 1164 of 9 September 2021, if progress has been made from September 2021 in terms of the health service provision of an appropriate needle exchange in Drogheda, County Louth following the removal of a harm reduction worker in early 2020; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [53441/21]

Health Service Executive

Fergus O'Dowd

166. Deputy Fergus O'Dowd asked the Minister for Health the reason there is no designated post of chief social worker in the HSE given the range of critical roles that social workers perform across the health sector and related services and particularly in the context of a series of adult safeguarding failings and inquiries such as cases (details supplied) in addition to the fact that social work is the lead frontline profession in such matters; if he will consider making arrangements for such an appointment as a matter of urgency; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [53646/21]

Childcare Services

Fergus O'Dowd

50. Deputy Fergus O'Dowd asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment the progress made to date by the Joint Labour Committee that he and the Minister of State for Business, Employment and Retail established to examine pay and conditions in the early years sector; when he expects the process to reach a conclusion; the way that the Government will support the process and ultimate outcome; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [48445/21]

Energy Policy

Fergus O'Dowd

168. Deputy Fergus O'Dowd asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications the number of prosecutions that have been issued for breaching the smoky coal ban from 2015 to date in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [53377/21]

Electric Vehicles

Fergus O'Dowd

194. Deputy Fergus O'Dowd asked the Minister for Transport if he will respond to correspondence (details supplied) in respect of the withdrawal of grants for plug-in hybrid electric vehicles; if a review of the decision is taking place given the serious concerns that have been raised which may force more persons to purchase fossil fuel vehicles; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [52661/21]

Driver Test

Fergus O'Dowd

214. Deputy Fergus O'Dowd asked the Minister for Transport the current planning status of the proposed permanent RSA driving test centre for Drogheda, County Louth given the exceptionally high number of persons awaiting tests in the town; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [52956/21]

Electric Vehicles

Fergus O'Dowd

216. Deputy Fergus O'Dowd asked the Minister for Transport if an update will be provided on the difficulty constituents are experiencing in applying for and successfully installing EV charger infrastructure in communal areas and residential units that do not have private car spaces; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [52969/21]

Banking Sector

Fergus O'Dowd

248. Deputy Fergus O'Dowd asked the Minister for Finance if he will respond to concerns raised by a person (details attached) in respect of the decision by a bank to close SME accounts in the UK.; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [52065/21]

Sports Funding

Fergus O'Dowd

323. Deputy Fergus O'Dowd asked the Minister for Tourism, Culture, Arts, Gaeltacht, Sport and Media the funding streams that are currently available and open for amateur boxing clubs; the funding provided to amateur boxing clubs in counties Meath and Louth in each of the years 2017 to 2020 and to date in 2021; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [52959/21]

Planning Issues

Fergus O'Dowd

391. Deputy Fergus O'Dowd asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the status of the review of the strategic environmental assessment of draft interim regulations for planning exemptions on solar panels installation for home and businesses; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [52879/21]

Departmental Policies

Fergus O'Dowd

422. Deputy Fergus O'Dowd asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs if his Department is currently working on a framework to be used in the coming years to examine the constitutional changes that will be required if a united Ireland was to be established in the future. [52420/21]

School Staff

Fergus O'Dowd

532. Deputy Fergus O'Dowd asked the Minister for Education further to Parliamentary Question No. 126 of 20 October 2021, if the matters raised by a school principal (details supplied) in County Louth in respect of substitute teaching panels will receive a response; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [52706/21]

Dental Services

Fergus O'Dowd

801. Deputy Fergus O'Dowd asked the Minister for Health further to a response from the HSE of 20 September 2021 (details supplied), if urgent intervention will be provided to ensure that medical card holders in the Drogheda area of County Louth have access to dental treatments under the medical card scheme considering that more practices have now closed their GMS provision; if advice will be provided to medical card holders in relation to the steps they can take in cases in which they cannot access dental treatments under GMS in Drogheda; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [52062/21]

Health Services

Fergus O'Dowd

1044. Deputy Fergus O'Dowd asked the Minister for Health further to Parliamentary Question No. 2709 of 27 July 2021, if a response can now issue in respect of whether BreastCheck services in counties Louth and Meath have recommenced; the locations in operation pre-Covid-19; the locations in operation presently; the reason for any removal of services; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [53001/21]

Vaccination Programme

Fergus O'Dowd

1087. Deputy Fergus O'Dowd asked the Minister for Health if he will address concerns raised regarding a vaccine booster (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [53197/21]

Departmental Reports

Fergus O'Dowd

89. Deputy Fergus O'Dowd asked the Minister for Justice if she will provide an update on the Drogheda implementation plan following the publication of the Geiran report earlier in 2021 with updated associated timelines; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [51513/21]

Nursing Homes

Fergus O'Dowd

314. Deputy Fergus O'Dowd asked the Minister for Health the details of the additional funding for the fair deal scheme; if this funding will assist in the progression and expansion of the scheme; if consideration is being given to additional or complimentary schemes for non-residential care; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [51800/21]

Disability Services

Fergus O'Dowd

315. Deputy Fergus O'Dowd asked the Minister for Health the way the additional funding of €105 million for disability services will help provide greater independence in terms of post-school options and the wrap around supports; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [51801/21]

Disability Services

Fergus O'Dowd

316. Deputy Fergus O'Dowd asked the Minister for Health the way he plans to provide additional care options for young people with a disability who wish to reside outside of nursing home settings and who wish to live independently; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [51802/21]

Nursing Homes

Fergus O'Dowd

317. Deputy Fergus O'Dowd asked the Minister for Health the details of the way in which the new funding for safeguarding will be utilised; if the funding will be absorbed into current HSE services; if not, if funding will be directed towards charity not-for-profit advocacy services such as services (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [51803/21]

Health Services

Fergus O'Dowd

328. Deputy Fergus O'Dowd asked the Minister for Health if the review of CDNT services has been completed for CHO8 and in particular for the south Louth and East Meath area following on from persons being informed that their children’s service will be moved from east Meath CDNT 4 to south Louth CDNT 3 which is already at breaking point; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [51843/21]

School Staff

Fergus O'Dowd

136. Deputy Fergus O'Dowd asked the Minister for Education if she will respond to concerns raised in correspondence (details supplied) in relation to school services and the availability of substitute teachers; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [51570/21]

Special Educational Needs

Fergus O'Dowd

137. Deputy Fergus O'Dowd asked the Minister for Education if she will address the concerns raised in correspondence (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [51575/21]

Healthcare Policy

Fergus O'Dowd

255. Deputy Fergus O'Dowd asked the Minister for Health if he plans to update the National Positive Aging Strategy given that it has not been updated in over eight years; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [51511/21]

Healthcare Policy

Fergus O'Dowd

256. Deputy Fergus O'Dowd asked the Minister for Health his views on whether nutrition and hydration plays an important role in positive aging; if so, if he will commit to the inclusion of nutrition and hydration going forward; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [51512/21]

Covid-19 Pandemic

Fergus O'Dowd

193. Deputy Fergus O'Dowd asked the Minister for Health the status of Irish citizens who reside in Ireland but have been vaccinated in Northern Ireland and who are trying to apply for an EU Digital COVID Certificate; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [46836/21]

Electric Vehicles

Fergus O'Dowd

331. Deputy Fergus O'Dowd asked the Minister for Transport the status of the legislation to regulate electric scooters in particular in circumstances in which the scooter is on pedestrian footpaths and the minimum visibility requirements when dark; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [50849/21]

School Staff

Fergus O'Dowd

565. Deputy Fergus O'Dowd asked the Minister for Education if she will respond to concerns raised by a person (details supplied) in respect of circular 0050/2021 and principal release days; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [50721/21]

Covid-19 Pandemic

Fergus O'Dowd

722. Deputy Fergus O'Dowd asked the Minister for Health if he will put in place a consultation framework to prepare for a public enquiry into the tragic loss of life in nursing homes during the Covid-19 pandemic. [50402/21]

Departmental Funding

Fergus O'Dowd

15. Deputy Fergus O'Dowd asked the Minister for Rural and Community Development the status of funding awarded and applications under consideration in counties Louth and Meath in respect of support for walking infrastructure such as trails given the importance of such local amenities particularly during the Covid-19 pandemic; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [50156/21]

Community Development Projects

Fergus O'Dowd

38. Deputy Fergus O'Dowd asked the Minister for Rural and Community Development the status of supports provided to community-based organisations in counties Louth and Meath that provide vital services such as cancer care transport services; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [50155/21]

Transport Policy

Fergus O'Dowd

92. Deputy Fergus O'Dowd asked the Minister for Transport if he will provide a full breakdown on the progress or lack thereof in respect of the NTA Active Travel Investment Programme projects (details supplied) in County Louth which were allocated €4.6 million in funding in March 2021; if the updates can be provided on a project by project basis; the total funding that the council has drawn down to date or lack thereof for each project and any other relevant details; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [50250/21]

Primary Care Centres

Fergus O'Dowd

159. Deputy Fergus O'Dowd asked the Minister for Health the current status of the proposed east Meath primary care centre which is to be located in Bettystown town centre; when he expects works to commence and any other relevant details; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [50251/21]

Fuel Quality

Fergus O'Dowd

44. Deputy Fergus O'Dowd asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications the strategy to address the sale of domestic solid fuels that do not meet the pollution and emission standards that will be introduced across the State by the 2022 heating season as announced earlier in 2021 in particular in cases in which suppliers outside the State are advertising the sale and delivery of such goods to Irish residents on buy and sell internet sites and well regarded magazines and so on; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [49511/21]

Horticulture Sector

Fergus O'Dowd

122. Deputy Fergus O'Dowd asked the Minister for Finance if his attention has been drawn to the financial difficulties and need for special relief for glasshouse growers in Ireland (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [49493/21]

Fuel Quality

Fergus O'Dowd

123. Deputy Fergus O'Dowd asked the Minister for Finance the way the Revenue Commissioners plan to deal with the sale and supply of domestic solid fuels that do not comply with Ireland's new emission standards that will be introduced across the State in advance of the 2022 heating season as announced earlier in 2021 in particular in cases in which suppliers outside the State are advertising the sale and delivery of such goods to Irish residents on buy and sell internet sites and well regarded magazines and so on; if appropriate measures will be put in place to actively pursue any supplier distributing domestic fuels that do not comply with the new emission standards even in the event in which that supplier may be delivering from outside the State; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [49512/21]

Covid-19 Pandemic

Fergus O'Dowd

178. Deputy Fergus O'Dowd asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage if a series of queries raised by a person (details supplied) in respect of businesses that did not qualify for rates waivers but that are adversely affected by the pandemic in terms of their revenue levels will be addressed; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [49445/21]

School Transport

Fergus O'Dowd

261. Deputy Fergus O'Dowd asked the Minister for Education if queries raised by a person (details supplied) in respect of a bus escort query will receive a response; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [49239/21]

Departmental Schemes

Fergus O'Dowd

7. Deputy Fergus O'Dowd asked the Minister for Social Protection if she plans to extend the flexibility on rent supplement for victims of domestic violence; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [48443/21]