Parliamentary questions

Addiction Treatment Services

Róisín Shortall

135. Deputy Róisín Shortall asked the Minister for Health the steps that he is taking to progress nurse prescribing of opioid substitution therapy; the status of the working group set up to examine this issue; the timeline that he is working towards for introduction of nurse prescribing of opioid substitution therapy; the reason for the delay in progressing this policy; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [25814/24]

Disease Management

Róisín Shortall

130. Deputy Róisín Shortall asked the Minister for Health if consideration will be given to expanding access to continuous glucose monitoring (CGM) to those with type 2 diabetes under the long-term illness scheme, given that they can help prevent the deterioration of the condition, support nutrition and influence lifestyle behaviours; the reason a request by the national clinical programme for diabetes for a health technology assessment for CGM for people with type 2 diabetes was refused by HIQA; if the National Centre for Pharmacoeconomics is considering making CGM available to all based on clinical need; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [25633/24]

Dental Services

Róisín Shortall

132. Deputy Róisín Shortall asked the Minister for Health the consideration been given to alternative pathways to registration for non-EAA dentists on Stamp 4 permits (details supplied); the consideration been given to a new process for recognition of qualifications; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [25642/24]

Public Transport

Róisín Shortall

126. Deputy Róisín Shortall asked the Minister for Transport further to Parliamentary Question No. 197 of 9 April 2024, the total cost of agreements reached between Transport Infrastructure Ireland and third parties in respect of the Metrolink Railway Order application; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [25009/24]

Tax Exemptions

Róisín Shortall

171. Deputy Róisín Shortall asked the Minister for Finance further to Parliamentary Question No. 16 of 17 April 2024, the reason the VAT exemption for counsellors and psychotherapists will not apply until the Counsellors and Psychotherapists Registration Board is opened; the reasons this cannot be implemented ahead of registration; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [24650/24]

Revenue Commissioners

Róisín Shortall

184. Deputy Róisín Shortall asked the Minister for Finance to respond to matters raised in correspondence (details supplied); if arrangements can be made to facilitate general practices operated by registered charities, given the immediate implications of not finding a resolution; if he will urgently engage with the Revenue Commissioners in respect of this matter; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [25052/24]

School Accommodation

Róisín Shortall

327. Deputy Róisín Shortall asked the Minister for Education the status of a funding application (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [25330/24]

Health Services Staff

Róisín Shortall

684. Deputy Róisín Shortall asked the Minister for Health the impact of the HSE recruitment freeze on the National Ambulance Service; when candidates on the recruitment panel can expect further engagement or offers; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [24646/24]

Health Services Staff

Róisín Shortall

685. Deputy Róisín Shortall asked the Minister for Health the number of people on the National Ambulance Service primary and supplementary recruitment panels; and the number of offers issued to those on these panel since September 2023, by month and role. [24647/24]

Health Services

Róisín Shortall

686. Deputy Róisín Shortall asked the Minister for Health to provide an update on the Counsellors and Psychotherapists Registration Board; the timeline for opening the register; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [24648/24]

Health Services

Róisín Shortall

687. Deputy Róisín Shortall asked the Minister for Health the engagements he has had with the Minister for Finance in respect of VAT exemption for counsellors and psychotherapists; his views on same; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [24649/24]

Hospital Services

Róisín Shortall

754. Deputy Róisín Shortall asked the Minister for Health the status of the planned satellite hemodialysis unit at Ennis General Hospital; the timeline for delivery; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [25007/24]

Disease Management

Róisín Shortall

755. Deputy Róisín Shortall asked the Minister for Health to respond to matters raised in correspondence (details supplied); the steps he is taking to ensure that patients with chronic auto-immune disorders such as Sjögren's disease have access to appropriate and affordable dental care; his plans to reform the DTSS; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [25008/24]

Medical Register

Róisín Shortall

796. Deputy Róisín Shortall asked the Minister for Health if the frequency and capacity of Dental Council’s registration examination for non-EEA dentists will be increased, in view of the fact that the exam is currently only held once a year and is oversubscribed; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [25176/24]

Health Strategies

Róisín Shortall

853. Deputy Róisín Shortall asked the Minister for Health the timeline for approval and publication of the HSE’s Digital Health Strategic Implementation Roadmap 2024-2030; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [25368/24]

Health Services Staff

Róisín Shortall

854. Deputy Róisín Shortall asked the Minister for Health to provide an update on the HSE’s savings target of €80 million on agency staff through the conversion of this staff to HSE employees, as outlined in the HSE Service Plan 2024; if a derogation from the HSE recruitment freeze will be sanctioned to progress this conversion of staff; if discussions with his Department have commenced; the status of these discussions; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [25369/24]

Health Services Staff

Róisín Shortall

855. Deputy Róisín Shortall asked the Minister for Health the number of agency staff who have been converted to HSE employees to date in 2024, under the €80 million agency savings target outlined in the HSE Service Plan 2024, by role, in tabular form. [25370/24]

Alcohol Sales

Róisín Shortall

877. Deputy Róisín Shortall asked the Minister for Health if he intends to amend the Public Health (Alcohol) Act 2018 to prohibit the practice outlined in correspondence (details supplied); if the HSE referred this matter to his Department; if so, to outline the actions he or his officials have taken since then; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [25551/24]

Hospital Services

Róisín Shortall

265. Deputy Róisín Shortall asked the Minister for Health the total budget allocation to each HSE and public voluntary hospital in each of the years since 2020, in tabular form. [24574/24]

Departmental Reports

Róisín Shortall

266. Deputy Róisín Shortall asked the Minister for Health further to Parliamentary Question No. 290 of 18 April 2024, the status of the strategic review of radiation therapy which commenced in December 2022; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [24575/24]

Health Services Staff

Róisín Shortall

267. Deputy Róisín Shortall asked the Minister for Health further to Parliamentary Question No. 604 of 8 May 2024, if he has engaged with the HSE in respect of immediate measures to address the shortage of public health nurses; to outline his immediate and longer-term plans; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [24576/24]

Medicinal Products

Róisín Shortall

180. Deputy Róisín Shortall asked the Minister for Health further to Parliamentary Question No. 296 of 1 May 2024, if an implementation group (details supplied) has completed its work; if the group has submitted its report to the Minister; the membership of that group; the stakeholders engaged during targeted engagement; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [24199/24]

Pension Provisions

Róisín Shortall

136. Deputy Róisín Shortall asked the Minister for Transport if he will respond to matters raised in correspondence (details supplied) regarding the CIÉ 1951 superannuation scheme; if his Department will take into account the court judgment mentioned; whether those employed under this scheme, who are currently entitled to a pension, will receive their pension increase in a timely manner; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [23604/24]

Local Authorities

Róisín Shortall

268. Deputy Róisín Shortall asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage if he will respond to the contents of a news article (details supplied) regarding Dublin City Council tenants having to live with extensive mould and damp in their homes for long periods of time; the steps his Department is taking to ensure that local councils can better address these issues for their tenants; if he has engaged with Dublin City Council in recent times in relation to this issue; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [23591/24]

Schools Building Projects

Róisín Shortall

186. Deputy Róisín Shortall asked the Minister for Education to provide a definitive timeline for the completion of the permanent buildings for a school (details supplied); the stage at which the development is currently; the reasons for the slow progress of the development of the buildings; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [23362/24]

Special Educational Needs

Róisín Shortall

198. Deputy Róisín Shortall asked the Minister for Education the number of special needs schools in each of the years since 2019, by patronage, in tabular form. [23476/24]

Special Educational Needs

Róisín Shortall

199. Deputy Róisín Shortall asked the Minister for Education the number of pupils attending special needs primary schools in each of the years since 2019, in tabular form. [23477/24]

Special Educational Needs

Róisín Shortall

200. Deputy Róisín Shortall asked the Minister for Education the number of pupils attending special needs post-primary schools in each of the years since 2019, in tabular [23478/24]

Special Educational Needs

Róisín Shortall

201. Deputy Róisín Shortall asked the Minister for Education the teacher/student ratio for special needs schools in each of the years since 2019, by school, in tabular form. [23479/24]

State Bodies

Róisín Shortall

211. Deputy Róisín Shortall asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage what is required of officials working for An Bord Pleanála in respect of disclosing any connections they, either through themselves or through family members, may have to organisations or companies involved in planning or housing construction; the measures currently in place to ensure that members of An Bord Pleanála disclose any potential conflicts of interest; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [23471/24]

Special Educational Needs

Róisín Shortall

84. Deputy Róisín Shortall asked the Minister for Education the location of each of the 400 new special classes sanctioned for September 2024 (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [23131/24]

Approved Housing Bodies

Róisín Shortall

351. Deputy Róisín Shortall asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage if it is acceptable for an approved housing body (details supplied) to ask one of its tenants to cover the cost of an attic conversion in a situation in which there is additional housing need due to overcrowding; if this is Department policy; whether it applies to all approved housing bodies; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [22556/24]

Health Services Staff

Róisín Shortall

593. Deputy Róisín Shortall asked the Minister for Health if a report has been published (details supplied); if not, if he will provide a copy; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [22599/24]

Health Services

Róisín Shortall

617. Deputy Róisín Shortall asked the Minister for Health if he has received the advice from the Office of the Attorney General in relation to the extension of the free contraception scheme to 16-year-olds; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [22831/24]

Abortion Services

Róisín Shortall

618. Deputy Róisín Shortall asked the Minister for Health the status of the options paper developed by his Department in response to the report of the Oireachtas Health Committee on the Independent Review of the Health (Regulation of Termination of Pregnancy) Act 2018; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [22832/24]

Cancer Services

Róisín Shortall

619. Deputy Róisín Shortall asked the Minister for Health to provide a breakdown of the total number of BowelScreen invitations issued, by county, in each of the years from 2021 to 2024, in tabular form; the corresponding number of people, per county, who returned a completed FIT test in these same years; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [22834/24]

Cancer Services

Róisín Shortall

620. Deputy Róisín Shortall asked the Minister for Health to confirm the total number of eligible men and women who are not on the existing BowelScreen register or list which is informed by information supplied by the Department of Social Protection; to outline efforts to target this group with a view to encouraging greater uptake in the screening programme; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [22835/24]

Cancer Services

Róisín Shortall

621. Deputy Róisín Shortall asked the Minister for Health to provide details of the overall numbers of people aged 59 to 69 who are eligible for participation in the BowelScreen programme and who, as of the end of April 2024, have not been issued with a FIT test in the last two years; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [22836/24]

Maternity Leave

Róisín Shortall

100. Deputy Róisín Shortall asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth if he will honour his commitment to legislate to ensure women going through a cancer diagnosis or other serious illness during maternity leave can defer that leave while they recover; the timeline he is working towards; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [22063/24]

Statutory Instruments

Róisín Shortall

246. Deputy Róisín Shortall asked the Minister for Finance if he has responded to a letter from an organisation (details supplied); if in respect of SI 308 of 2023, the European Union (Anti-Money Laundering: Beneficial Ownership of Corporate Entities) (Amendment) Regulations 2023, he will meet this organisation; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [21803/24]

Gender Recognition

Róisín Shortall

422. Deputy Róisín Shortall asked the Minister for Social Protection the reason Irish nationals who are not ordinarily resident in the State and who do not hold any of the documents specified in section 9(1)(a) of the Gender Recognition Act 2015 are precluded from applying for a gender recognition certificate (details supplied); the rationale for their exclusion; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [21755/24]

Departmental Inquiries

Róisín Shortall

544. Deputy Róisín Shortall asked the Minister for Health if he will respond to a letter delivered to his office from an organisation on 23 April 2024 requesting a commission of investigation into baby deaths, maternal deaths and catastrophic birth injuries (details supplied); and if he intends to act on this request. [21804/24]

Legislative Programme

Róisín Shortall

645. Deputy Róisín Shortall asked the Minister for Health the reason for the delay in commencing the Patient Safety (Notifiable Incidents and Open Disclosure) Act 2023, which was signed into law on 2 May 2023; the timeline he is working towards for commencement; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [21805/24]

Health Service Executive

Róisín Shortall

646. Deputy Róisín Shortall asked the Minister for Health the person or body responsible for the oversight and accuracy of deaths reported in the HSE monthly maternity patient statements; if all maternity hospitals are recording baby deaths; if not, the repercussions for not doing so; if discrepancies between CSO and HSE data in respect of baby deaths has been reviewed; if so, the reason these sets of data do not correlate; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [21806/24]

Health Services

Róisín Shortall

647. Deputy Róisín Shortall asked the Minister for Health the reason the annual total numbers of reported serious incidents on the national incident management system is not reported; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [21807/24]

Departmental Data

Róisín Shortall

648. Deputy Róisín Shortall asked the Minister for Health the total number of baby deaths, maternal deaths and catastrophic birth injuries reported on the national incident management system in each of the years since 2013, by category, in tabular form; the number of cases where the open disclosure field within NIMS was populated; the number that led to an inquiry; the number of where open disclosure occurred; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [21808/24]

Health Services

Róisín Shortall

649. Deputy Róisín Shortall asked the Minister for Health the source of his advice in relation to 21 baby deaths (details supplied); if he or his source of advice had sight of the names of the 21 babies before a radio interview; if he is aware that this list has grown to 45 babies; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [21809/24]

Health Services

Róisín Shortall

650. Deputy Róisín Shortall asked the Minister for Health the steps he is taking to ensure that staffing levels and facilities are adequate in all maternity units, labour wards and neonatal units; the impact of the HSE recruitment freeze on maternity care; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [21810/24]

Hospital Services

Róisín Shortall

651. Deputy Róisín Shortall asked the Minister for Health to respond to concerns raised by doctors in Temple Street (details supplied); the steps he is taking to address these concerns; if a review will be conducted; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [21811/24]

Hospital Procedures

Róisín Shortall

652. Deputy Róisín Shortall asked the Minister for Health the mortality rate for babies sent to Temple Street and Crumlin Children's Hospital for surgical procedures and subsequently returned to a maternity hospital. [21812/24]