Parliamentary questions

Hospital Waiting Lists

Denis Naughten

1833. Deputy Denis Naughten asked the Minister for Health the number of people currently awaiting chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, COPD, testing at Merlin Park Hospital, Galway; the average waiting time for an appointment; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [40665/22]

Food Waste

Denis Naughten

199. Deputy Denis Naughten asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications the total estimated tonnage of food waste disposed of every year; the steps that he is taking to minimise its generation and the reuse of the waste generated; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [38860/22]

Renewable Energy Generation

Denis Naughten

200. Deputy Denis Naughten asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications the steps that he is taking to develop a bio-methane sector in Ireland; if he will outline the steps taken in each of the past five years to progress the sector; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [38861/22]

Natural Gas Grid

Denis Naughten

201. Deputy Denis Naughten asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications if he has completed his consideration of the seven heads and Kinsale wells for the storage of natural gas; if his Department has considered other potential storage locations; if the reverse pumping of the gas through the Corrib pipeline has been considered; the conclusions drawn from this analysis; when he intends to publish this analysis; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [38862/22]

Natural Gas Grid

Denis Naughten

202. Deputy Denis Naughten asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications if his Department has given consideration to acquiring a floating LNG re-gasification terminal to be located in an Irish port close to the existing gas network; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [38863/22]

Energy Prices

Denis Naughten

203. Deputy Denis Naughten asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications if he will outline the engagement that he has had with energy suppliers on the rising cost of electricity and heating for families and the specific measures that they are now taking to assist families who are falling into arrears due to these cost increases; the dates on which such engagements took place; the companies involved; the specific commitments given by the companies involved; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [38864/22]

Foreign Conflicts

Denis Naughten

405. Deputy Denis Naughten asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs if he will address the reports of cross-border attacks between the Democratic Republic of the Congo and Rwanda at the United Nations Security Council; the steps which Ireland and the European Union are taking to support peace talks by the east African Community; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [38859/22]

Social Welfare Eligibility

Denis Naughten

533. Deputy Denis Naughten asked the Minister for Social Protection the reason that foster parents are not an eligible category for the back-to-school allowance; if she will review the current policy; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [38924/22]

Children in Care

Denis Naughten

593. Deputy Denis Naughten asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth if he will ensure that an equivalent payment is provided for children in foster care given the fact that foster parents are not an eligible category for the back-to-school allowance; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [38925/22]

Medicinal Products

Denis Naughten

709. Deputy Denis Naughten asked the Minister for Health if he will offer immunocompromised & vulnerable patients access to a drug (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [38973/22]

Departmental Inquiries

Denis Naughten

248. Deputy Denis Naughten asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications if the inquiry into Inland Fisheries Ireland has been completed; if he has received a copy of the report; if he will publish the report when completed; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [37978/22]

Tax Reliefs

Denis Naughten

328. Deputy Denis Naughten asked the Minister for Finance the total cost of medical expenses tax reliefs in each of the past four years; the number of taxpayers who claimed these reliefs in each year; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [38031/22]

Tax Reliefs

Denis Naughten

329. Deputy Denis Naughten asked the Minister for Finance the total cost of health insurance tax reliefs in each of the past four years; the number of taxpayers who claimed these reliefs in each year; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [38032/22]

Housing Schemes

Denis Naughten

331. Deputy Denis Naughten asked the Minister for Finance if he will review the valuation thresholds set for the help-to-buy scheme given both building and property inflation over the past five years; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [38049/22]

Special Educational Needs

Denis Naughten

547. Deputy Denis Naughten asked the Minister for Education when a special class will be approved for a school (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [37332/22]

Disadvantaged Status

Denis Naughten

548. Deputy Denis Naughten asked the Minister for Education further to Parliamentary Question No. 579 of 21 June 2022, when schools will be informed of the decision on appeals for DEIS status; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [37333/22]

Flood Risk Management

Denis Naughten

193. Deputy Denis Naughten asked the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform further to Parliamentary Question No. 132 of 30 June 2022, the reason that one gate remains open at Athlone weir and five gates remain closed at Meelick weir; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [36891/22]

Flood Risk Management

Denis Naughten

198. Deputy Denis Naughten asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage further to a topical issue debate of 16 June 2022, the steps he is taking on foot of the correspondence he has received from the OPW on legislative concerns with regard to flood relief measures at Lough Funshinagh, County Roscommon; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [36815/22]

School Transport

Denis Naughten

226. Deputy Denis Naughten asked the Minister for Education further to Parliamentary Question No. 88 of 29 June 2022, the number of parents in receipt of remote transport grant at primary, special and post-primary level respectively, in the last available school year for which statistics are available; the corresponding total annual cost of the grant in the school year concerned at primary, special and post primary respectively; the total cost in at primary, special and post-primary in the 2021-2022 school year; the rate that the grant was paid in each of the past three school years; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [36816/22]

Departmental Data

Denis Naughten

244. Deputy Denis Naughten asked the Minister for Social Protection the number of applications for social welfare assistance claims that were granted and refused, granted on review, granted on appeal by scheme in the last available year for which figures are available in tabular form; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [36869/22]

Departmental Data

Denis Naughten

245. Deputy Denis Naughten asked the Minister for Social Protection the number of applications for social welfare benefit claims that were granted and refused, granted on review, granted on appeal by scheme in the last available year for which figures are available in tabular form; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [36870/22]

Departmental Data

Denis Naughten

246. Deputy Denis Naughten asked the Minister for Social Protection the breakdown of exceptional needs payments under the supplementary welfare allowance paid in May and June 2022 respectively; the total and individual value of each payment; the total expenditure by category and month, inclusive in tabular form; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [36871/22]

Departmental Data

Denis Naughten

247. Deputy Denis Naughten asked the Minister for Social Protection the breakdown of exceptional needs payments under the supplementary welfare allowance paid in each month in 2018 and 2019; the total and individual value of each payment; the total expenditure by category and month, inclusive in tabular form; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [36872/22]

Covid-19 Pandemic Supports

Denis Naughten

324. Deputy Denis Naughten asked the Minister for Health the financial support that he is planning to put in place for HSE front-line staff who are suffering from long-Covid and who are now facing a financial cliff edge following the abolition of the special sick pay scheme recently; the reason that a safety net had not been put in place for such staff prior to 1 July 2022; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [36890/22]

Agriculture Industry

Denis Naughten

336. Deputy Denis Naughten asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine further to Parliamentary Question No. 394 of 19 May 2022, when the review of S.I. No. 49 of 2016 will be completed; if he will extend this to the organic dairy sector; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [36865/22]

Covid-19 Pandemic Supports

Denis Naughten

53. Deputy Denis Naughten asked the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform if special leave with pay will continue from 1 July 2022 for cases of long Covid-19 beyond the period of isolation; the number of front-line workers who have availed of this payment for an extended period of 12 weeks or more; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [36576/22]

Covid-19 Pandemic Supports

Denis Naughten

55. Deputy Denis Naughten asked the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform the number of persons in receipt of special leave with pay on 30 June 2022; the number in receipt of this payment for two weeks or more on 30 June 2022; the number in receipt of this payment for 12 weeks or more on 30 June 2022; the additional supports being put in place for staff who contracted Covid-19 in their employment and who are now suffering from long Covid; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [36643/22]

National Monuments

Denis Naughten

64. Deputy Denis Naughten asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the engagements which the National Monuments Service has had with Roscommon County Council regarding the closure of Cloonshanville cemetery, County Roscommon due to the instability of the Abbey bell tower; the steps that are being taken to reopen the cemetery; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [36375/22]

Foreign Birth Registration

Denis Naughten

106. Deputy Denis Naughten asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs the present length of time to process a foreign births registration; when an application of a person (details supplied) received 28 months ago will be determined; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [36645/22]

Hospital Appointments Status

Denis Naughten

285. Deputy Denis Naughten asked the Minister for Health when a person (details supplied) will be called for surgery; the reason for the delay in same; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [36448/22]

Covid-19 Pandemic

Denis Naughten

312. Deputy Denis Naughten asked the Minister for Health further to Parliamentary Question No. 415 of 3 February 2022, if he will revise the public health advice given that the incidence of long-Covid in children is rare and mainly of short duration in view of the systematic review and meta-analyses of long-Covid in children published on 23 June 2022; if as a result he will expedite the establishment of long-Covid clinics for children; the locations of these child focused clinics; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [36582/22]

Covid-19 Pandemic Supports

Denis Naughten

313. Deputy Denis Naughten asked the Minister for Health the reason HSE hospital kitchen staff have not received the pandemic bonus payment yet clerical staff with no patient contact have received the payment; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [36584/22]

Special Educational Needs

Denis Naughten

365. Deputy Denis Naughten asked the Minister for Education the number of mild and moderate classes sanctioned by her Department at primary level in each of the past three years and to date in 2022; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [36069/22]

Special Educational Needs

Denis Naughten

366. Deputy Denis Naughten asked the Minister for Education the number of mild and moderate classes sanctioned by her Department at post-primary level in each of the past three years and to date in 2022; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [36070/22]

Special Educational Needs

Denis Naughten

367. Deputy Denis Naughten asked the Minister for Education the number of autism classes sanctioned by her Department at primary level in each of the past three years and to date in 2022; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [36071/22]

Special Educational Needs

Denis Naughten

368. Deputy Denis Naughten asked the Minister for Education the number of autism classes sanctioned by her Department at post-primary level in each of the past three years and to date in 2022; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [36072/22]

Social Welfare Benefits

Denis Naughten

401. Deputy Denis Naughten asked the Minister for Social Protection the number of applications that were refused for domiciliary care allowance in 2019, 2020, 2021 and to date in 2022; the number of applications that were appealed for each of those years; the number that were successful on review for those years; the number that were successful on appeal for those years; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [35803/22]

Social Welfare Benefits

Denis Naughten

402. Deputy Denis Naughten asked the Minister for Social Protection the number of applications that were made for domiciliary care allowance in 2021 and to date in 2022; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [35804/22]

Social Welfare Benefits

Denis Naughten

403. Deputy Denis Naughten asked the Minister for Social Protection the number of applications for domiciliary care allowance with dyspraxia as a primary diagnosis that were refused in 2019, 2020, 2021 and to date in 2022; the number of those applications that were appealed for each of those years; the number that were successful on review for those years; the number that were successful on appeal for those years; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [35805/22]

Social Welfare Benefits

Denis Naughten

404. Deputy Denis Naughten asked the Minister for Social Protection the number of applications for domiciliary care allowance with ASD as a primary diagnosis that were refused in 2019, 2020, 2021 and to date in 2022; the number of those applications that were appealed for each of those years; the number that were successful on review for those years; the number that were successful on appeal for those years; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [35806/22]

Social Welfare Benefits

Denis Naughten

405. Deputy Denis Naughten asked the Minister for Social Protection the number of applications for domiciliary care allowance with sensory processing disorder as a primary diagnosis that were refused in 2019, 2020, 2021 and to date in 2022; the number of those applications that were appealed for each of those years; the number that were successful on review for those years; the number that were successful on appeal for those years; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [35807/22]

Social Welfare Benefits

Denis Naughten

406. Deputy Denis Naughten asked the Minister for Social Protection if all applications for domiciliary care allowance are assessed by a medical assessor; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [35808/22]

Social Welfare Benefits

Denis Naughten

407. Deputy Denis Naughten asked the Minister for Social Protection the plans, if any, that she has to review the onerous application process for parents applying for the domiciliary care allowance, particularly in terms of family impact statements and care diaries; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [35809/22]

Departmental Staff

Denis Naughten

408. Deputy Denis Naughten asked the Minister for Social Protection if her Department employs medical assessors with specialist knowledge in areas such as occupational therapy, psychology, physiotherapy and so on; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [35810/22]

Legislative Measures

Denis Naughten

458. Deputy Denis Naughten asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth when he intends to publish the Work Life Balance and Miscellaneous Provisions Bill 2022; if the Bill will remove the word woman from existing primary legislation; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [36117/22]

Hospital Staff

Denis Naughten

774. Deputy Denis Naughten asked the Minister for Health further to Parliamentary Question No. 278 of 28 April 2022, when the post of Parkinson's disease nurse specialist in University Hospital Galway will be filled; the interim measures that will be put in place prior to the filling of this post; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [35792/22]

Hospital Services

Denis Naughten

812. Deputy Denis Naughten asked the Minister for Health the locations of the eight outpatient department respiratory medicine initiatives approved for funding so far in 2022 by the National Treatment Purchase Fund; the details of each initiative; the number of patients that each initiative is expected to take from the current waiting lists; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [36040/22]

Industrial Development

Denis Naughten

96. Deputy Denis Naughten asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment further to Parliamentary Question No. 10 of 19 May 2022, if his Department has received a reply from IDA Ireland in relation to acquiring lands in Ballinasloe; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [35152/22]

Flood Risk Management

Denis Naughten

132. Deputy Denis Naughten asked the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform the steps that are being taken at present to protect meadows within the Shannon Callows from flooding given the expected fodder shortage this winter following the significant levels of rainfall within the upper Shannon catchment recently; the number of sluice gates that were open and closed by the ESB and Waterways Ireland on 24 and 27 June 2022; the number of boards removed at Meelick Weir and Athlone for June 2022; the corresponding water level reference point north of each location in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [35153/22]

Flood Risk Management

Denis Naughten

136. Deputy Denis Naughten asked the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform the current status of works on the removal of the pinch points in the Shannon Callows between Athlone and Meelick Weir; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [35154/22]