Parliamentary questions

Insurance Costs

Bobby Aylward

30. Deputy Bobby Aylward asked the Minister for Finance the measures taken to meet and engage with insurance companies regarding excessive premiums being charged to consumers particularly in counties Carlow and Kilkenny; if he has investigated the possibility of opening up the insurance market here to new providers in order to increase competitiveness in prices charged for motor insurance; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [25241/19]

Legislative Reviews

Bobby Aylward

153. Deputy Bobby Aylward asked the Minister for Justice and Equality the position regarding the review of the Defamation Act 2009; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [25752/19]

VAT Exemptions

Bobby Aylward

125. Deputy Bobby Aylward asked the Minister for Finance the steps he will take to reduce the unaffordable price of pembrolizumab by removing the cost of the VAT on same to assist in potentially life-saving treatment as in the case of a person (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [25333/19]

Legislative Reviews

Bobby Aylward

247. Deputy Bobby Aylward asked the Minister for Justice and Equality the position regarding the review being undertaken by officials of the Irish Prison Service and his Department in consultation with the Attorney General examining the necessary legislative and or administrative changes arising from the ruling in a case (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [25107/19]

Nursing Homes Support Scheme

Bobby Aylward

385. Deputy Bobby Aylward asked the Minister for Health when the 7.5% property rate within the fair deal scheme capped at three years for the vast majority of persons will be extended to farming families; if the extension will be applied retrospectively to current participants of the scheme; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [25156/19]

Cross-Border Health Services Provision

Bobby Aylward

391. Deputy Bobby Aylward asked the Minister for Health the reason for the delay in reimbursement payment by the HSE to a person (details supplied) who availed of the cross-Border directive for a procedure six months ago; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [25200/19]

Brexit Supports

Bobby Aylward

522. Deputy Bobby Aylward asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if the distribution of the €100 million Brexit fund for farmers will be subject to preconditions and-or specific categories of farmers such as beef finishers as has been reported; if the fund will be available to farmers at any stage along the beef chain whether calf, weanlings, store or finished; or steer, bull, heifer or cow; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [25158/19]

Animal Slaughtering Standards

Bobby Aylward

523. Deputy Bobby Aylward asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the steps he has taken to address the long outstanding issues regarding the mechanical grading and trimming of carcasses of slaughtered cattle in factories since reports of inaccuracies first emerged; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [25186/19]

Household Benefits Scheme

Bobby Aylward

608. Deputy Bobby Aylward asked the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection if the possibility of reintroducing an automatic household benefit package entitlement for carers who have been approved for the carer's allowance payment subsequent to 2012 and who do not reside with the person for whom they are caring will be investigated; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [25070/19]

Hospital Services

Bobby Aylward

506. Deputy Bobby Aylward asked the Minister for Health if there is due to be a reduced level of capacity at University Hospital Waterford during the last two weeks of July and the first two weeks of August 2019; if staff have been advised to take their holidays during this period as a result; if the capacity of the operating theatres will be affected; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [23583/19]

Medicinal Products Prices

Bobby Aylward

687. Deputy Bobby Aylward asked the Minister for Health if he has considered the request made by this Deputy during Questions on Promised Legislation on 29 May 2019 to meet and assist the family of a person (details supplied); the steps he will take to reduce the unaffordable price of the drug by removing the cost of the VAT on same; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [24189/19]

Childcare Services Funding

Bobby Aylward

15. Deputy Bobby Aylward asked the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs the level of engagement between her Department and the community-managed not-for-profit childcare service providers with specific reference to negotiations for funding agreements and funding rules in the context of recent compliance audits by Pobal (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [21739/19]

Railway Stations Upgrade

Bobby Aylward

55. Deputy Bobby Aylward asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport if his attention has been drawn to the need for the provision of funding for necessary upgrade works of various facilities at Thomastown train station, County Kilkenny for rail commuters including the elderly and disabled with specific reference to appropriate facilities (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [21723/19]

National Broadband Plan

Bobby Aylward

86. Deputy Bobby Aylward asked the Minister for Communications, Climate Action and Environment the timeline for the commencement of works on the ground under the national broadband plan; the measures contained within same to ensure rapid roll-out of broadband services for rural areas, rural communities and regional towns; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [21344/19]

Schools Facilities

Bobby Aylward

145. Deputy Bobby Aylward asked the Minister for Education and Skills the position regarding access for a school (details supplied) to the sports hall building programme for the provision of adequate physical education facilities; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [20370/19]

Work Permits Eligibility

Bobby Aylward

80. Deputy Bobby Aylward asked the Minister for Business, Enterprise and Innovation if her attention has been drawn to concerns raised by stakeholders in the nursing home and healthcare industry regarding the recent changes to the work permit system and the adverse effect this may have on the recruitment of healthcare assistants within the general health service; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [20228/19]

Health Services Staff Recruitment

Bobby Aylward

95. Deputy Bobby Aylward asked the Minister for Health if he is satisfied that the recruitment methods of healthcare assistants for the nursing home and healthcare industry are sufficient to address the reported labour shortfall in the health service; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [20229/19]

Hospital Facilities

Bobby Aylward

103. Deputy Bobby Aylward asked the Minister for Health if his attention has been drawn to reports regarding the storage of bodies at a hospital (details supplied); his plans to investigate the matter further; if he is satisfied that there is sufficient refrigeration capacity at the hospital; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [20242/19]

Public Appointments Service

Bobby Aylward

234. Deputy Bobby Aylward asked the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform his plans to implement a recruitment campaign for HEO and third secretary posts within the Civil Service in quarter 2 of 2019; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [19159/19]

Garda Expenditure

Bobby Aylward

493. Deputy Bobby Aylward asked the Minister for Justice and Equality the amount spent on purchasing spit hoods for the years ending 2017, 2018 and to date in 2019, in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [19157/19]