Parliamentary questions

HSE Staffing

Caoimhghín Ó Caoláin

31. Deputy Caoimhghín Ó Caoláin asked the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs the anticipated number of social worker posts that will deal exclusively with children and family issues under the aegis of the Child and Family Support Agency, following its establishment as of 1 January 2013; the number currently in service with the Children and Families Service of the Health Service Executive; if and when a recruitment process will get underway to ensure the anticipated complement will be available to the new agency; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [46758/12]

Child Detention Centres

Caoimhghín Ó Caoláin

20. Deputy Caoimhghín Ó Caoláin asked the Minister for Justice and Equality the number of children under 18 years who were residing within St. Patrick’s Institution, Dublin on 20 September, 2012. [40711/12]

Crime Prevention

Caoimhghín Ó Caoláin

78. Deputy Caoimhghín Ó Caoláin asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government his plans to help combat racism and racist anti-social behaviour on local authority housing estates and complexes. [46199/12]

Local Government Reform

Caoimhghín Ó Caoláin

92. Deputy Caoimhghín Ó Caoláin asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government the functions that are being devolved from central government to local authorities (details supplied). [46075/12]

Student Grant Scheme Applications

Caoimhghín Ó Caoláin

219. Deputy Caoimhghín Ó Caoláin asked the Minister for Education and Skills if a person (details supplied) in County Monaghan will be awarded the non-adjacent rate of the higher education grant, as their home is 47 kilometres from their place of study, rather than the adjacent rate previously indicated. [45879/12]

Child Care Services Inquiry

Caoimhghín Ó Caoláin

302. Deputy Caoimhghín Ó Caoláin asked the Minister for Social Protection the contact she has had with lone parents groups regarding the inter-departmental subgroup on school-age care; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [46096/12]

Child Care Services Inquiry

Caoimhghín Ó Caoláin

303. Deputy Caoimhghín Ó Caoláin asked the Minister for Social Protection if she will provide a report on her recent international trip to Scandinavia to explore a working childcare model and potential application of same here; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [46097/12]

Social Welfare Appeals Status

Caoimhghín Ó Caoláin

331. Deputy Caoimhghín Ó Caoláin asked the Minister for Social Protection the position regarding an appeal in respect of a person (details supplied) in County Cavan; and when a decision will issue; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [45858/12]

Child Care Services Inquiry

Caoimhghín Ó Caoláin

348. Deputy Caoimhghín Ó Caoláin asked the Minister for Social Protection the contact she has had with lone parents groups regarding the inter-departmental subgroup on school-age care; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [46094/12]

Child Care Services Inquiry

Caoimhghín Ó Caoláin

349. Deputy Caoimhghín Ó Caoláin asked the Minister for Social Protection further to Parliamentary Question No. 40 of 17 July 2012, when the details of the best possible model for enhancing the provision of school-age childcare and accompanying proposals will be submitted to Government; when she intends to publish same; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [46098/12]

Inter-Country Adoptions

Caoimhghín Ó Caoláin

582. Deputy Caoimhghín Ó Caoláin asked the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs the position regarding inter-country adoptions with Ethiopia; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [46494/12]

HSE Expenditure

Caoimhghín Ó Caoláin

588. Deputy Caoimhghín Ó Caoláin asked the Minister for Health the full drugs bill for the Health Service Executive for 2010, 2011 and to date in 2012; if he will provide a breakdown of same by scheme, by patent status and branded generic status [45703/12]

Medicinal Products Expenditure

Caoimhghín Ó Caoláin

589. Deputy Caoimhghín Ó Caoláin asked the Minister for Health if he will provide the full details of the deal negotiated with the Irish Pharmaceutical Healthcare Association as announced on 15 October 2012; if he will provide details for the cost savings calculations or estimates and for a breakdown of same by scheme and year on year; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [45704/12]

National Task Force on Prescribing and Dispensing Remit

Caoimhghín Ó Caoláin

590. Deputy Caoimhghín Ó Caoláin asked the Minister for Health if he will provide details of the remit of the National Task Force on Prescribing and Dispensing; the membership; the method of recruitment or appointment and remuneration of same; and the accountability and monitoring measures of same [45705/12]

Medicinal Products Expenditure

Caoimhghín Ó Caoláin

591. Deputy Caoimhghín Ó Caoláin asked the Minister for Health the scope and detail of the Health Service Executive community drug schemes drugs price review; when and the way this review will be undertaken; the methods to be employed and the expected cost savings to be delivered; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [45706/12]

Services for People with Disabilities

Caoimhghín Ó Caoláin

609. Deputy Caoimhghín Ó Caoláin asked the Minister for Health when funding to ensure that residential services for persons with disabilities are independently inspected by the Health Information and Quality Authority will be made available; his plans to progress same; the date on which the inspections regime will begin; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [45881/12]

Services for People with Disabilities

Caoimhghín Ó Caoláin

610. Deputy Caoimhghín Ó Caoláin asked the Minister for Health the measures taken to ensure the Time to Move On report is implemented in full; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [45882/12]

Hospital Consultants Contract Issues

Caoimhghín Ó Caoláin

611. Deputy Caoimhghín Ó Caoláin asked the Minister for Health if he will outline the accountability and oversight mechanism for the full implementation of consultants contracts, in relation to the public private mix of their work and the location of same; the frequency of inspection and reporting; if he is satisfied that consultants at St. Vincent's Hospital, Dublin and elsewhere are fulfilling their public service obligations; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [45883/12]

Hospital Appointments Administration

Caoimhghín Ó Caoláin

636. Deputy Caoimhghín Ó Caoláin asked the Minister for Health when a person (details supplied) in Dublin 11 will receive an appointment for Connolly Hospital, Blanchardstown, Dublin 15 [46083/12]

Hospital Charges

Caoimhghín Ó Caoláin

637. Deputy Caoimhghín Ó Caoláin asked the Minister for Health if his attention has been drawn to debt collection practices employed at Tallaght Hospital, Dublin 24; if patients may expect to receive a letter from Intrum Justitia if bills are not paid within six weeks of discharge; the terms of the agreement between Tallaght Hospital and Intrum Justitia including the level of payment; if similar arrangements are in place for the recouping of moneys from private health insurance companies; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [46091/12]

Food Safety Standards Regulation

Caoimhghín Ó Caoláin

642. Deputy Caoimhghín Ó Caoláin asked the Minister for Health if he will confirm that Safefood will be afforded the opportunity to fully participate, along with the Food Safety Authority of Ireland and the Health Service Executive, in the current review of the role of Safefood, in line with the approach taken in Northern Ireland; if he will outline the details of Safefood's involvement in the review; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [46149/12]

Medical Aids and Appliances Applications

Caoimhghín Ó Caoláin

663. Deputy Caoimhghín Ó Caoláin asked the Minister for Health the funding options open to a person (details supplied) in County Wicklow for batteries and a remote control for their hearing implant. [46271/12]

Speech and Language Therapy

Caoimhghín Ó Caoláin

664. Deputy Caoimhghín Ó Caoláin asked the Minister for Health the position regarding an application for speech therapy in respect of a person (details supplied) in County Wicklow including whether and when one to one speech therapy will be provided to address the difficulties they have arising from the failure to diagnose their profound deafness at an early age. [46272/12]

HSE Expenditure

Caoimhghín Ó Caoláin

674. Deputy Caoimhghín Ó Caoláin asked the Minister for Health , the amount spent by the Health Service Executive for each of the past three years in making submissions to local and county development plans; the cost of making submissions to any other statutory bodies or Government Departments; the amount of this figure that was paid to consultants employed by the HSE for this purpose; if he will list the consultants involved and each of the bodies to which submissions were made as well as the purpose for making each submission; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [46329/12]

Hospital Facilities

Caoimhghín Ó Caoláin

695. Deputy Caoimhghín Ó Caoláin asked the Minister for Health if he will give assurances that operating theatre two in Wexford General Hospital, which has been closed for eleven weeks, will reopen before years end and in view the fact that St Aidan's Ward in Wexford General was closed in a similar circumstances two years ago and remains closed, if he will specify the date on which operating theatre 2 will open; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [46497/12]

Dublin Bus Services

Caoimhghín Ó Caoláin

35. Deputy Caoimhghín Ó Caoláin asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport his plans to improve the current Leap card system to make it more user friendly and efficient when using bus services. [45134/12]

Road Network

Caoimhghín Ó Caoláin

71. Deputy Caoimhghín Ó Caoláin asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport if he will put in place a time frame to release funds as soon as possible for the continuation of works on the A5 which is now costing considerable amounts everyday due to it being held up. [45136/12]

Clinical Indemnity Scheme

Caoimhghín Ó Caoláin

214. Deputy Caoimhghín Ó Caoláin asked the Minister for Health if he will confirm that commercial insurance is not available for private midwives here; if due to the implementation of EU Directives for all healthcare workers to have insurance by 2013 that it will be illegal for midwives to provide breast-feeding support in the community if they are not Health Service Executive employees; the efforts he is making to resolve this situation; if he will confirm that obstetricians in Mount Carmel, Dublin 14, provide care through a private enterprise access professional indemnity insurance through the HSE; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [45381/12]

Overseas Development Aid Provision

Caoimhghín Ó Caoláin

45. Deputy Caoimhghín Ó Caoláin asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade if he will provide details of his discussions with the Director of UNICEF in New York, regarding Ireland's commitment to tackle maternal and child hunger, and HIV/AIDS. [44816/12]

Human Rights Issues

Caoimhghín Ó Caoláin

53. Deputy Caoimhghín Ó Caoláin asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade if his attention has been drawn to the Breaking the Silence report, which contains testimonies from former Israeli soldiers, on the way the Israeli army routinely mistreated children in occupied Palestinian territories; if he has raised the damning report with the Israeli Government; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [44803/12]

Lourdes Hospital Redress Scheme Extension

Caoimhghín Ó Caoláin

291. Deputy Caoimhghín Ó Caoláin asked the Minister for Health the current status of the Programme for Government commitment to extend the Lourdes Hospital Scheme to include those 36 women who were excluded; when he intends to give effect to that commitment; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [45158/12]

Departmental Schemes

Caoimhghín Ó Caoláin

535. Deputy Caoimhghín Ó Caoláin asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine his plans for developing new schemes to support small farmers; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [44667/12]

Suckler Welfare Scheme Eligibility

Caoimhghín Ó Caoláin

536. Deputy Caoimhghín Ó Caoláin asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine his plans for the suckler welfare scheme; if the scheme will be cut or abolished; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [44668/12]

Rural Environment Protection Scheme Eligibility

Caoimhghín Ó Caoláin

537. Deputy Caoimhghín Ó Caoláin asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if a meaningful scheme like REP scheme 3 and 4 will be introduced; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [44669/12]

Patient Statistics

Caoimhghín Ó Caoláin

605. Deputy Caoimhghín Ó Caoláin asked the Minister for Health the total number of private patients treated in public and voluntary hospitals for the years 2010, 2011 and to date in 2012; if he will provide a breakdown of same based on those treated in public or undesignated beds and those treated in private beds; the total cost of treatment of these patients; and the total amount of moneys recouped from health insurers in relation to these patients [44170/12]

Health Services Staff Issues

Caoimhghín Ó Caoláin

679. Deputy Caoimhghín Ó Caoláin asked the Minister for Health further to Parliamentary Question No. 218 of 11 July 2012, the number of the 150 posts promised for child and adolescent mental health services that are now in place. [44718/12]

Primary Care Centres Provision

Caoimhghín Ó Caoláin

692. Deputy Caoimhghín Ó Caoláin asked the Minister for Health the current stage of development of the primary care centre at Gleann Riada, Longford, County Longford; the various regulations and standards with which this infrastructural project has complied; the date of same and detail of inspecting authority; the funding model that is being used for this facility; if he is confident that this facility is fit-for-purpose and safe for patients and staff; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [44769/12]

Long-Term Illness Scheme Budget

Caoimhghín Ó Caoláin

693. Deputy Caoimhghín Ó Caoláin asked the Minister for Health further to Parliamentary Question No. 584 of 2 October 2012, and in view of confirmatory reports in the media (details supplied), when a response will issue from the Health Service Executive; the measures are being taken to address the delay in providing orthotics, specialised footwear and other developmental supports and appliances for children in need by the HSE; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [44770/12]

Hospital Services

Caoimhghín Ó Caoláin

694. Deputy Caoimhghín Ó Caoláin asked the Minister for Health the position regarding cardiology services at the Mid-Western Regional Hospital; if his attention has been drawn to the fact that patients presenting with ST-elevated Myocardial Infarction must by-pass Mid Western Regional Hospital and attend at University Hospital Galway at night and weekends; the reason this situation has arisen; his views on whether this an acceptable situation in a centre of excellence facility; if he will provide the relevant risk assessment carried out in advance of this change; the measures he is taking to address this situation and to ensure that it is not repeated at MWRH or elsewhere; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [44771/12]

General Practitioner Services

Caoimhghín Ó Caoláin

702. Deputy Caoimhghín Ó Caoláin asked the Minister for Health the nature of the drafting difficulties arising from the proposal to a grant medical card on the basis of illness, rather than means, which not only forms the basis of the roll-out of free general practitioner care to persons with long-term illnesses but also forms the basis of much of his programme of reform [44800/12]

Ambulance Service Provision

Caoimhghín Ó Caoláin

707. Deputy Caoimhghín Ó Caoláin asked the Minister for Health the recent and planned future changes to the provision of pre-emergency and ambulance care in the County Cork area; the current and planned staffing, vehicle and service configuration; if he will outline and provide the risk assessments carried out in advance of relevant changes; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [44931/12]

Home Help Service Provision

Caoimhghín Ó Caoláin

708. Deputy Caoimhghín Ó Caoláin asked the Minister for Health if he will outline the year on year home help and home care package budget for 2010, 2011 and 2012; the total number of home help hours and home care packages delivered; if he will detail the cuts to home help hours and home care packages announced as part of the recent Health Service Executive cost saving measures; the way in which these cuts will be implemented; if he will provide a breakdown of same on a county basis and in terms of total home care packages and home help hours; if he will detail any further plans for cuts to these services; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [44932/12]

Hepatitis C Incidence

Caoimhghín Ó Caoláin

709. Deputy Caoimhghín Ó Caoláin asked the Minister for Health if he will use his powers under the Hepatitis C Compensation Tribunal Act 1997 to make available the measures provided for the majority who have tested positive to the small number of women who received blood products from contaminated batches of anti-d in the 1977 to 1979 and 1991 to 1994 periods but who are testing negative while experiencing severe health problems consistent with testing positive; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [44933/12]

Public Transport Review

Caoimhghín Ó Caoláin

728. Deputy Caoimhghín Ó Caoláin asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport the progress being made to date with the review of public transport by the National Transport Authority; the review that is being made of routes in County Cavan; when will the review be completed and results made public; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [44512/12]

Hospital Services

Caoimhghín Ó Caoláin

185. Deputy Caoimhghín Ó Caoláin asked the Minister for Health if he acknowledges the financial circumstances of the South Infirmary, Cork, whereby drug companies and other major suppliers have refused to supply the hospital because they have not been paid, and that hospital activity will be reduced in coming weeks; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [43843/12]

Hospital Services

Caoimhghín Ó Caoláin

186. Deputy Caoimhghín Ó Caoláin asked the Minister for Health if it is the case that his Department or the Health Service Executive cut the budget for a hospital (details supplied) in County Cork; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [43844/12]

Freedom of Information Legislation

Caoimhghín Ó Caoláin

10. Deputy Caoimhghín Ó Caoláin asked the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform his plans to introduce the Freedom of Information Bill before Dáil Éireann goes into recess in December. [43494/12]

Primary Care Centres Provision

Caoimhghín Ó Caoláin

245. Deputy Caoimhghín Ó Caoláin asked the Minister for Health the details, number and location of the list of intended locations for the provision of primary healthcare centres by direct State capital funding; the projected commencement date for works to begin at the said locations; when he expects that they will be commissioned; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [43618/12]

Food Safety Standards Regulation

Caoimhghín Ó Caoláin

246. Deputy Caoimhghín Ó Caoláin asked the Minister for Health the position regarding the review of the role and responsibilities of Safefood; when a report will issue; if he anticipates that Safefood's long standing function in relation to food safety, diet and nutrition will be re-confirmed; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [43619/12]

Higher Education Institutions Issues

Caoimhghín Ó Caoláin

75. Deputy Caoimhghín Ó Caoláin asked the Minister for Education and Skills his views on the practice of some higher education institutions setting up limited companies to attract international students when these limited companies would be used to pay staff over and above the agreed pay scales. [43095/12]