Parliamentary questions

Eating Disorders

Caoimhghín Ó Caoláin

956. Deputy Caoimhghín Ó Caoláin asked the Minister for Health if a specialised public funded service for adults suffering from eating disorders is in place; if the clinical programmes under the 2013 national service plan in relation to this have been implemented to date; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [31212/15]

Hospital Staff Data

Caoimhghín Ó Caoláin

965. Deputy Caoimhghín Ó Caoláin asked the Minister for Health if he will provide in tabular form a breakdown of the number of nursing and midwife vacancies at each hospital here as of 31 July 2015 or the nearest available date. [31285/15]

Hospital Staff Data

Caoimhghín Ó Caoláin

966. Deputy Caoimhghín Ó Caoláin asked the Minister for Health the number of staff at national director level, assistant national director level, general manager level and grade VIII level in voluntary hospitals funded by the Health Service Executive as at 1 July 2012, 2013, 2014 and 2015. [31286/15]

Health Services Staff Remuneration

Caoimhghín Ó Caoláin

967. Deputy Caoimhghín Ó Caoláin asked the Minister for Health the number of staff in the Health Service Executive receiving salaries of more than €100,000 as of the end of 2014, broken down between clinical staff and administrative-managerial staff. [31287/15]

Comharthaí Bóthair

Caoimhghín Ó Caoláin

1671. D'fhiafraigh Deputy Caoimhghín Ó Caoláin den Aire Ealaíon, Oidhreachta agus Gaeltachta an bhfuil sé i gceist aici an dea-chleachtas maidir le comharthaí dátheangacha, agus an dá theanga oifigiúla ar cóimhéid le chéile, a mholadh do na Comhairlí Contae nó iad a spreagadh chun an dea-chleachtas sin a úsáid; agus an ndéanfaidh sí ráiteas ina thaobh. [30548/15]

Hospital Waiting Lists

Caoimhghín Ó Caoláin

480. Deputy Caoimhghín Ó Caoláin asked the Minister for Health when a bed will be made available for a person (details supplied) in County Tipperary in the National Rehabilitation Hospital in County Limerick; the person's current position on the waiting list; the priority level that has been given to this person; if he will ensure that such a referral will be fulfilled, as deemed necessary by medical staff; his plans to increase the provision of this status of bed in the National Rehabilitation Hospital; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [29694/15]

Hospital Charges

Caoimhghín Ó Caoláin

499. Deputy Caoimhghín Ó Caoláin asked the Minister for Health the amount his Department estimates is currently received for each episode of care for private patients in public hospitals at present; the average shortfall per episode; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [29849/15]

Hospital Charges

Caoimhghín Ó Caoláin

500. Deputy Caoimhghín Ó Caoláin asked the Minister for Health the amount received from persons who opt to be treated on a private basis on admission to a public hospital in each of the past four years; the amount envisaged to be collected for 2015; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [29850/15]

Hospital Charges

Caoimhghín Ó Caoláin

501. Deputy Caoimhghín Ó Caoláin asked the Minister for Health when his Department will charge the full economic cost for the provision of private acute inpatient services; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [29851/15]

Maternity Services Provision

Caoimhghín Ó Caoláin

571. Deputy Caoimhghín Ó Caoláin asked the Minister for Health the estimated additional annual cost of offering an ultrasound scan at 20 weeks gestation to every pregnant woman. [30174/15]

Maternity Services Provision

Caoimhghín Ó Caoláin

572. Deputy Caoimhghín Ó Caoláin asked the Minister for Health if he will list the hospitals engaged in the provision of maternity services that do, and those that do not, offer a community midwifery domino service, similar to that offered by the National Maternity Hospital in Holles Street in Dublin 2. [30175/15]

Maternity Services Provision

Caoimhghín Ó Caoláin

573. Deputy Caoimhghín Ó Caoláin asked the Minister for Health the estimated annual cost of expanding community midwifery domino services to cater for an additional 1,000 women. [30176/15]

Hospital Staff

Caoimhghín Ó Caoláin

574. Deputy Caoimhghín Ó Caoláin asked the Minister for Health the estimated annual cost of converting 200 currently non-training non-consultant hospital doctor posts into training posts. [30177/15]

Public Health Policy

Caoimhghín Ó Caoláin

575. Deputy Caoimhghín Ó Caoláin asked the Minister for Health if he will provide a breakdown of the total budget and staff assigned to the healthy Ireland programme. [30178/15]

Health Services Provision

Caoimhghín Ó Caoláin

576. Deputy Caoimhghín Ó Caoláin asked the Minister for Health the estimated start-up and operating costs of a motion analysis laboratory service for Cork. [30179/15]

Medicinal Products Prices

Caoimhghín Ó Caoláin

219. Deputy Caoimhghín Ó Caoláin asked the Minister for Health the estimated full-year saving if the State was to set the ex-factory price of new pharmaceuticals based on the lowest, as opposed to the average, price in the nine European Union member states that comprise the current basket, that is Belgium, Denmark, France, Germany, the Netherlands, Spain, the United Kingdom, Finland, and Austria; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [29526/15]

Medicinal Products Prices

Caoimhghín Ó Caoláin

220. Deputy Caoimhghín Ó Caoláin asked the Minister for Health the estimated yearly saving if the State was to update the ex-factory price of new pharmaceuticals every six months, as compared to between one and three years at present; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [29527/15]

Medicinal Products Prices

Caoimhghín Ó Caoláin

221. Deputy Caoimhghín Ó Caoláin asked the Minister for Health if a pharmacist is currently able to dispense a pharmaceutical product which is interchangeable with that prescribed by a medical practitioner; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [29528/15]

Medicinal Products Prices

Caoimhghín Ó Caoláin

222. Deputy Caoimhghín Ó Caoláin asked the Minister for Health if a pharmacist is currently obliged to inform patients of a pharmacist's dispensing fees, pharmacy services and mark-ups, through in-store displays using a standard template; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [29529/15]

Medicinal Products Expenditure

Caoimhghín Ó Caoláin

223. Deputy Caoimhghín Ó Caoláin asked the Minister for Health the overall yearly spend on pharmaceuticals, in comparison to other European countries, on a per capita basis; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [29530/15]

Medicinal Products Expenditure

Caoimhghín Ó Caoláin

224. Deputy Caoimhghín Ó Caoláin asked the Minister for Health if he will advise on pharmaceutical expenditure as a proportion of all health expenditure, in each of the past four years; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [29531/15]

Medicinal Products Expenditure

Caoimhghín Ó Caoláin

225. Deputy Caoimhghín Ó Caoláin asked the Minister for Health if there are further potential savings he has identified in the State's medicine bill; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [29532/15]

HSE Expenditure

Caoimhghín Ó Caoláin

226. Deputy Caoimhghín Ó Caoláin asked the Minister for Health the estimated year-end deficit of the Health Service Executive in 2015; the breakdown of the overspend by the executive in each month in 2015 to date; and in each of the past three years; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [29533/15]

Health Services Staff Recruitment

Caoimhghín Ó Caoláin

227. Deputy Caoimhghín Ó Caoláin asked the Minister for Health the graduation numbers and the newly qualified entrants to speech and language therapy, physiotherapy, occupational therapy, and clinical psychology; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [29534/15]

Health Services Staff Recruitment

Caoimhghín Ó Caoláin

228. Deputy Caoimhghín Ó Caoláin asked the Minister for Health the full-year cost to the State of employing ten speech and language therapists; ten physiotherapists; ten occupational therapists; and ten clinical psychologists; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [29535/15]

Nursing Staff Remuneration

Caoimhghín Ó Caoláin

229. Deputy Caoimhghín Ó Caoláin asked the Minister for Health the full-year cost to the State of employing ten hospital nurses and ten community health nurses; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [29536/15]

HSE Expenditure

Caoimhghín Ó Caoláin

230. Deputy Caoimhghín Ó Caoláin asked the Minister for Health the full-year cost to the State of employing ten primary care social workers, ten primary care counsellors, ten dieticians and ten podiatrists; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [29537/15]

Hospital Beds Data

Caoimhghín Ó Caoláin

231. Deputy Caoimhghín Ó Caoláin asked the Minister for Health the average cost to the State of providing an acute hospital bed per night in each of the past four years; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [29538/15]

Hospital Beds Data

Caoimhghín Ó Caoláin

232. Deputy Caoimhghín Ó Caoláin asked the Minister for Health the average cost to the State of providing a community response bed per night in each of the past four years; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [29539/15]

Hospital Beds Data

Caoimhghín Ó Caoláin

233. Deputy Caoimhghín Ó Caoláin asked the Minister for Health the details of community response beds; their locations, numbers, and overall costs, per year; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [29540/15]

Hospital Beds Data

Caoimhghín Ó Caoláin

234. Deputy Caoimhghín Ó Caoláin asked the Minister for Health the details of beds in stepdown care; their locations, numbers and overall cost per year; how they and their numbers compare internationally; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [29541/15]

Nursing Home Services

Caoimhghín Ó Caoláin

235. Deputy Caoimhghín Ó Caoláin asked the Minister for Health if he will advise on the average cost per bed in nursing homes; the overall number of beds, both private and public; how this compares internationally; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [29542/15]

Mental Health Services Report

Caoimhghín Ó Caoláin

236. Deputy Caoimhghín Ó Caoláin asked the Minister for Health his plans to replace A Vision for Change policy; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [29543/15]

Psychological Services

Caoimhghín Ó Caoláin

237. Deputy Caoimhghín Ó Caoláin asked the Minister for Health the number of practising clinical psychologists and the waiting lists for their services; his plans to increase the number; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [29544/15]

Mental Health Services Report

Caoimhghín Ó Caoláin

238. Deputy Caoimhghín Ó Caoláin asked the Minister for Health the cost of filling the remaining outstanding posts as recognised in A Vision for Change; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [29545/15]

HSE Expenditure

Caoimhghín Ó Caoláin

239. Deputy Caoimhghín Ó Caoláin asked the Minister for Health if he has instigated any analysis of the costs of ending all admissions of children to adult wards; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [29546/15]

Primary Care Services Provision

Caoimhghín Ó Caoláin

240. Deputy Caoimhghín Ó Caoláin asked the Minister for Health the details of the roll-out of primary care centres and primary care teams in each of the past five years; the number of teams and centres there were at the end of each year and currently; the full-year expenditure on both in the past five years; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [29547/15]

Hospital Consultant Remuneration

Caoimhghín Ó Caoláin

241. Deputy Caoimhghín Ó Caoláin asked the Minister for Health the average pay of consultants, per consultant, in the past four years; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [29548/15]

Drugs Payment Scheme Threshold

Caoimhghín Ó Caoláin

242. Deputy Caoimhghín Ó Caoláin asked the Minister for Health to set out the numbers who have reached the maximum of €144 under the drugs payment scheme in the past four years; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [29549/15]

Drugs Payment Scheme Threshold

Caoimhghín Ó Caoláin

243. Deputy Caoimhghín Ó Caoláin asked the Minister for Health to outline the details of the changes made to the drugs payment scheme in the past four years; at what points were the thresholds increased and by what amount; the estimated savings target on each occasion that the threshold was increased; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [29550/15]

Nursing Staff Remuneration

Caoimhghín Ó Caoláin

244. Deputy Caoimhghín Ó Caoláin asked the Minister for Health to outline the details of average pay received by nurses; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [29551/15]

HIQA Expenditure

Caoimhghín Ó Caoláin

245. Deputy Caoimhghín Ó Caoláin asked the Minister for Health to outline the details of the yearly cost of the Health Information and Quality Authority; the numbers employed by same; his plans to increase the numbers and budget of the authority; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [29553/15]

Health Promotion

Caoimhghín Ó Caoláin

246. Deputy Caoimhghín Ó Caoláin asked the Minister for Health to outline the details of the yearly spend on health promotion programmes and Healthy Ireland for the past four years; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [29554/15]

Primary Care Services Provision

Caoimhghín Ó Caoláin

247. Deputy Caoimhghín Ó Caoláin asked the Minister for Health to set out details of the yearly spend on medications by the State in hospitals, in pharmacy settings, on branded and non-branded medications and on out-of-pocket spending in the past four years; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [29555/15]

HSE Staff Remuneration

Caoimhghín Ó Caoláin

248. Deputy Caoimhghín Ó Caoláin asked the Minister for Health to outline the details of the pay profile of non-clinical staff in the Health Service Executive; the number receiving over €100,000, over €150,000 and over €200,000; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [29556/15]

Hospital Services

Caoimhghín Ó Caoláin

249. Deputy Caoimhghín Ó Caoláin asked the Minister for Health to outline the details of the total public funding for hospitals by size status; whether the hospital is under full public control or under the control of a private board; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [29557/15]

Nursing Homes Support Scheme Applications

Caoimhghín Ó Caoláin

250. Deputy Caoimhghín Ó Caoláin asked the Minister for Health to outline the details of the average fair deal scheme waiting time at present; the numbers on the list; if any updated plan for its continued financing has been made; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [29558/15]

Cross-Border Health Initiatives

Caoimhghín Ó Caoláin

251. Deputy Caoimhghín Ó Caoláin asked the Minister for Health to outline the details of the various health initiatives that are being supported on an all-island basis; the yearly spend on same in the past four years; his further plans for same; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [29559/15]

Health Services Provision

Caoimhghín Ó Caoláin

252. Deputy Caoimhghín Ó Caoláin asked the Minister for Health to outline the details of the plan for deep brain stimulation treatment; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [29560/15]

Hospital Consultant Contracts

Caoimhghín Ó Caoláin

253. Deputy Caoimhghín Ó Caoláin asked the Minister for Health if he will provide in tabular form a breakdown of the number of consultants with contract types A, B, B* and C for each year since 2009; and the numbers of applications to change contract types. [29561/15]

Hospital Consultant Recruitment

Caoimhghín Ó Caoláin

254. Deputy Caoimhghín Ó Caoláin asked the Minister for Health if he will provide a breakdown by contract type offered, that is, A, B, B* and C, of all the consultant posts that are currently open for recruitment. [29562/15]

Road Safety Authority

Caoimhghín Ó Caoláin

333. Deputy Caoimhghín Ó Caoláin asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport the yearly cost of the Road Safety Authority; the numbers employed by same; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [29552/15]

Illness Benefit Eligibility

Caoimhghín Ó Caoláin

195. Deputy Caoimhghín Ó Caoláin asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Social Protection if she will ensure that a person (details supplied) in County Monaghan is awarded an illness benefit or an interim measure; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [28510/15]

Rátaí Úis Morgáiste

Caoimhghín Ó Caoláin

264. D'fhiafraigh Deputy Caoimhghín Ó Caoláin den Aire Airgeadais cé na moltaí a rinne sé do na bainc maidir le rátaí úis na morgáistí; an ndearna sé aon mholadh faoi leith chun go bhféadfaí rátaí laghdaithe a thabhairt do dhaoine faoi leith a roghnódh na bainc; agus an ndéanfaidh sé ráiteas ina thaobh. [28455/15]

Seirbhísí Tacaíochta Uathachais

Caoimhghín Ó Caoláin

509. D'fhiafraigh Deputy Caoimhghín Ó Caoláin den Aire Sláinte cén líon páistí atá ag feitheamh ar mheasúnú uathachais, cén líon daoine atá ag déanamh measúnuithe agus cén tréimhse ama a mbíonn páistí ag feitheamh ar mheasúnú; agus an ndéanfaidh sé ráiteas ina thaobh. [28269/15]

Medicinal Products Availability

Caoimhghín Ó Caoláin

543. Deputy Caoimhghín Ó Caoláin asked the Minister for Health when a decision will be made on an application to the Health Service Executive by a company (details supplied) to have funding for the drug Fampyra reinstated. [28452/15]

Hospital Waiting Lists

Caoimhghín Ó Caoláin

554. Deputy Caoimhghín Ó Caoláin asked the Minister for Health the number of persons awaiting pancreatic transplants, and the number of persons who are post-transplant; his views that it is appropriate that nephrologists will now be taking over pancreatic care; when the proposed pancreatic transplant surgeon will be in place; his views that the nursing staff in Saint Vincent's Hospital in Dublin 4 have the expertise or the capacity to deal with such cases; if he is satisfied with the advice offered to seriously immuno-suppressed patients to attend emergency departments; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [28477/15]

Medical Card Eligibility

Caoimhghín Ó Caoláin

555. Deputy Caoimhghín Ó Caoláin asked the Minister for Health the estimated cost of increasing the weekly income limits by 20% for single persons living alone, single persons living with family, married or cohabiting couples, and lone parents with children, in respect of general practitioner visit cards. [28479/15]

HSE Staff Remuneration

Caoimhghín Ó Caoláin

587. Deputy Caoimhghín Ó Caoláin asked the Minister for Health the total annual spend on consultant doctors' salaries for the past four years; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [28557/15]

Tobacco Control Measures

Caoimhghín Ó Caoláin

624. Deputy Caoimhghín Ó Caoláin asked the Minister for Health his plans for an island-of-Ireland approach to a class action against the tobacco industry for its promotion of the use of an addictive product that has and continues to contribute directly to the premature death of over 5,000 Irish citizens annually and that costs the very stretched health budget in excess of an estimated €1 billion every year; his plans to raise the proposal with his Northern Executive counterpart; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [28819/15]

Vaccination Programme

Caoimhghín Ó Caoláin

682. Deputy Caoimhghín Ó Caoláin asked the Minister for Health the estimated costs of expanding the National Childhood Immunisation Programme to include the roll-out of the Meningococcal B vaccine, Varicella vaccine and Rota Virus vaccine for all children and the Human Papilloma Virus vaccine for boys. [29108/15]

Vaccination Programme

Caoimhghín Ó Caoláin

683. Deputy Caoimhghín Ó Caoláin asked the Minister for Health the estimated cost of providing the Tdap vaccine to pregnant women. [29109/15]

Dental Services

Caoimhghín Ó Caoláin

705. Deputy Caoimhghín Ó Caoláin asked the Minister for Health further to his reply to Parliamentary Question No. 646 of 16 June 2015, if he will clarify if the 272 whole-time equivalent dentists referenced by him, are the staffing contingent of the public dental service; if the 184 dentists referenced by him are included amongst the 272 whole-time equivalent number; if he will confirm whether the Health Service Executive is now directly employing 41 fewer whole-time equivalent dentists than it was at the end of March 2015, the period with respect to which the executive provided a figure of 313 whole-time equivalent dentists in response to Parliamentary Question No.648 of 24 March 2015. [29215/15]

Caoimhghín Ó Caoláin

2. Deputy Caoimhghín Ó Caoláin asked the Minister for Health if he is aware of the significant level of discontent, and, in some cases, outright dejection being felt and expressed by victims of the barbaric practice of symphysiotomy, at the unsympathetic and adversarial conduct of the Government-initiated payment scheme established for the ever-decreasing number of aged survivors; if he will undertake to address the serious shortcomings in its out-working, including the disbelieving disposition of its principal, and the confrontational and interrogational operation of the process; the qualifications of the various medical experts employed by the scheme; if he is satisfied that they are sufficiently qualified to make judgments on the particular cases presenting; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [27899/15]

General Medical Services Scheme Administration

Caoimhghín Ó Caoláin

13. Deputy Caoimhghín Ó Caoláin asked the Minister for Health the reason funding was cut under the general practitioner contract for the insertion of contraceptive medical devices for medical card patients, with the resultant hardship this has caused; if he will undertake to restore this funding support; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [27599/15]

Nursing Staff Recruitment

Caoimhghín Ó Caoláin

22. Deputy Caoimhghín Ó Caoláin asked the Minister for Health his awareness of the crisis across the nursing home sector regarding the recruitment of nurses; the steps he is taking to ensure there are adequate nurses available to take up vacant post opportunities as they arise, including recruiting nurses from overseas; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [27597/15]

General Practitioner Services Provision

Caoimhghín Ó Caoláin

52. Deputy Caoimhghín Ó Caoláin asked the Minister for Health the most up-to-date figures for general practitioner sign up for the roll-out of free general practitioner access for all children up to six years of age by county and by Dáil constituency, showing the total number of general practitioners in practice in each case; if his plans to encourage and secure greater sign-up and participation include the bringing forward of the roll-out of universal free general practitioner access to the earliest date possible; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [27598/15]

Medical Conditions

Caoimhghín Ó Caoláin

67. Deputy Caoimhghín Ó Caoláin asked the Minister for Health in view of his positive reasoned response to the report prepared by the Oireachtas Joint Committee on Health and Children on the benefits of an all-island approach to deep brain stimulation, his plans regarding the appointment of a deep brain stimulation specialist nurse to co-ordinate and manage patient support before and after the procedure, and a similar appointment required north of the Border; his plans to provide for and instruct the Health Service Executive to proceed with such an appointment; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [27596/15]

Disability Services Provision

Caoimhghín Ó Caoláin

68. Deputy Caoimhghín Ó Caoláin asked the Minister for Health the ratio of therapy providers in speech and language therapy, occupational therapy and physiotherapy to those with special needs in all regions; the numbers on waiting lists, which have led to parents being forced to access unaffordable private therapy; his plans to deal with this; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [27595/15]

Hospital Procedures

Caoimhghín Ó Caoláin

177. Deputy Caoimhghín Ó Caoláin asked the Minister for Health if a person's address can decide the form of prostatectomy performed in cases of prostatic cancer; if it is the case that robotic assisted radical prostatectomy is available in certain parts of the country; his views that this has better outcomes than other forms of the procedure; his plans to ensure that this procedure is extended across the country; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [27908/15]

Medical Card Data

Caoimhghín Ó Caoláin

179. Deputy Caoimhghín Ó Caoláin asked the Minister for Health the average net annual household income of holders of general practitioner visit cards by household size. [27924/15]

General Medical Services Scheme Data

Caoimhghín Ó Caoláin

180. Deputy Caoimhghín Ó Caoláin asked the Minister for Health the average household size of holders of general practitioner visit cards or medical cards. [27925/15]

General Medical Services Scheme Data

Caoimhghín Ó Caoláin

181. Deputy Caoimhghín Ó Caoláin asked the Minister for Health the number of households that have a medical card or a general practitioner visit card. [27926/15]

General Medical Services Scheme Data

Caoimhghín Ó Caoláin

182. Deputy Caoimhghín Ó Caoláin asked the Minister for Health if he will provide, in tabular form, the number of households with one, two, three, four, five, six, seven, eight, nine and ten medical cards or general practitioner visit cards. [27927/15]

General Medical Services Scheme Data

Caoimhghín Ó Caoláin

183. Deputy Caoimhghín Ó Caoláin asked the Minister for Health if he will provide, in tabular form, the number of medical cards or general practitioner visit cards, deriving from an application by a single person living alone; a single person living with family; a married or cohabiting couple; and a lone parent with dependent children. [27928/15]

Special Educational Needs Service Provision

Caoimhghín Ó Caoláin

193. Deputy Caoimhghín Ó Caoláin asked the Minister for Education and Skills her plans to set up a language unit in the main population area of Newbridge and-or Naas in County Kildare, given that the county has one of the highest populations with no language unit and that many families in the Kildare area have children with severe speech and language impairment and have been refused special needs assistants and resource hours allocations in their schools, and have instead been offered places in language units in Tallaght in Dublin 24 or in Portlaoise in County Laois; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [27773/15]

Voluntary Sector Funding

Caoimhghín Ó Caoláin

211. Deputy Caoimhghín Ó Caoláin asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government if he will ensure that the scheme to support national organisations in the community and voluntary sector will receive adequate funding to allow long-term planning; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [27774/15]

Statutory Sick Pay Scheme Meetings

Caoimhghín Ó Caoláin

94. Deputy Caoimhghín Ó Caoláin asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Social Protection the statutory entitlements for county councillors regarding sick leave and sick pay (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [27501/15]

Child Detention Centres

Caoimhghín Ó Caoláin

288. Deputy Caoimhghín Ó Caoláin asked the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs the position on the Oberstown campus transition; his views that the children there are adequately supported; that the staff there are adequately supported; if he will publish the McIlfatrick report; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [27540/15]

Health Services Funding

Caoimhghín Ó Caoláin

342. Deputy Caoimhghín Ó Caoláin asked the Minister for Health if he will commit to providing a long-term funding solution to the organisations currently funded under the scheme to support national organisations, organisations that have to deal with uncertain futures and difficulties in planning long-term campaigns and service provision, in particular the Irish Stammering Association, which, as a national organisation, only receives €25,000 funding annually; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [27225/15]

Abortion Services Provision

Caoimhghín Ó Caoláin

345. Deputy Caoimhghín Ó Caoláin asked the Minister for Health in relation to the report on the Protection of Life During Pregnancy Act 2013, the number of pregnancies that were delivered by caesarean section, the mother having requested a termination; the gestation period of the pregnancies terminated in the report; the way the real and substantial risk to the life level of risk was assessed; if this will be made aware to clinicians so that this information may be fed into clinical decision-making; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [27240/15]

General Practitioner Services Provision

Caoimhghín Ó Caoláin

354. Deputy Caoimhghín Ó Caoláin asked the Minister for Health the number of general practitioners who retired in each of the past three years [27275/15]

Home Care Packages Provision

Caoimhghín Ó Caoláin

361. Deputy Caoimhghín Ó Caoláin asked the Minister for Health the amount spent on home care packages; and on home help hours, in each year since 2008; and the amount allocated for 2015 [27302/15]

Universal Health Insurance Provision

Caoimhghín Ó Caoláin

404. Deputy Caoimhghín Ó Caoláin asked the Minister for Health his plans to make available a copy of the report on the detailed costings of universal health insurance presented to him on 21 May 2015; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [27533/15]

Medical Aids and Appliances Provision

Caoimhghín Ó Caoláin

409. Deputy Caoimhghín Ó Caoláin asked the Minister for Health if technical aids and appliances grants for vibrating pagers provided by DeafHear are available to deaf persons in counties Louth, Cavan and Monaghan, but not to those in County Meath; if he will ensure funding is extended to County Meath; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [27539/15]

Special Educational Needs Service Provision

Caoimhghín Ó Caoláin

500. Deputy Caoimhghín Ó Caoláin asked the Minister for Education and Skills if she will review the learning support provided for a pupil (details supplied) in County Meath to ensure the support reaches the 30 minutes per day recommended; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [27260/15]

Voluntary Sector Funding

Caoimhghín Ó Caoláin

536. Deputy Caoimhghín Ó Caoláin asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government if he will commit to providing a long-term funding solution to the organisations currently funded under the scheme to support national organisations, organisations that have to deal with uncertain futures and difficulties in planning long-term campaigns and service provision, in particular the Irish Stammering Association, which as a national organisation only receives €25,000 funding annually; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [27226/15]

National Library

Caoimhghín Ó Caoláin

609. Deputy Caoimhghín Ó Caoláin asked the Minister for Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht the rationale behind the decision to place all Catholic Church records of births and marriages on the website of the National Library of Ireland; the reason records held by only one religious denomination are involved; if she and her officials have properly considered the potential misuse of these data, both domestically and internationally, now that the information will be freely available, including for copying globally; with whom she or the National Library of Ireland consulted; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [27511/15]

Medicinal Products Availability

Caoimhghín Ó Caoláin

205. Deputy Caoimhghín Ó Caoláin asked the Minister for Health if the Health Service Executive is to meet the manufacturers of trastuzumab emtansine in relation to making it available, given that this medication has been associated with increased life expectancy; if the executive has declined to attend meetings with the manufacturers; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [26523/15]

Tax Code

Caoimhghín Ó Caoláin

242. Deputy Caoimhghín Ó Caoláin asked the Minister for Finance the expected yield from the introduction of a 5% sugar tax on sweetened drinks or on fast food products; if steps have been taken to consider the introduction of such a tax; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [25965/15]

Hospital Services

Caoimhghín Ó Caoláin

410. Deputy Caoimhghín Ó Caoláin asked the Minister for Health the full-year cost of employing an orthopaedic surgeon, an anaesthetist and support staff to fully staff a paediatric orthopaedic theatre for scoliosis corrective procedures; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [25759/15]

Hospital Services

Caoimhghín Ó Caoláin

411. Deputy Caoimhghín Ó Caoláin asked the Minister for Health the total number of corrective scoliosis procedures performed in a year by a team, including an orthopaedic surgeon, an anaesthetist and support staff; the total number (in tabular form) of staff and procedures performed in the past three years in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [25760/15]

Obesity Strategy

Caoimhghín Ó Caoláin

425. Deputy Caoimhghín Ó Caoláin asked the Minister for Health the steps that have been taken to consider a proposal to introduce a sugar tax on sweetened drinks or a fast food tax, with a view to tackling the problem of obesity, especially in children; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [25964/15]

Ambulance Service Response Times

Caoimhghín Ó Caoláin

430. Deputy Caoimhghín Ó Caoláin asked the Minister for Health if he will advise ambulance response times for the various levels of ambulance call-outs over the past 12 months; the number of adverse incidents that have been recorded; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [25997/15]

Ambulance Service Provision

Caoimhghín Ó Caoláin

431. Deputy Caoimhghín Ó Caoláin asked the Minister for Health if he is aware of the serious ambulance crisis in north west Connemara, County Galway where two serious incidents have occurred recently (details supplied) and the fact that hospital accounting services have stated they do not have the resources to put a solution in place; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [25998/15]

Long-Term Illness Scheme Coverage

Caoimhghín Ó Caoláin

453. Deputy Caoimhghín Ó Caoláin asked the Minister for Health if he will add haemachromatosis to the long-term illness scheme, given that this long-term illness requires lifelong medical care and carries increased risks of several complicating conditions; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [26203/15]

Medical Card Eligibility

Caoimhghín Ó Caoláin

477. Deputy Caoimhghín Ó Caoláin asked the Minister for Health the estimated cost of raising the annual financial threshold for a general practitioner visit card, on an entire population basis, in €500 intervals. [26329/15]

Medical Card Eligibility

Caoimhghín Ó Caoláin

478. Deputy Caoimhghín Ó Caoláin asked the Minister for Health the estimated additional cost of extending a medical card to all children to whom a domiciliary care allowance is being paid but who do not currently have a medical card. [26330/15]

Medical Card Eligibility

Caoimhghín Ó Caoláin

479. Deputy Caoimhghín Ó Caoláin asked the Minister for Health if he will provide an update on the interim report which was to be concluded within three months by the clinical advisory group established to develop guidance on assessing applications involving significant medical conditions; if this interim report has been submitted; and, if so, the recommendations of same. [26331/15]

Medical Card Eligibility

Caoimhghín Ó Caoláin

480. Deputy Caoimhghín Ó Caoláin asked the Minister for Health the estimated cost of reversing the changes to the assessment of means in medical card applications introduced in April 2013 regarding the treatment of home loans, credit union loans and pension contributions; the annual savings that the decision to no longer accept these as allowable expenses aims to accrue; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [26332/15]