Parliamentary questions

Hospital Services

Colm Keaveney

378. Deputy Colm Keaveney asked the Minister for Health within the Galway hospital group, the average waiting time for an MRI scan from first referral; if he will provide in tabular form the number of persons waiting for more than three months, six months, nine months, one year; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [45811/14]

Hospital Waiting Lists

Colm Keaveney

379. Deputy Colm Keaveney asked the Minister for Health within the Galway hospital group the average waiting time for attendance at a pain clinic from first referral; if he will provide in tabular form the number of persons waiting for more than three months, six months, nine months, one year; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [45812/14]

Domestic Violence Policy

Colm Keaveney

103. Deputy Colm Keaveney asked the Minister for Justice and Equality in view of the prevalence of domestic violence here, and noting that we are now only one of eleven members not to have signed the convention, when she plans signing the Council of Europe Convention on preventing and combatting violence against women and domestic violence, which entered into force on 1 August 2014; when she plans to bring forward a Bill to address the necessary constitutional changes required; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [45596/14]

Garda Reserve

Colm Keaveney

107. Deputy Colm Keaveney asked the Minister for Justice and Equality regarding correspondence (details supplied) if she will consider, in view of the commitment to An Garda Síochána, their communities and country shown by members of the Garda Reserve, and in view of the potential savings in training costs, altering the relevant legislation to give reserve members priority in any recruitment programme for the full-time force and to waive the 35 year age limit where a person had joined the reserve force before that age; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [45620/14]

Mental Health Services Provision

Colm Keaveney

127. Deputy Colm Keaveney asked the Minister for Health if he will provide in tabular form, per region, from 2012 to date in 2014, the progress in recruitment of posts in community mental health services approved following the budget ring-fencing of €90 million for this purpose; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [45585/14]

Mental Health Act Review

Colm Keaveney

129. Deputy Colm Keaveney asked the Minister for Health further to the ongoing delay in the publication of the expert group's review of the Mental Health Act 2001, the impact of the delay of over a year in publishing the report on addressing the continuing human rights issues within the mental health system; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [45593/14]

Health Services Staff Recruitment

Colm Keaveney

130. Deputy Colm Keaveney asked the Minister for Health further to Parliamentary Question No. 610 of 23 April 2013, if he will confirm that all of the posts identified in his reply have now been filled; the number that are still waiting to be filled; if the recruitment has been completed of the 13 occupational therapists, two physiotherapists and seven speech and language therapists for the Health Service Executive West; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [45594/14]

Disability Support Services Provision

Colm Keaveney

133. Deputy Colm Keaveney asked the Minister for Health if he will provide, in tabular form, the number of early intervention teams for children in each local health area; the total number on each team; the number of children in each area waiting for an appointment with a team; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [45606/14]

Health Services Staff Recruitment

Colm Keaveney

134. Deputy Colm Keaveney asked the Minister for Health if he is satisfied that all of the community-based mental health teams are in place in the Health Service Executive west; the posts that remain to be filled; when these will be filled; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [45607/14]

Proposed Legislation

Colm Keaveney

223. Deputy Colm Keaveney asked the Minister for Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht further to Parliamentary Question No. 1142 of 4 November 2014 when the legislation to enable the de-designation of national heritage areas will be introduced to the Houses of the Oireachtas; the title of the legislation; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [45591/14]

Water Charges Administration

Colm Keaveney

36. Deputy Colm Keaveney asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Social Protection to detail the estimated administrative cost to her Department for the implementation of the water conservation grant announced in Dáil Éireann on 19 November 2014; when she commissioned a study or report to determine an estimate of those costs; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [45413/14]

School Transport Applications

Colm Keaveney

133. Deputy Colm Keaveney asked the Minister for Education and Skills her plans to review an application under the school transport scheme based on ethos in respect of a family (details supplied) in County Galway; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [45515/14]

Diplomatic Representation

Colm Keaveney

109. Deputy Colm Keaveney asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade the current address of the chancellery of the Embassy to the Holy See; the current address of the residence of the Irish ambassador to the Holy See; the addresses for both that have been supplied to the protocol office of the Holy See; if he will confirm that the current Irish ambassador to the Holy See’s principal residence is in Rome; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [44621/14]

Diplomatic Representation

Colm Keaveney

111. Deputy Colm Keaveney asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade if he will confirm that the report in a newspaper article (details supplied) is accurate in stating that his Department's report found that one-person embassies are fraught with difficulty and suffer from drawbacks, including that such embassies should be monitored from the perspective of health and safety, isolated working environment, risk to business objectives and operational capacity; the steps that have been taken to address these concerns in respect of the Irish Embassy to the Holy See; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [44648/14]

Orthodontic Service Provision

Colm Keaveney

140. Deputy Colm Keaveney asked the Minister for Health the provisions that have been put in place to provide braces in respect of a child (details supplied) in County Galway; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [44529/14]

Medical Aids and Appliances Provision

Colm Keaveney

142. Deputy Colm Keaveney asked the Minister for Health when the Health Service Executive plans to provide a person (details supplied) in County Galway with a hospital bed for home use; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [44532/14]

Industrial Relations

Colm Keaveney

46. Deputy Colm Keaveney asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Social Protection if she will provide a copy of the report completed by her Department in or around 2009 into nature of the employment status of 14 ESB meter readers, including (details supplied) specifically; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [43580/14]

Hospital Waiting Lists

Colm Keaveney

167. Deputy Colm Keaveney asked the Minister for Health when a person (details supplied) in County Galway may expect to receive treatment as he has been on a waiting list for a number of years; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [43564/14]

Hospital Appointment Delays

Colm Keaveney

168. Deputy Colm Keaveney asked the Minister for Health when a person (details supplied) in County Galway may expect to receive an appointment due to the fact that his scheduled appointment was cancelled the day before it was due to take place and he was assured a new appointment would issue within 24 hours, but has yet to receive same; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [43565/14]

Human Rights Issues

Colm Keaveney

185. Deputy Colm Keaveney asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade the action he has taken since taking office to address the ongoing persecution of Christians in the Middle East and Egypt; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [43548/14]

Middle East Issues

Colm Keaveney

186. Deputy Colm Keaveney asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade if he supports calls for the immediate recognition by Ireland of a sovereign Palestinian state; the reasons for his position; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [43581/14]

Northern Ireland Issues

Colm Keaveney

187. Deputy Colm Keaveney asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade if he will provide copies of all policy speeches made by him since his appointment as Minister with respect to Northern Ireland; the actions he has taken to ensure the continuance of peace in Northern Ireland; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [43582/14]

Budget Measures

Colm Keaveney

42. Deputy Colm Keaveney asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Social Protection if she will provide a distributional analysis for the measures contained in budget 2015; if she is unable or unwilling to provide same and if she will provide her reasoning on this; her views that all budgetary measures should be equality proofed; and when will this be implemented; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [43355/14]

Budget Measures

Colm Keaveney

53. Deputy Colm Keaveney asked the Minister for Finance if he will provide a distributional analysis for the measures contained in budget 2015; if he is unable or unwilling to provide same and if he will provide his reasoning on this; his views that all budgetary measures should be equality proofed; and when will this be implemented; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [43354/14]

Budget Measures

Colm Keaveney

57. Deputy Colm Keaveney asked the Minister for Finance if he will provide a distributional analysis for the measures contained in budget 2015; if he is unable or unwilling to provide same and to give his reasoning for that; if all budgetary measures should be equality proofed; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [43384/14]

Nursing Homes Support Scheme Administration

Colm Keaveney

83. Deputy Colm Keaveney asked the Minister for Health his plans to address the ongoing delays in accessing the fair deal scheme; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [42996/14]

Mental Health Services Funding

Colm Keaveney

86. Deputy Colm Keaveney asked the Minister for Health the position regarding the underspend of €46.8 million in the mental health budget in 2013; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [42997/14]

Mental Health Services Funding

Colm Keaveney

111. Deputy Colm Keaveney asked the Minister for Health the position regarding the underspend of €46.8 million in the mental health budget in 2013; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [42765/14]

Mental Health Services Provision

Colm Keaveney

147. Deputy Colm Keaveney asked the Minister for Health to set out the position regarding the continuing practice of admitting children to adult mental health units; the child welfare issues arising from the practice; the rights to education of children admitted to such units; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [42764/14]

Beef Industry

Colm Keaveney

276. Deputy Colm Keaveney asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the reason he authorised and sanctioned a private agreement at a location (details supplied) in County Galway between his Department, Teagasc and a company; when this matter was discussed by Teagasc and his Department; when this matter first came to his attention; if his attention has been drawn to the serious ramifications of this matter; his policy on transparency in the beef industry, in the entire livestock slaughter regime; his policy on livestock breeding and production research; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [43265/14]

Mental Health Services Provision

Colm Keaveney

142. Deputy Colm Keaveney asked the Minister for Health the action he has taken to address the welfare issues arising from the continuing practice of the Health Service Executive of admitting children to adult mental health facilities; the steps he has taken to ensure that all staff in such units have Garda vetting and that each unit has a child protection officer; if his Department has carried out any investigation or study into the welfare of such children; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [42575/14]

Mental Health Services Provision

Colm Keaveney

167. Deputy Colm Keaveney asked the Minister for Health if all approved centres, under the meaning of the Mental Health Act 2001, including adult mental health units into which children have been admitted, are in compliance with section 17 of S.I. No. 551/2006 - Mental Health Act 2001 (Approved Centres) Regulations 2006; the action taken to ensure that all such centres are in compliance; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [42536/14]

Mental Health Services Provision

Colm Keaveney

173. Deputy Colm Keaveney asked the Minister for Health if he will provide details of every adult mental health facility or unit where children have been admitted in each year from 2011 to date in 2014 inclusive where Garda vetting of all staff who would have come into contact with said children has not taken place; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [42572/14]

Mental Health Services Provision

Colm Keaveney

174. Deputy Colm Keaveney asked the Minister for Health if he is satisfied that the welfare of children is adequately protected in mental health care facilities where the staff of same do not have Garda vetting; the safeguards in place to secure the welfare of such children; if he has commissioned any reports into the welfare issues raised by this practice; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [42573/14]

Mental Health Services Provision

Colm Keaveney

175. Deputy Colm Keaveney asked the Minister for Health the continuing practice of admitting children to adult mental health units, if he will confirm that all such units or facilities where children have been admitted since 2011 have a designated child protection officer; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [42574/14]

Special Educational Needs Service Provision

Colm Keaveney

207. Deputy Colm Keaveney asked the Minister for Education and Skills if she is satisfied that children admitted to approved centres, under the meaning of the Mental Health Act 2001, including adult mental health units into which children have been admitted, are having their rights under Article 42 of the Constitution of Ireland upheld; the actions she has taken; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [42503/14]

Mental Health Services Provision

Colm Keaveney

136. Deputy Colm Keaveney asked the Minister for Health further to Parliamentary Question No. 123 of 9 October 2014, if any study or report was commissioned into the impact of the delay in the full utilisation of the €35 million allocated for the development of community mental health teams in 2013, with the recruitment only commencing towards the latter part of 2013, on the health and well-being of those using the mental health services; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [42399/14]

Mental Health Services Provision

Colm Keaveney

137. Deputy Colm Keaveney asked the Minister for Health further to Parliamentary Question No. 123 of 9 October 2014, the reason for the delay in the full utilisation of the €35 million allocated for the development of community mental health teams in 2013, with the recruitment only commencing towards the latter part of 2013; his views on whether deferred treatment in mental health services often means treatment denied to those using the mental health services; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [42400/14]

Mental Health Services Provision

Colm Keaveney

150. Deputy Colm Keaveney asked the Minister for Health further to Parliamentary Question No. 123 of 9 October 2014, the reason the Health Service Executive delayed the full utilisation of the €35 million allocated for the development of community mental health teams in 2013 with the recruitment only commencing towards the latter part of 2013; if this was motivated by cost containment in the HSE; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [42453/14]

Ministerial Meetings

Colm Keaveney

183. Deputy Colm Keaveney asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Social Protection the number of meetings she or officials from her Department had with a person (details supplied); the purpose of each of those meetings; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [41334/14]

Fuel Laundering

Colm Keaveney

264. Deputy Colm Keaveney asked the Minister for Finance the actions he has taken to combat the practice of petrol stretching; his plans to increase the penalties for same, including criminal convictions for operators of service stations engaging in this practice; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [42164/14]

Departmental Meetings

Colm Keaveney

291. Deputy Colm Keaveney asked the Minister for Finance the number of meetings he or officials from his Department had with a person (details supplied); the purpose of each of those meetings; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [41329/14]

Ministerial Meetings

Colm Keaveney

367. Deputy Colm Keaveney asked the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform the number of meetings he or officials from his Department had with a person (details supplied); the purpose of each of those meetings; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [41332/14]

Irish Water Administration

Colm Keaveney

383. Deputy Colm Keaveney asked the Minister for Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation the number of meetings he or officials from his Department had with a person (details supplied); the purpose of each of those meetings; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [41328/14]

Departmental Meetings

Colm Keaveney

418. Deputy Colm Keaveney asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the number of meetings he or officials from his Department had with a person (details supplied); the purpose of each of those meetings; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [41326/14]

Agriculture Scheme Payments

Colm Keaveney

452. Deputy Colm Keaveney asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine when a person (details supplied) in County Galway can expect to receive payment of all grants applied for in view of the fact that the Department has suspended payments pending a review of entitlements; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [41838/14]

Ministerial Meetings

Colm Keaveney

508. Deputy Colm Keaveney asked the Minister for Justice and Equality the number of meetings she or officials from her Department had with a person (details supplied); the purpose of each of those meetings; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [41331/14]

Health Services Staff

Colm Keaveney

650. Deputy Colm Keaveney asked the Minister for Health the number of psychiatrists assigned to Toghermore House, Tuam, County Galway; the number of hours per week each of them are present in Toghermore; the programme in place in Toghermore to combat weight gain, a common side effect of many psychiatric medications; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [41323/14]

Departmental Meetings

Colm Keaveney

651. Deputy Colm Keaveney asked the Minister for Health the number of meetings he or officials from his Department had with a person (details supplied); the purpose of each of those meetings; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [41330/14]

Prescriptions Charges

Colm Keaveney

703. Deputy Colm Keaveney asked the Minister for Health if pharmacists have no responsibility for the collection of prescription charges for those resident in private or Health Service Executive nursing homes; whether they have no liability for such charges; and that the responsibility for such charges are the responsibility of the managers of such homes; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [41558/14]