Parliamentary questions

Hospital Staff

Duncan Smith

321. Deputy Duncan Smith asked the Minister for Health the number of WTE consultants in intensive care at St. James's Hospital, Dublin in the years of 2022, 2023 and to date in 2024, in tabular form. [5867/24]

Health Services

Duncan Smith

324. Deputy Duncan Smith asked the Minister for Health the number of people who have availed of emergency contraception under the free contraception scheme to date; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [5878/24]

Airport Policy

Duncan Smith

90. Deputy Duncan Smith asked the Minister for Transport the estimated cost of installing noise reflecting ridges in Dublin airport to combat aircraft noise; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [5545/24]

Medicinal Products

Duncan Smith

480. Deputy Duncan Smith asked the Minister for Health if he is aware of the current shortage in the medicine victoza; what measures are being taken to address this shortage; what alternative medicine can be prescribed to people due to this shortage; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [4979/24]

Health Services Staff

Duncan Smith

496. Deputy Duncan Smith asked the Minister for Health if HSE members currently on a career break are not able to return to work due to the HSE recruitment embargo; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [5083/24]

Community Care

Duncan Smith

498. Deputy Duncan Smith asked the Minister for Health for an update on the Cashel community nursing unit; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [5088/24]

Rail Network

Duncan Smith

177. Deputy Duncan Smith asked the Minister for Transport how many DART carriages have been ordered over the past three years; how many have been ordered to date for 2024; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [4738/24]

Rail Network

Duncan Smith

178. Deputy Duncan Smith asked the Minister for Transport how many train carriages have been ordered over the past three years; how many have been ordered to date for 2024; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [4739/24]

Rail Network

Duncan Smith

179. Deputy Duncan Smith asked the Minister for Transport what the previously announced €300 million earmarked for the Luas in September 2023 will be used for; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [4740/24]

Bus Services

Duncan Smith

186. Deputy Duncan Smith asked the Minister for Transport to prioritise the delivery of the Bus Connects local routes services in Portrane and Donabate given the census figures from 2022 on bus travel are concerning (details supplied) in regard to our climate targets of reducing carbon emissions by 50% by 2030 by improving public transport travel and reducing car journeys; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [4849/24]

Special Educational Needs

Duncan Smith

252. Deputy Duncan Smith asked the Minister for Education to provide special classes for children with additional needs in a school (details supplied) as these are urgently required to meet the local education requirements of pupils with autism or learning disabilities who currently have to travel to St. Margaret 's and beyond for their education; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [4742/24]

Schools Amalgamation

Duncan Smith

253. Deputy Duncan Smith asked the Minister for Education his Department's policy with regard to requests from parents who wish to have their single-sex primary schools amalgamated into fully gender-integrated schools; to outline the procedure for processing such a request; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [4743/24]

EU Regulations

Duncan Smith

355. Deputy Duncan Smith asked the Minister for Health the way in which Commission Delegated Regulation (EU) 2016/127 on infant formula and follow-on formula is policed and enforced in the State; whether offences are committed in the event of its breach or other sanctions apply; his views on whether retailers breach the regulation by including formula among items covered by a loyalty or voucher or discount scheme that applies to most other goods sold in a store; if so, the basis of that understanding; to outline any correspondence with the EU Commission on the interpretation of Article 10 (2) of the regulation as it applies to general supermarket discount or voucher schemes that are not aimed at promoting the sale of formula in particular; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [4748/24]

Health Services

Duncan Smith

165. Deputy Duncan Smith asked the Minister for Health how long someone referred to the National Gender Service today would be expected to wait for their first assessment; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [4422/24]

Health Services

Duncan Smith

166. Deputy Duncan Smith asked the Minister for Health why the National Gender Service chose not to close its waiting list in 2023, as was discussed in late 2022; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [4423/24]

Health Services

Duncan Smith

167. Deputy Duncan Smith asked the Minister for Health how many trans patient support and advocacy organisations such as (details supplied) the National Gender Service met with in 2023; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [4424/24]

Health Services

Duncan Smith

168. Deputy Duncan Smith asked the Minister for Health how the National Gender Service defines the term gender affirming care; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [4425/24]

Special Educational Needs

Duncan Smith

279. Deputy Duncan Smith asked the Minister for Education the reason SNAs with ten years of experience (details supplied) in private pre-schools are unable to apply for incremental credits, particularly when those who have worked in community pre-schools are eligible; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [4050/24]

Early Childhood Care and Education

Duncan Smith

463. Deputy Duncan Smith asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth to outline any regulations in regard to ECCE supports that would prevent providers from refusing to offer half-day sessions; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [3832/24]

Early Childhood Care and Education

Duncan Smith

464. Deputy Duncan Smith asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth to outline any regulations in regard to ECCE supports that would ensure that parents who received an ECCE place for half-day sessions cannot, at a later date, be told that the provider will no longer offer half-day sessions in favour of full-time; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [3833/24]

Hospital Services

Duncan Smith

499. Deputy Duncan Smith asked the Minister for Health the number of open beds in each HSE and voluntary hospital on 15 January in each of the years 2023 to 2024, in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [3655/24]

Health Promotion

Duncan Smith

513. Deputy Duncan Smith asked the Minister for Health if there are any proposals to provide one day of annual leave to workers for health screenings such as mammograms, cholesterol screening and colonoscopies; if his Department would consider such a proposal; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [3848/24]

Hospital Facilities

Duncan Smith

522. Deputy Duncan Smith asked the Minister for Health if he is aware that disabled parking at St. Vincent's Hospital has a four hour time limit for the length of time a person can occupy a disabled parking space; if he will liaise with St. Vincent’s to remove this time limit; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [3889/24]

Public Transport

Duncan Smith

81. Deputy Duncan Smith asked the Minister for Transport the reason for the delays in providing contact digital payments for Dublin Bus, the Luas, the Dart and Irish Rail services; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [3149/24]

Public Transport

Duncan Smith

82. Deputy Duncan Smith asked the Minister for Transport the cost of a new contactless payment system for public transport; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [3147/24]

Public Transport

Duncan Smith

83. Deputy Duncan Smith asked the Minister for Transport the reason for the delays in rolling out a contactless payment system for public transport; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [3148/24]

Bus Services

Duncan Smith

85. Deputy Duncan Smith asked the Minister for Transport to provide assurances that the BusConnects project will not result in the removal of the 33 bus route, which serves as a direct bus from Balbriggan, Skerries, Rush and Lusk to the city centre, in favour of a bus that will go from Balbriggan/Skerries to the Airport where a connection will be available from the airport into the city centre; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [3202/24]

Health Services

Duncan Smith

204. Deputy Duncan Smith asked the Minister for Health the number of rapid reviews and health technology applications received in 2023; the number completed in 2023; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [3198/24]

Departmental Data

Duncan Smith

205. Deputy Duncan Smith asked the Minister for Health the number of meetings of the HSE drugs group that took place in 2023; the number of medicines considered for recommendation at each meeting; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [3199/24]

Health Services

Duncan Smith

499. Deputy Duncan Smith asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth if there are plans to set up a community neuro-rehabilitation team in CHO9; if he could provide a timeline for the establishment of a neuro-rehabilitation team in CHO9; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [2554/24]

Cancer Services

Duncan Smith

2. Deputy Duncan Smith asked the Minister for Health his views on the impact on a number of cancer care programmes arising from the decision not to award any new development funding to the national cancer strategy in budget 2024, specifically the planned centralisation of surgical cancer services, the new model of patient follow-up and survivorship and plans for acute oncology nursing services; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [2015/24]

Departmental Meetings

Duncan Smith

5. Deputy Duncan Smith asked the Minister for Health if he will commit to meeting transgender advocacy groups to discuss the provision of transgender healthcare; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [1975/24]

Medicinal Products

Duncan Smith

26. Deputy Duncan Smith asked the Minister for Health for a breakdown of the €20 million committed for new medicine funding in 2024; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [1974/24]

Vaccination Programme

Duncan Smith

39. Deputy Duncan Smith asked the Minister for Health if there are plans for the chicken pox vaccine to be included in the national immunisation programme; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [1976/24]

Primary Care Centres

Duncan Smith

40. Deputy Duncan Smith asked the Minister for Health for an update on the provision of a primary care centre for Swords; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [1973/24]

Commemorative Medals

Duncan Smith

166. Deputy Duncan Smith asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Defence if there is a provision available to re-issue medals for persons who fought and were awarded medals in both conflicts and whose medals have been lost or mislaid due to the passage of time; if there is a list available of all who were awarded medals for service during the conflicts regardless of what side they fought on or gender; and if it is not possible to have medals re-issued is there some other way that service can be acknowledged by way of an official letter or parchment and can these be provided on request; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [1875/24]

Official Travel

Duncan Smith

193. Deputy Duncan Smith asked the Minister for Transport the airmiles spent by the Government since 2020 to date, in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [56784/23]

Public Transport

Duncan Smith

194. Deputy Duncan Smith asked the Minister for Transport how many additional Luas carriages will be purchased in 2024; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [56785/23]

Public Transport

Duncan Smith

195. Deputy Duncan Smith asked the Minister for Transport the number of people using public transport, that is bus, Dart, Luas, train since 2019 to date; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [56786/23]

Taxi Licences

Duncan Smith

196. Deputy Duncan Smith asked the Minister for Transport the number of new taxi drivers, by month, since 2020; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [56787/23]

Bus Services

Duncan Smith

197. Deputy Duncan Smith asked the Minister for Transport the number of new bus drivers in each county since 2020; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [56788/23]

Rail Network

Duncan Smith

198. Deputy Duncan Smith asked the Minister for Transport the number of new train drivers since 2020; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [56789/23]

Road Safety Authority

Duncan Smith

242. Deputy Duncan Smith asked the Minister for Transport if he is aware that the RSA has informed seven driving testers that their temporary contracts will not be renewed next month despite driving test waiting times remaining unacceptably high; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [1211/24]

Road Safety Authority

Duncan Smith

243. Deputy Duncan Smith asked the Minister for Transport if he will sanction a new permanent contract competition for driver testers for the Road Safety Authority in 2024; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [1212/24]

Rail Network

Duncan Smith

244. Deputy Duncan Smith asked the Minister for Transport the outcome of the 2019 order for 41 rail carriages which was to deliver a 10% increase in capacity in the morning and evenings for commuters on the Northern Line; how this has been achieved to date; the status of the delivery of 95 Dart + carriages; how the delivery of the carriages will increase capacity on the Northern Line; the projected time scale for same; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [1235/24]

Bus Services

Duncan Smith

273. Deputy Duncan Smith asked the Minister for Transport the reason the Transport For Ireland Live app does not process the Nightlink bus information; if there is a plan to process this information; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [1350/24]

Rail Network

Duncan Smith

279. Deputy Duncan Smith asked the Minister for Transport for an updated timetable on the completion of works at Portmarnock train station; when these works will be completed; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [1509/24]

Park-and-Ride Facilities

Duncan Smith

280. Deputy Duncan Smith asked the Minister for Transport the final number of car parking spaces that will be available at Portmarnock train station upon the completion of works; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [1510/24]

School Facilities

Duncan Smith

469. Deputy Duncan Smith asked the Minister for Education to outline future plans for the provision of additional primary school facilities within schools (details supplied) to alleviate the waiting lists for children looking to be accepted into third and fourth classes, such as prefabs and additional teaching staff; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [56338/23]

Health and Safety

Duncan Smith

534. Deputy Duncan Smith asked the Minister for Education if she aware of the health and safety issues in relation to the standard of a school building (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [57175/23]