Parliamentary questions

Health Services Waiting Lists

Gino Kenny

38. Deputy Gino Kenny asked the Minister for Health the number of children under 18 years who are on NTPF treatment waiting lists; and the number of these who are waiting for over 12 months; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [9504/24]

Hospital Facilities

Gino Kenny

70. Deputy Gino Kenny asked the Minister for Health the progress to date on seeking alterative accommodation on the campus of Cherry Orchard Hospital for the remaining patients who are presently residing at the willow/sycamore units on the COH campus; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [9506/24]

Rights of People with Disabilities

Gino Kenny

78. Deputy Gino Kenny asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth if the optional protocol to the UN Convention on the Rights of Persons With Disabilities, UNCRPD, will be ratified within the term of the Government; if so, when it will be ratified; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [9742/24]

Asylum Seekers

Gino Kenny

90. Deputy Gino Kenny asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth the number of asylum seekers that have not been provided with accommodation by his Department; when he expects that accommodation will be provided for all asylum seekers; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [9512/24]

Childcare Services

Gino Kenny

139. Deputy Gino Kenny asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth if he will establish a publicly owned childcare service; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [9514/24]

Asylum Seekers

Gino Kenny

143. Deputy Gino Kenny asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth the steps he is taking to ensure that asylum seekers who have not been provided with accommodation are protected from attack by far right and racist people; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [9510/24]

Schools Refurbishment

Gino Kenny

237. Deputy Gino Kenny asked the Minister for Education the most up-to-date progress on the proposed upgrade to a school (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [9378/24]

Substance Misuse

Gino Kenny

18. Deputy Gino Kenny asked the Minister for Justice if she will provide a regional breakdown of where charges for possession of a controlled drug for personal use have been issued in the past five years, in tabular form; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [8325/24]

Substance Misuse

Gino Kenny

34. Deputy Gino Kenny asked the Minister for Justice how many minors or people aged under 18 years have been charged with possession of a controlled drug for personal use for each of the year 2017 to 2023; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [8324/24]

Substance Misuse

Gino Kenny

37. Deputy Gino Kenny asked the Minister for Justice how many people received an adult caution for the possession of cannabis for personal use since cannabis was included in the adult caution scheme; how many people have been brought before the courts for simple possession of cannabis since the inclusion of cannabis under the adult caution scheme; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [8322/24]

Healthcare Policy

Gino Kenny

267. Deputy Gino Kenny asked the Minister for Health for an update on the work and current status of the Public Health Alcohol Research Group; and if he intends to publish the report of the group. [8414/24]

Healthcare Policy

Gino Kenny

268. Deputy Gino Kenny asked the Minister for Health what plans he has in relation to monitoring and evaluating the outcomes of the Public Health (Alcohol) Act 2018, and the impact of any changes to licensing laws as proposed by the Minister for Justice through the Sale of Alcohol Bill. [8415/24]

Tax Credits

Gino Kenny

163. Deputy Gino Kenny asked the Minister for Finance the last time a budget increased the blind persons tax credit. [5835/24]

Tax Credits

Gino Kenny

164. Deputy Gino Kenny asked the Minister for Finance the reason the blind persons tax credit was not increased in line with other tax credit increases in Budget 2024; and his plans to increase the credit in the future. [5836/24]

Health Services

Gino Kenny

300. Deputy Gino Kenny asked the Minister for Health the reason the free contraception scheme is only available for the 17 to 31 years age brackets; and the rationale for limiting the scheme to this age group only. [5834/24]

Medical Aids and Appliances

Gino Kenny

501. Deputy Gino Kenny asked the Minister for Health how much the HSE and Department of Health spent on personal protection equipment from China; to provide details of what stock was usable and what was not usable/not suitable; what monies have been recouped for unusable/unsuitable stock and what monies remain to be recouped; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [5121/24]

Covid-19 Pandemic

Gino Kenny

502. Deputy Gino Kenny asked the Minister for Health if all workers entitled to the pandemic bonus payment have been paid the bonus; if any workers have not yet been paid; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [5122/24]

Schools Building Projects

Gino Kenny

45. Deputy Gino Kenny asked the Minister for Education if there are plans to address the need for another secondary school in Newcastle, County Dublin and to examine the population growth in Newcastle and predicated population growth to ensure second level education is provided to all in this community. [4409/24]

Mental Health Services

Gino Kenny

163. Deputy Gino Kenny asked the Minister for Health if he will outline the reason for the delay in approving funding for sustainability impact assessment with St. John of God Community Services (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [4418/24]

Cabinet Committees

Gino Kenny

3. Deputy Gino Kenny asked the Taoiseach when the Cabinet committee on health will next meet. [2801/24]

Middle East

Gino Kenny

2. Deputy Gino Kenny asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs if he will comment on Israel's killing of Palestinian civilians in the West Bank and if he will make a statement on the matter. [3296/24]

Foreign Policy

Gino Kenny

23. Deputy Gino Kenny asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs if he is concerned about a potential Chinese offensive action against Taiwan; if the Government intends to intervene on this matter; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [3300/24]

Official Engagements

Gino Kenny

29. Deputy Gino Kenny asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs if he will comment on the Government's engagement with the Chinese Deputy Leader, specifically in the context of human rights abuses in China; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [3297/24]

Official Engagements

Gino Kenny

58. Deputy Gino Kenny asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs if he intends to attend the St Patrick's Day engagements in the United States; if he intends to boycott engagement with officials of the US administration for its role in arming Israel; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [3298/24]

Trade Relations

Gino Kenny

64. Deputy Gino Kenny asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs if he will outline the work of his Department in the resumption of beef exports to China; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [3299/24]

Hospital Overcrowding

Gino Kenny

17. Deputy Gino Kenny asked the Minister for Health if he is aware that an organisation (details supplied) has stated that 122,879 patients, including 3,494 children, were admitted to hospital without a bed in 2023, that hospitals are in a near constant state of overcrowding coupled with short staffing; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [1648/24]

Cannabis for Medicinal Use

Gino Kenny

24. Deputy Gino Kenny asked the Minister for Health if he will consider expanding the Medicinal Cannabis Access Programme to include other conditions outside of the current terms of reference of the programme; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [1651/24]

National Treatment Purchase Fund

Gino Kenny

25. Deputy Gino Kenny asked the Minister for Health if he is aware that in December 2023 an organisation (details supplied) stated that the latest National Treatment Purchase Fund figures confirm that the three main health care waiting lists are at a virtual standstill; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [1647/24]

Hospital Overcrowding

Gino Kenny

36. Deputy Gino Kenny asked the Minister for Health if he is aware that an organisation (details supplied) has stated that hospitals are in a near constant state of overcrowding coupled with short staffing; if he will lift the health service recruitment freeze; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [1649/24]

Health Service Executive

Gino Kenny

57. Deputy Gino Kenny asked the Minister for Health if he is aware that the NCHDs in an organisation (details supplied) have said that they expect to call a ballot for industrial action in response to the recruitment freeze announced recently; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [1650/24]

Middle East

Gino Kenny

27. Deputy Gino Kenny asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs if he will make direct contact with the Israeli embassy in relation to the illegal detention of the executive director of the Aida Youth Centre in the Aida Refugee Camp Bethlehem (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [56757/23]

Childcare Services

Gino Kenny

95. Deputy Gino Kenny asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth if he will establish a publicly owned childcare service; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [55581/23]

Constitutional Amendments

Gino Kenny

108. Deputy Gino Kenny asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth if he is aware that civil society organisations have said the wording of the proposed referendum on care is significantly different from that recommended by the Joint Oireachtas Committee on Gender Equality and the Citizens' Assembly on gender equality; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [55578/23]

International Protection

Gino Kenny

119. Deputy Gino Kenny asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth if he is aware The Health Information and Quality Authority has raised concerns with the Government over why staff in accommodation centres housing Ukrainian refugees, including children, are not being vetted by An Garda Síochána; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [55579/23]

Childcare Services

Gino Kenny

129. Deputy Gino Kenny asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth to outline his plans to increase childcare places; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [55580/23]

International Protection

Gino Kenny

134. Deputy Gino Kenny asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth his accommodation plans for new international protection applicant refugees; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [55577/23]

Social Media

Gino Kenny

40. Deputy Gino Kenny asked the Minister for Justice if she will report on her engagement with social media companies about far-right content, the spreading of misinformation, and the activities of far-right actors on their platforms; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [55237/23]

Public Transport

Gino Kenny

165. Deputy Gino Kenny asked the Minister for Transport how much funding is being provided in 2024 for rail services to provide extra trains on busy routes. [54254/23]

Public Transport

Gino Kenny

166. Deputy Gino Kenny asked the Minister for Transport if he will provide funding for an extra train on the Kildare routes via Adamstown to Dublin city centre at peak times in the morning and evening. [54255/23]

Public Transport

Gino Kenny

167. Deputy Gino Kenny asked the Minister for Transport if the NTA requested funding for an extra train on the Kildare route via Adamstown to Dublin city centre. [54256/23]

Middle East

Gino Kenny

145. Deputy Gino Kenny asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs the steps he and his Department have taken to date to secure the release of Irish citizens in Gaza and those being held hostage by Hamas; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [50659/23]

Official Engagements

Gino Kenny

163. Deputy Gino Kenny asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs if he will report on this engagement with his counterparts in the Israeli Government; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [50199/23]

Middle East

Gino Kenny

175. Deputy Gino Kenny asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs if he will outline Ireland’s humanitarian response to the situation in Gaza; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [50198/23]

Middle East

Gino Kenny

235. Deputy Gino Kenny asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs if he has consulted his EU counterparts on illegal settler violence in the West Bank; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [50200/23]

Foreign Policy

Gino Kenny

236. Deputy Gino Kenny asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs his views on the Afghan ‘Illegal Foreigners Repatriation Plan’ and Ireland’s response to the plan; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [50201/23]

Departmental Contracts

Gino Kenny

34. Deputy Gino Kenny asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Defence if his Department intends to continue to purchase goods from Israel and Israeli companies; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [50747/23]

Defence Forces

Gino Kenny

50. Deputy Gino Kenny asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Defence the actions he and his Department intend to take to improve gender balance in leadership and decision-making in the Irish Defence Forces; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [50749/23]

Defence Forces

Gino Kenny

66. Deputy Gino Kenny asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Defence his vision for the transformation of the Irish Defence Forces, particularly in the area of military neutrality, following the Report on the Consultative Forum on International Security Policy; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [50750/23]

Defence Forces

Gino Kenny

75. Deputy Gino Kenny asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Defence his views on the findings concerning recruitment and retention in the Irish Defence Forces in a survey compiled by an organisation (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [50748/23]

Defence Forces

Gino Kenny

76. Deputy Gino Kenny asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Defence his views that the proposed tribunal to investigate allegations made by members of a group (details supplied) has a wide and broad enough remit; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [50751/23]