Parliamentary questions

General Practitioner Services

Kathleen Funchion

431. Deputy Kathleen Funchion asked the Minister for Health what measures are being taken to increase the number of GPs around the country, and Kilkenny in particular; and whether current GPs use waiting list systems.; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [11457/24]

Housing Schemes

Kathleen Funchion

27. Deputy Kathleen Funchion asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications what financial supports a person can avail of if they are about to begin renovating an older rural property (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [10875/24]

Driver Test

Kathleen Funchion

161. Deputy Kathleen Funchion asked the Minister for Transport if a driving test will be expedited for a person (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [10212/24]

Employment Schemes

Kathleen Funchion

543. Deputy Kathleen Funchion asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth if person (details supplied) can be considered for a place in KITE; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [10022/24]

Third Level Education

Kathleen Funchion

801. Deputy Kathleen Funchion asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science if a person (details supplied) can avail of any further SUSI supports; if so, what assistance can be provided for them; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [10331/24]

Child and Family Agency

Kathleen Funchion

77. Deputy Kathleen Funchion asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth what engagement he has had with Tulsa as it struggles to respond to increased demand for its services, given that this increased demand, together with the complex needs of the children and young people presenting, have swamped the agency (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [9495/24]

Childcare Services

Kathleen Funchion

82. Deputy Kathleen Funchion asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth if he will provide further details on the €18 million capital funding announced recently with the precondition that providers agree to a predefined fee cap; what supports will be available for services to encourage them to apply, given the high number of services that applied and were not successful in 2023; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [9497/24]

Mother and Baby Homes

Kathleen Funchion

110. Deputy Kathleen Funchion asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth the exact date of the opening of the mother and baby institutions payment ; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [9498/24]

Childcare Services

Kathleen Funchion

119. Deputy Kathleen Funchion asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth if he will intervene to encourage parties involved in ELC and SAC pay talks back to the table with a view to ensuring staff can be paid the next pay increase; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [9500/24]

Early Childhood Care and Education

Kathleen Funchion

140. Deputy Kathleen Funchion asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth if he will provide details of the recently released data on vacancy rates and waiting lists for early learning and childcare and school aged services; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [9499/24]

Childcare Services

Kathleen Funchion

106. Deputy Kathleen Funchion asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth if parents that avail of childminders will be able to access the national childcare scheme from September 2024; the engagement he has had with childminders; if he is optimistic that parents will be able to avail of the subsidy; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [9496/24]

Tax Reliefs

Kathleen Funchion

139. Deputy Kathleen Funchion asked the Minister for Finance if he will reconsider the proposed end to the motor fuel subsidy on 31 March 2024, as planned (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [8675/24]

School Transport

Kathleen Funchion

214. Deputy Kathleen Funchion asked the Minister for Education if children (details supplied) can be accommodated on a school bus; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [8929/24]

EU Funding

Kathleen Funchion

306. Deputy Kathleen Funchion asked the Minister for Social Protection if she will provide an update on the appeal by a charity (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [8770/24]

Healthcare Policy

Kathleen Funchion

504. Deputy Kathleen Funchion asked the Minister for Health the status of an update for survivors of the vaginal mesh controversy; if a scheme or some level of assistance will be offered to women left in this situation; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [8771/24]

Covid-19 Pandemic

Kathleen Funchion

24. Deputy Kathleen Funchion asked the Taoiseach if he will include an examination of long Covid in the terms of reference for the Covid inquiry. [8326/24]

Driver Test

Kathleen Funchion

190. Deputy Kathleen Funchion asked the Minister for Transport if there are any measures that can be applied to a person who has severe anxiety when taking driving test and if there are any particular supports that can be put in place for a person who has no issue with driving but has very severe anxiety which results in failing the test (details supplied). [8006/24]

Childcare Services

Kathleen Funchion

488. Deputy Kathleen Funchion asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth the total number of unique children availing of NCS in 2022 and 2023, in tabular form. [7619/24]

Childcare Services

Kathleen Funchion

489. Deputy Kathleen Funchion asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth the total number of unique children that are enrolled in an ECCE service, also availing of an NCS subsidy for 2022 and 2023, in tabular form. [7620/24]

Childcare Services

Kathleen Funchion

490. Deputy Kathleen Funchion asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth the total number of unique children that are in a sponsorship arrangement through the NCS for 2022 and 2023; the full year cost for 2022 and 2023; the cost per child of these sponsorship arrangements; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [7621/24]

Childcare Services

Kathleen Funchion

494. Deputy Kathleen Funchion asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth the total number of children availing of the national childcare subsidy in 2022 and 2023, and the total cost in 2022 and 2023, in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [7698/24]

Nursing Homes

Kathleen Funchion

579. Deputy Kathleen Funchion asked the Minister for Health if there is any circumstance where the fair deal payment owed at the end of a nursing home resident's stay is deferred or can be paid in instalments over a period of time; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [7743/24]

Covid-19 Pandemic Supports

Kathleen Funchion

423. Deputy Kathleen Funchion asked the Minister for Social Protection the financial supports that are in place for those who suffer from long-Covid; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [6551/24]

Departmental Data

Kathleen Funchion

525. Deputy Kathleen Funchion asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth the total estimated cost to increase the national childcare scheme universal rate from €1.40 to €2.14 for 20234 and projected cost for 2024; the total cost to increase the national childcare scheme by a further 25%, after the September 2024 increase comes into effect; the monetary value of same; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [6076/24]

Departmental Bodies

Kathleen Funchion

526. Deputy Kathleen Funchion asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth if all allegations of potential child safe guarding matters are investigated by Tusla once brought to their attention; since the introduction of CASP, if there have been any changes to this procedure in any way; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [6082/24]

Social Welfare Payments

Kathleen Funchion

541. Deputy Kathleen Funchion asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth for further details on the rationale for the practice of the mother of a child entering foster care continuing to be paid child benefit for six months even though the child now resides with a foster family; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [6513/24]

Childcare Services

Kathleen Funchion

542. Deputy Kathleen Funchion asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth to provide an update on what changes his Department has made to charter of accounts; if his Department is still requiring accounts to be signed off by a chartered accountant; if he is aware that a number of services are finding it impossible to engage chartered accountants to do this work; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [6522/24]

Health Services

Kathleen Funchion

559. Deputy Kathleen Funchion asked the Minister for Health how many pregnancy loss clinics are in operation in Ireland; if there is a staffing shortage at present in these clinics; how often do these clinics offer appointments (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [6083/24]

Covid-19 Pandemic

Kathleen Funchion

602. Deputy Kathleen Funchion asked the Minister for Health if he will list all medications that are needed for long-Covid sufferers that are not available on the medical card; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [6552/24]

Childcare Services

Kathleen Funchion

288. Deputy Kathleen Funchion asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth the estimated associated costs to reduce the national childcare scheme income threshold to €40,000; the estimated number of children that would potentially benefit from lowering the threshold and all other cost implications; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [5907/24]

School Accommodation

Kathleen Funchion

163. Deputy Kathleen Funchion asked the Minister for Education when a school in County Carlow (details supplied) will receive the funding for two modular classrooms that it was granted in June 2023, but is still being processed. [4923/24]

Visa Applications

Kathleen Funchion

347. Deputy Kathleen Funchion asked the Minister for Justice the status of a visa application by a person (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [5214/24]

Childcare Services

Kathleen Funchion

429. Deputy Kathleen Funchion asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth what capital funding has been allocated for 2023 to increase childcare places; if this funding will facilitate the building of purpose built childcare facilities; what specific plans his Department has through the NPD capital funding for expanding places for the zero to two years and eight months cohort when ECCE kicks in; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [5044/24]

Childcare Services

Kathleen Funchion

430. Deputy Kathleen Funchion asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth the costs associated with building a new community childcare facility, including associated costs; if any new facilities are being planned; if so, the location; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [5045/24]

Early Childhood Care and Education

Kathleen Funchion

451. Deputy Kathleen Funchion asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth the current percentage of ELC SAC services that are contracted to provide ECCE only and ECCE/ NCS for 2023 and 2024, in tabular form. [5423/24]

Early Childhood Care and Education

Kathleen Funchion

344. Deputy Kathleen Funchion asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth the childcare fees being paid by parents at present, by county; and the childcare fees that will be paid by parents from September 2024, by county, in tabular form. [4680/24]

Foreign Birth Registration

Kathleen Funchion

135. Deputy Kathleen Funchion asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs if his officials in the foreign births registration section will liaise with the parents of a child (details supplied); if he will confirm receipt of the application which was sent in December 2023 through the Irish embassy in Beijing China; the status of the application; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [4242/24]

Childcare Services

Kathleen Funchion

457. Deputy Kathleen Funchion asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth the total number of early years and SAC closures, by county. in 2021, 2022, 2023 and 2024, in tabular form; the number of babyroom closures, by county, for 2021, 2022, 2023 and 2024, in tabular form; if he has considered the policy paper drafted by an organisation (details supplied) to assess and react to early years, childcare and SAC closures; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [3653/24]

Hospital Services

Kathleen Funchion

502. Deputy Kathleen Funchion asked the Minister for Health if a person (details supplied) is referred to either St. James’s or St. Vincent's Hospital. [3726/24]

Departmental Funding

Kathleen Funchion

325. Deputy Kathleen Funchion asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth the total number of children availing of his Department’s funding programmes (details supplied) in 2022, 2023, in tabular form. [3432/24]

Childcare Services

Kathleen Funchion

326. Deputy Kathleen Funchion asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth the estimated number of childcare services that have signed core funding contracts; the total number who signed up for core funding and subsequently withdrew; the years they withdrew; and the estimated number of children that are not covered by NCS, in tabular form. [3433/24]

Departmental Data

Kathleen Funchion

327. Deputy Kathleen Funchion asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth the number of children by county/ nationally that are not covered by his Department’s NCS subsidy excluding ECCE services. [3434/24]

Departmental Data

Kathleen Funchion

328. Deputy Kathleen Funchion asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth the lowest, highest and average, geographically of fees actually currently being paid by parents in 2023/2024. [3435/24]

Departmental Data

Kathleen Funchion

407. Deputy Kathleen Funchion asked the Minister for Social Protection the reason a person (details supplied) has been waiting 14 weeks for a decision on their invalidity pension claim. [3062/24]

Prison Service

Kathleen Funchion

420. Deputy Kathleen Funchion asked the Minister for Justice the number of physical family visits to prisons that took place in 2023, by the number of visits per prison and the number of visits with a child present, in tabular form; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [2433/24]

Health Promotion

Kathleen Funchion

9. Deputy Kathleen Funchion asked the Minister for Health if he will ban tanning sunbeds outright, given the serious and increased risk of incidences of skin cancer. which is supported by scientific evidence linking skin cancer and tanning sunbed usage; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [1874/24]

Early Childhood Care and Education

Kathleen Funchion

289. Deputy Kathleen Funchion asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth the current estimated parental spend on childcare fees from the 2021/2022 or 2022/2023 Pobal Annual Early Years Sector Profile Report, in tabular form; when he expects the annual report to be published; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [2136/24]

Public Sector Pensions

Kathleen Funchion

395. Deputy Kathleen Funchion asked the Minister for Public Expenditure, National Development Plan Delivery and Reform to elaborate on his plans to discontinue the long-standing and well-established pay/pension parity link which retired members of An Garda Síochána share with their serving colleagues in An Garda Síochána; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [1041/24]

School Funding

Kathleen Funchion

592. Deputy Kathleen Funchion asked the Minister for Education to explain the rationale/process in awarding the recent round of STEM grant funding; the total funding allocated; if a lottery system was used, resulting in a significant number of applications not being examined; her views on whether this is an appropriate process, given the importance of funding to schools applying; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [1042/24]

Domestic Violence

Kathleen Funchion

1117. Deputy Kathleen Funchion asked the Minister for Justice if engagement has occurred between her Department and the Garda Commissioner in relation to the Sale of Alcohol Bill 2022, in particular the need to protect and support women who may experience increased violence as a direct result of the forthcoming Bill (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [1576/24]