Parliamentary questions

Departmental Data

Kathleen Funchion

974. Deputy Kathleen Funchion asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth the number of Tusla emergency care orders, interim care orders, permanent and temporary care orders, supervision orders, interim special care orders and special care orders in 2021 and 2022, in tabular form. [13559/23]

Covid-19 Pandemic Supports

Kathleen Funchion

1404. Deputy Kathleen Funchion asked the Minister for Health the person or body that made the decision to award a company (details supplied) the contract for distribution of the pandemic payment; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [13305/23]

Health Services

Kathleen Funchion

1468. Deputy Kathleen Funchion asked the Minister for Health the current status of a national treatment centre for suffers of Lyme disease; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [13627/23]

Departmental Schemes

Kathleen Funchion

53. Deputy Kathleen Funchion asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications if a person (details supplied) is entitled to claim the Government energy credit payment. [11690/23]

Residential Institutions

Kathleen Funchion

174. Deputy Kathleen Funchion asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth if he will examine the level of payments made by a person (details supplied) for their residential care received; if this payment will be examined to ascertain if it is in keeping with the fair deal scheme; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [11691/23]

Covid-19 Pandemic Supports

Kathleen Funchion

219. Deputy Kathleen Funchion asked the Minister for Health when the staff in an nursing home (details supplied) in Kilkenny will be paid the pandemic payment; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [11733/23]

Fishing Industry

Kathleen Funchion

184. Deputy Kathleen Funchion asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications further to Parliamentary Question No. 167 of 12 May 2022, his plans for snap-net fishing on the River Suir in 2023 following its closure a number of years ago; and if his Department has sought engagement with fishermen in the area since it was suggested in May 2022. [11530/23]

Family Support Services

Kathleen Funchion

464. Deputy Kathleen Funchion asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth the current number of child and family support networks in operation; where they are located; the number in planning stage; their location; when they will be delivered, in tabular form. [10941/23]

Child and Family Agency

Kathleen Funchion

468. Deputy Kathleen Funchion asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth if all children who are referred to Tusla for being at risk of harm, are given an initial assessment within 20 days; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [11080/23]

Family Resource Centres

Kathleen Funchion

469. Deputy Kathleen Funchion asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth the number of family resource centres in the State; his plans to expand the number of FRCs; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [11086/23]

Family Resource Centres

Kathleen Funchion

478. Deputy Kathleen Funchion asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth the capital costs associated with establishing a brand new family resource centre; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [11458/23]

Disability Services

Kathleen Funchion

643. Deputy Kathleen Funchion asked the Minister for Health the position regarding the provision of respite services for a person (details supplied). [11374/23]

Special Educational Needs

Kathleen Funchion

94. Deputy Kathleen Funchion asked the Minister for Education the efforts being made by her Department to ensure a person (details supplied) obtains a school place suitable to their specified educational needs. [10404/23]

Special Educational Needs

Kathleen Funchion

106. Deputy Kathleen Funchion asked the Minister for Education the efforts being made by her Department to ensure a person (details supplied) obtains a school place suitable to their specified educational needs. [10474/23]

State Pensions

Kathleen Funchion

402. Deputy Kathleen Funchion asked the Minister for Social Protection if she will provide an update on the status of a pension claim submitted by a person (details supplied) which has been outstanding since September 2022; the reason for the delay. [9767/23]

Insurance Coverage

Kathleen Funchion

103. Deputy Kathleen Funchion asked the Minister for Finance if he will consider a Government-sponsored life cover scheme operated by the State at a reasonable cost to the policy holders, to enable people with certain conditions that would not otherwise qualify for life cover through a commercial company; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [9189/23]

Defence Forces

Kathleen Funchion

149. Deputy Kathleen Funchion asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Defence if a sports facility (details supplied) in County Kilkenny can be reopened. [8999/23]

Rail Network

Kathleen Funchion

202. Deputy Kathleen Funchion asked the Minister for Transport if he will confirm whether his Department has undertaken any exploratory work on a second train track on the Carlow to Waterford line; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [8730/23]

Heritage Sites

Kathleen Funchion

257. Deputy Kathleen Funchion asked the Minister for Public Expenditure, National Development Plan Delivery and Reform the purpose for which the old Garda station in Stoneyford will be used (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [8804/23]

Sports Funding

Kathleen Funchion

276. Deputy Kathleen Funchion asked the Minister for Tourism, Culture, Arts, Gaeltacht, Sport and Media if targeted supports are provided to an organisation (details supplied) to enable affiliated clubs throughout the country to help parents with the cost of registering children for the upcoming 2023-2024 season; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [8729/23]

Public Sector Pay

Kathleen Funchion

668. Deputy Kathleen Funchion asked the Minister for Health if his attention has been drawn to reports that some lifeline paramedics are only earning the minimum wage; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [8731/23]

Agriculture Schemes

Kathleen Funchion

738. Deputy Kathleen Funchion asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if his attention has been drawn to farmers who applied through an agent, as was stipulated, to the ACRES scheme and who failed to qualify for this scheme will not be reimbursed the €100 fee that was required to apply for said scheme; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [8728/23]

Childcare Services

Kathleen Funchion

131. Deputy Kathleen Funchion asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth if he will mandate his Department to examine the introduction of public provision of childcare, as recommended by the expert group report Partnership for the Public Good; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [7706/23]

Early Childhood Care and Education

Kathleen Funchion

315. Deputy Kathleen Funchion asked the Minister for Education the options available to a child (details supplied). [6560/23]

Dental Services

Kathleen Funchion

552. Deputy Kathleen Funchion asked the Minister for Health if a person (details supplied) can get an appointment to see a dentist as soon as possible in University Hospital Waterford. [6512/23]

Childcare Services

Kathleen Funchion

60. Deputy Kathleen Funchion asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth his plans to change the legal status of childminders, which would make possible the future regulation of childminders and allow for access to the national childcare scheme to be opened in future to parents who use registered childminders; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [6393/23]

Early Childhood Care and Education

Kathleen Funchion

233. Deputy Kathleen Funchion asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth his plans to pilot the provision of a range of meal options to children, including the provision of hot meals in early learning settings; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [6419/23]

Unaccompanied Minors and Separated Children

Kathleen Funchion

234. Deputy Kathleen Funchion asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth the actions his Department has taken to promote the safety and wellbeing of unaccompanied children and young people seeking international protection; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [6420/23]

Registration of Births

Kathleen Funchion

235. Deputy Kathleen Funchion asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth if he will provide an update on applications being processed through the information and tracing legislation. [6421/23]

Childcare Services

Kathleen Funchion

236. Deputy Kathleen Funchion asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth the impact that increases in the national childcare scheme is having; if his Department plans to increase the subsidy in budget 2024; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [6422/23]

Rail Network

Kathleen Funchion

85. Deputy Kathleen Funchion asked the Minister for Transport if Iarnród Éireann plans to introduce new rapid security hubs throughout 2023; if so, the locations of these new hubs; and when these new hubs will come into operation.; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [5857/23]

Official Engagements

Kathleen Funchion

107. Deputy Kathleen Funchion asked the Minister for Finance if he spoke with the First Permanent Secretary and Chief Executive of HMRC during his recent visit to London. [5843/23]

Tax Yield

Kathleen Funchion

108. Deputy Kathleen Funchion asked the Minister for Finance the estimated full-year yield if the local property tax rate for houses valued at between €1.487 million and €1.575 million increased to €2,485, between €1.575 million and €1.662 million increased to €2,830, between €1.662 million and €1.750 million increased to €3,100 and over €1.750 million increased to €3,370, based on 2022 figures. [5844/23]

Legislative Measures

Kathleen Funchion

124. Deputy Kathleen Funchion asked the Minister for Public Expenditure, National Development Plan Delivery and Reform the current status of the Freedom of Information (Amendment) Bill 2021; and when this Bill will move to the next Stage. [5841/23]

Official Engagements

Kathleen Funchion

175. Deputy Kathleen Funchion asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs if he has spoken to the new Prime Minister of New Zealand. [5839/23]

Official Engagements

Kathleen Funchion

176. Deputy Kathleen Funchion asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs if he plans to have a bilateral meeting with his Dutch counterpart. [5840/23]

Teacher Training

Kathleen Funchion

183. Deputy Kathleen Funchion asked the Minister for Education her plans to include additional upskilling in the area of home economics, which is one of the most difficult subjects for which to find suitably-qualified teachers; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [5554/23]

Schools Refurbishment

Kathleen Funchion

216. Deputy Kathleen Funchion asked the Minister for Education when refurbishment works on a school (details supplied) will move to the next stage of works. [5854/23]

Schools Refurbishment

Kathleen Funchion

217. Deputy Kathleen Funchion asked the Minister for Education when refurbishment works on a school (details supplied) will move to the next stage of works. [5855/23]

Schools Refurbishment

Kathleen Funchion

218. Deputy Kathleen Funchion asked the Minister for Education the amount that her Department spent on works under the emergency works scheme in each of the years 2021, 2022 and to date in 2023, in tabular form. [5856/23]

Legislative Process

Kathleen Funchion

286. Deputy Kathleen Funchion asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth the date when the Assisted Decision-Making (Capacity) (Amendment) Act 2022 will be operational; to report on the delays for the signing of statutory instruments; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [5835/23]

Wards of Court

Kathleen Funchion

287. Deputy Kathleen Funchion asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth the number of people, indicating those under 18 and over 18 years of age, who were taken into wardship in December 2022 and January 2023; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [5836/23]

Crime Prevention

Kathleen Funchion

320. Deputy Kathleen Funchion asked the Minister for Justice the estimated cost of providing four new crime prevention officers per annum, including all associated costs, such as administrative and technological support. [5842/23]

Disability Services

Kathleen Funchion

342. Deputy Kathleen Funchion asked the Minister for Health if he will provide an update on the respite houses for SOS in County Kilkenny, given a commitment was made to fund two; if he will confirm this is the case; if so, when this funding will be released; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [5611/23]

Health Services Staff

Kathleen Funchion

410. Deputy Kathleen Funchion asked the Minister for Health the number of full-time staff, by job title, who will be required to work in the new National Cervical Screening Laboratory, in tabular form. [5837/23]

Hospital Staff

Kathleen Funchion

411. Deputy Kathleen Funchion asked the Minister for Health the number of whole-time equivalent, WTE, consultant neurologists based in Beaumont Hospital in 2021, 2022 and to date in 2023, in tabular form. [5838/23]

Hospital Staff

Kathleen Funchion

412. Deputy Kathleen Funchion asked the Minister for Health the number of WTE respiratory medicine consultants at St. Luke's Hospital, Kilkenny in 2021, 2022 and to date in 2023, in tabular form. [5845/23]

Primary Care Services

Kathleen Funchion

413. Deputy Kathleen Funchion asked the Minister for Health the number of full-time general practitioners who are employed in primary care centres within community healthcare organisation or CHO5, in tabular form. [5846/23]

Special Educational Needs

Kathleen Funchion

356. Deputy Kathleen Funchion asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth if he will clarify the options available to a child (details supplied). [5522/23]

General Practitioner Services

Kathleen Funchion

299. Deputy Kathleen Funchion asked the Minister for Health if there are plans to extend prescribing authority to GPs for the nausea drug, cariban, which presently is planned to only be prescribed by consultants; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [5126/23]