Parliamentary questions

School Transport

Pádraig Mac Lochlainn

359. Deputy Pádraig Mac Lochlainn asked the Minister for Education the number of school transport escorts that are employed by schools across the State in each of the years 2016 to 2023, in tabular form. [53106/23]

School Transport

Pádraig Mac Lochlainn

360. Deputy Pádraig Mac Lochlainn asked the Minister for Education the total amount of grants provided to schools for the employment of school transport escorts in each of the years 2016 to 2023, in tabular form.; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [53107/23]

Defective Building Materials

Pádraig Mac Lochlainn

87. Deputy Pádraig Mac Lochlainn asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage further to Parliamentary Question No. 146 of 4 October 2023 and his assertion of an understanding that “once a home has been certified as being remediated under the scheme that it will be viewed by banks in the same way as other properties and therefore homes will not be required to be remediated to current building regulations”, if he has officially established from an organisation (details supplied) and other representative bodies for the banks and financial institutions in Ireland that homes remediated or rebuilt under the enhanced defective concrete block grant scheme will be mortgageable or re-mortgageable. [52666/23]

Passport Services

Pádraig Mac Lochlainn

107. Deputy Pádraig Mac Lochlainn asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs if he will assist a person (details supplied) with getting a passport approved for educational purposes; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [52511/23]

Heritage Sites

Pádraig Mac Lochlainn

228. Deputy Pádraig Mac Lochlainn asked the Minister for Public Expenditure, National Development Plan Delivery and Reform if the OPW will consider referencing the connection of Red Hugh (Hugh Roe/ Aodh Ruadh) O’ Donnell to Dublin Castle in guided tours and information points at the castle; and if the OPW will consider erecting a plaque at Dublin Castle to commemorate this great leader in Irish history, similar to the plaque erected by Valladolid City Council in Spain in his memory. [52512/23]

School Staff

Pádraig Mac Lochlainn

284. Deputy Pádraig Mac Lochlainn asked the Minister for Education if she is aware that retired teachers with a class A stamp lose the benefit of their supplementary pension if they step in to assist a local school as a substitute teacher; and if she will have this policy changed, considering that so many schools are impacted by the recruitment and retention crisis. [52381/23]

Fishing Industry

Pádraig Mac Lochlainn

259. Deputy Pádraig Mac Lochlainn asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if he will publish the Brexit pelagic fisheries support scheme application submitted by Ireland to the European Commission; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [51642/23]

Fishing Industry

Pádraig Mac Lochlainn

260. Deputy Pádraig Mac Lochlainn asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if he considers that financial losses faced by vessels in respect of pelagic stocks such as mackerel and herring will be adequately compensated for by the Brexit pelagic fisheries support scheme, given that they will be required to repay any funding received for months that their vessels were tied up as part of the Brexit temporary fleet tie-up scheme or other introduced temporary schemes through the seafood taskforce scheme; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [51643/23]

Hospital Appointments Status

Pádraig Mac Lochlainn

304. Deputy Pádraig Mac Lochlainn asked the Minister for Health if a person (details supplied) in County Donegal is on the routine or urgent waiting list for a consultation in Galway University Hospital; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [51622/23]

Hospital Appointments Status

Pádraig Mac Lochlainn

305. Deputy Pádraig Mac Lochlainn asked the Minister for Health if a person (details supplied) in County Donegal can be considered for an earlier appointment through the National Treatment Fund; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [51623/23]

Hospital Staff

Pádraig Mac Lochlainn

350. Deputy Pádraig Mac Lochlainn asked the Minister for Health the number of posts removed from profile as a result of the memorandums CEO ref. 09954 and 10166 of 2023, by grade for Letterkenny University Hospital, in tabular form; the number of headcount posts and the WTE to which these relate; the number which were new posts; the number which were replacement posts or vacant posts; and the number which were related to absence/leave cover. [51770/23]

Health Services Staff

Pádraig Mac Lochlainn

351. Deputy Pádraig Mac Lochlainn asked the Minister for Health the number of posts removed from profile as a result of the memorandums CEO ref. 09954 and 10166 of 2023, by grade for CHO1, in tabular form; the number of headcount posts and the WTE to which these relate; the number which were new posts; the number which were replacement posts or vacant posts; and the number which were related to absence/leave cover. [51771/23]

Hospital Staff

Pádraig Mac Lochlainn

352. Deputy Pádraig Mac Lochlainn asked the Minister for Health the number of job offers which have been withdrawn as a result of the memorandums CEO ref. 09954 and 10166 of 2023, by grade for Letterkenny University Hospital, in tabular form; and the number of headcount posts and the WTE to which these relate. [51772/23]

Health Services Staff

Pádraig Mac Lochlainn

353. Deputy Pádraig Mac Lochlainn asked the Minister for Health the number of job offers which have been withdrawn as a result of the memorandums CEO ref. 09954 and 10166 of 2023, by grade for CHO1, in tabular form; and the number of headcount posts and the WTE to which these relate. [51773/23]

Schools Building Projects

Pádraig Mac Lochlainn

78. Deputy Pádraig Mac Lochlainn asked the Minister for Education to provide urgent clarification on the timeline for the construction and handover of the new three-school campus at Buncrana, County Donegal, in response to recent media reports that this long-delayed and vital project will not be completed until 2030; and if she will honour the previously-made commitments to fast-track this project. [51162/23]

Fishing Industry

Pádraig Mac Lochlainn

138. Deputy Pádraig Mac Lochlainn asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if he and his Department officials will meet with several organisations (details supplied), following their withdrawal from the North West Herring Group; if he can confirm a date when such a meeting can take place; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [51408/23]

Ambulance Service

Pádraig Mac Lochlainn

518. Deputy Pádraig Mac Lochlainn asked the Minister for Health to provide an update on plans by the National Ambulance Service to develop a permanent ambulance base at Buncrana, County Donegal. [50705/23]

Patient Files

Pádraig Mac Lochlainn

584. Deputy Pádraig Mac Lochlainn asked the Minister for Health if he is aware of the release on social media of videos that show patients' medical records and files stored in unsecured premises at a hospital (details supplied); to confirm that none of the medical records that are being stored there have been stolen or removed after the recent intrusion; what security measures the hospital has deployed at the site where the records were held to protect the medical records; the procedures needed for storing patient medical records; if Letterkenny University Hospital has an inventory of all the medical records that have been stored there; and if the hospital has plans to upgrade security or plans to move the files stored there to a more secure facility. [51116/23]

Education Policy

Pádraig Mac Lochlainn

137. Deputy Pádraig Mac Lochlainn asked the Minister for Education her views on submissions that her Department has received to date from the teacher representative unions in the State about the challenge of accommodating children and students from Ukrainian refugee families; her plans to provide the necessary resources to schools and teachers for this purpose; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [50311/23]

Educational Disadvantage

Pádraig Mac Lochlainn

138. Deputy Pádraig Mac Lochlainn asked the Minister for Education to outline how she plans to reduce class sizes in DEIS schools across Donegal in response to the challenge for teachers in trying to accommodate a diverse range of needs in the large class groups, in particular practical subjects, due to the lack of physical space in rooms; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [50312/23]

School Staff

Pádraig Mac Lochlainn

139. Deputy Pádraig Mac Lochlainn asked the Minister for Education her plans to address the challenge of teacher retention and supply at schools across Donegal; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [50313/23]

National Educational Psychological Service

Pádraig Mac Lochlainn

140. Deputy Pádraig Mac Lochlainn asked the Minister for Education if she will provide the necessary resources to ensure the availability of a comprehensive National Education Psychological Service at schools across Donegal. [50314/23]

Fishing Industry

Pádraig Mac Lochlainn

200. Deputy Pádraig Mac Lochlainn asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if he and his Department are aware of the current livelihood-threatening market disturbance to the brown crab (cancer pagurus) fishery, whereby processors are now not taking any landed produce due to there being no buyers for export live or otherwise; what measures can be taken to identify new markets; what immediate supporting interventions can be made to support the industry during this current market volatility; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [50299/23]

Public Transport

Pádraig Mac Lochlainn

111. Deputy Pádraig Mac Lochlainn asked the Minister for Transport to outline the progress by the National Transport Authority on the introduction of a virtual/digital Leap card for use on smartphones; if he can provide an exact date for introduction; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [49806/23]

Fishing Industry

Pádraig Mac Lochlainn

378. Deputy Pádraig Mac Lochlainn asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if he and his Department officials will meet with representatives of the National Inshore Fishermen's Association (NIFA), the National Inshore Fisheries Forum (NIFF) and the North West Regional Inshore Fisheries Forum (RIFF) following their withdrawal from the Quota Management Advisory Committee (QMAC); if he can confirm a date when such a meeting can take place; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [49495/23]

Common Fisheries Policy

Pádraig Mac Lochlainn

387. Deputy Pádraig Mac Lochlainn asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if he will work to ensure that any future agreements between the EU and Third (non-EU) Countries about access to Irish waters under the jurisdiction of the Common Fisheries Policy include a stipulation that they face the same stringent control and conservation regime as the Irish fleet, particularly with regard to mixed species catch. [49652/23]

Gender Equality

Pádraig Mac Lochlainn

461. Deputy Pádraig Mac Lochlainn asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth if he has developed an online reporting system for the 2023 Gender Pay Gap reporting cycle which will consist of a central portal where all employer reports will be uploaded and can be accessed publicly; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [49805/23]

Defective Building Materials

Pádraig Mac Lochlainn

102. Deputy Pádraig Mac Lochlainn asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage if he is aware of the growing anger and frustration amongst affected homeowners in Donegal and other counties at the serious limitations of the enhanced defective concrete block grant scheme; and if he will immediately work on an actual redress scheme similar to the pyrite remediation scheme rather than this second limited grant scheme. [48828/23]

Public Sector Staff

Pádraig Mac Lochlainn

37. Deputy Pádraig Mac Lochlainn asked the Minister for Education if his Department will urgently review the pay and working conditions of all of the school transport bus escorts across the State, similar to the approach taken in recent times with school secretaries and caretakers, and leading to a similar outcome; and if he will correspond with the Minister for Social Protection, seeking a seamless support to the school transport bus escorts when they have to seek social welfare support, due to the 69 days they receive no pay every year. [49001/23]

Driver Test

Pádraig Mac Lochlainn

223. Deputy Pádraig Mac Lochlainn asked the Minister for Transport when a person (details supplied) in County Donegal can expect an invite for a test date for her driving test; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [47598/23]

Defective Building Materials

Pádraig Mac Lochlainn

654. Deputy Pádraig Mac Lochlainn asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage further to Parliamentary Question No. 305 of 10 October 2023, when his Department will establish an oversight committee to address the defective block crisis that meets regularly and includes all the relevant stakeholders, including homeowner representatives, local authorities, banks, financial institutions and insurance sector, engineers, chartered surveyors, the Housing Agency, etc., as agreed in principle in engagements with the Banking and Payments Federation Ireland, such committee having a broader remit than the Banking Working Group referred to in my previous question, which would only focus on the contribution that the banks can make to the remediation of homes affected by defective blocks. [48071/23]

Marine Protected Areas

Pádraig Mac Lochlainn

691. Deputy Pádraig Mac Lochlainn asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage if he will ensure that the Minister of State with responsibility for Heritage and his Department officials urgently consult with the representatives of the fishing industry in Ireland on his proposals to introduce three new proposed marine conservation areas in the Porcupine Shelf, Southern Canyons and the north west Irish Sea; if there is a consistency in policy application across Government departments when it comes to marine conservation areas and marine protected areas based on the model of the Seafood- Offshore Renewable Energy (ORE) working group. [48827/23]

Hospital Staff

Pádraig Mac Lochlainn

1141. Deputy Pádraig Mac Lochlainn asked the Minister for Health the number of agency staff that are currently employed in Letterkenny University Hospital in any capacity for more than one year combined, with the role that they are assigned to; and the additional cost involved, in tabular form. [47541/23]

Cross-Border Co-operation

Pádraig Mac Lochlainn

1142. Deputy Pádraig Mac Lochlainn asked the Minister for Health what efforts he has made to examine cross-Border co-operation between the public hospitals at Altnagelvin, Letterkenny, Enniskillen and Sligo on a range of medical procedures and operations for patients in the region to prevent long waiting lists, long distances to travel and the increasing cost of referring patients to private care options. [47577/23]

Hospital Appointments Status

Pádraig Mac Lochlainn

1172. Deputy Pádraig Mac Lochlainn asked the Minister for Health when a person (details supplied) in County Donegal can expect to receive an appointment for a consultation in Letterkenny University Hospital; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [47723/23]

Medicinal Products

Pádraig Mac Lochlainn

1276. Deputy Pádraig Mac Lochlainn asked the Minister for Health when the drug ozempic will be made available for GPs to prescribe to diabetes patients; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [48365/23]

Departmental Programmes

Pádraig Mac Lochlainn

1457. Deputy Pádraig Mac Lochlainn asked the Minister for Rural and Community Development when she will complete her review of the CLÁR programme and extend the programme to additional areas in need of support. [47846/23]

Food Safety

Pádraig Mac Lochlainn

93. Deputy Pádraig Mac Lochlainn asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if he will provide a full explanation of a recent incident (details supplied) involving European Union produce transiting through the North of Ireland for processing in the South, which subsequently led to an EU-wide food recall notice being issued; what protocol has been put in place by his Department to prevent such an incident occurring in the future; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [46991/23]

Fuel Prices

Pádraig Mac Lochlainn

113. Deputy Pádraig Mac Lochlainn asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if he will consider introducing a fuel assistance support scheme for the fishing and aquaculture industries similar to such schemes that other European Union members states have implemented, given the increasing price of fuel; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [46992/23]

Special Areas of Conservation

Pádraig Mac Lochlainn

200. Deputy Pádraig Mac Lochlainn asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage what consultation took place with the local community and with local stakeholders before the renewal of the North Inishowen Coast special area of conservation in recent months. [47164/23]

Social Welfare Benefits

Pádraig Mac Lochlainn

209. Deputy Pádraig Mac Lochlainn asked the Minister for Social Protection when the medical assessment will be finalised for an application for disability allowance in respect of a person (details supplied) in County Donegal; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [47108/23]

Hospital Services

Pádraig Mac Lochlainn

197. Deputy Pádraig Mac Lochlainn asked the Minister for Health the number of cancer patients who had their chemotherapy treatment delayed at Letterkenny University Hospital in each of the years 2018 to 2022 and to date in 2023, in tabular form. [46930/23]

Hospital Staff

Pádraig Mac Lochlainn

198. Deputy Pádraig Mac Lochlainn asked the Minister for Health to confirm if the second permanent breast surgeon for Letterkenny University Hospital has been ratified and agreed. [46931/23]

Hospital Appointments Status

Pádraig Mac Lochlainn

200. Deputy Pádraig Mac Lochlainn asked the Minister for Health when a person in County Donegal (details supplied) can expect to receive a date for an operation from Galway University Hospital; if and when a referral was made from Letterkenny University Hospital; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [46997/23]

Hospital Services

Pádraig Mac Lochlainn

547. Deputy Pádraig Mac Lochlainn asked the Minister for Health the reason a person (details supplied) cannot avail of light therapy treatment for a skin condition at Letterkenny University Hospital. [46315/23]

International Protection

Pádraig Mac Lochlainn

228. Deputy Pádraig Mac Lochlainn asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth the location of each emergency accommodation centre for international protection applicants across the State; and the number of international protection applicants at each centre, in tabular form. [45442/23]

Disability Services

Pádraig Mac Lochlainn

254. Deputy Pádraig Mac Lochlainn asked the Minister for Health if respite services (details supplied) in County Donegal are fully operational; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [45435/23]

Flood Risk Management

Pádraig Mac Lochlainn

177. Deputy Pádraig Mac Lochlainn asked the Minister for Public Expenditure, National Development Plan Delivery and Reform further to Parliamentary Question No. 151 of 10 October 2023, the reason the Minister of State for the OPW makes no commitment to meet with the elected members of the Inishowen Municipal District, Donegal County Council, as they have repeatedly requested, to examine how the flood defence works at Burnfoot, County Donegal, can be more speedily advanced, considering that the Minister of State for the OPW stated that he was open to meeting the locally elected members in two previous responses to Parliamentary Questions on the matter. [44977/23]

Defective Building Materials

Pádraig Mac Lochlainn

337. Deputy Pádraig Mac Lochlainn asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage to outline what the 2024 budget is for assisting families availing of the enhanced defective concrete blocks grant scheme; if he is satisfied that this amount will be sufficient to cover the costs of all those who wish to avail of the scheme. [45233/23]

Defective Building Materials

Pádraig Mac Lochlainn

338. Deputy Pádraig Mac Lochlainn asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage when he will provide the necessary funding to Donegal County Council to allow it to commence the process of remediating its housing stock affected by defective concrete blocks. [45234/23]

Defective Building Materials

Pádraig Mac Lochlainn

344. Deputy Pádraig Mac Lochlainn asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage when he will respond to correspondence from a person (details supplied) seeking urgent clarification in relation to assurances from Irish banks and financial institutions that homes that are remediated under the enhanced defective concrete blocks grant scheme will be mortgageable or re-mortgageable for existing homeowners or potential buyers in the future. [45363/23]

Hospital Staff

Pádraig Mac Lochlainn

554. Deputy Pádraig Mac Lochlainn asked the Minister for Health what arrangements will be in place for dermatology patients at Letterkenny University Hospital when the only dermatologist retires shortly. [44974/23]

Hospital Overcrowding

Pádraig Mac Lochlainn

555. Deputy Pádraig Mac Lochlainn asked the Minister for Health if he is aware of the letter from 78 GPs in Donegal, conveying their serious concerns about the ongoing crisis at Letterkenny University Hospital, calling for a review of services at the hospital and asking him to come to Donegal and meet with them to discuss their concerns; and if he will agree to this request. [44975/23]

Hospital Waiting Lists

Pádraig Mac Lochlainn

558. Deputy Pádraig Mac Lochlainn asked the Minister for Health the number of patients awaiting knee and hip surgeries at Letterkenny University Hospital; and the number of cancellations of appointments for knee and hip surgeries at Letterkenny University Hospital in each of the years 2021, 2022, and 2023, in tabular form. [45000/23]

Hospital Procedures

Pádraig Mac Lochlainn

559. Deputy Pádraig Mac Lochlainn asked the Minister for Health the number of day surgeries that have been cancelled at Letterkenny University Hospital in 2021, 2022, and 2023, in tabular form. [45001/23]

Hospital Facilities

Pádraig Mac Lochlainn

561. Deputy Pádraig Mac Lochlainn asked the Minister for Health if he will ask the HSE to urgently review the decision not to include a surgical hub for the north west and to consider Donegal town as one of the locations for a surgical hub, due to its location between Sligo University Hospital and Letterkenny University Hospital (with almost 40,000 inpatients combined annually) and to support the ability of surgeons and consultants to work through the long waiting lists for surgical procedures at both hospitals and to deliver equality of access to healthcare for the people of the north west. [45005/23]

Hospital Procedures

Pádraig Mac Lochlainn

563. Deputy Pádraig Mac Lochlainn asked the Minister for Health the number of primary total hip and primary total knee replacement surgeries performed at Letterkenny University Hospital during each of the calendar years 2018 to 2022, in tabular form. [45041/23]

National Treatment Purchase Fund

Pádraig Mac Lochlainn

564. Deputy Pádraig Mac Lochlainn asked the Minister for Health the number of primary total hip and primary total knee replacement surgeries outsourced from Letterkenny University Hospital to the private sector by the NTPF during each of the calendar years 2018 to 2022, in tabular form. [45042/23]

Hospital Procedures

Pádraig Mac Lochlainn

565. Deputy Pádraig Mac Lochlainn asked the Minister for Health the number of primary total hip and primary total knee replacement surgeries performed at Sligo University Hospital during each of the calendar years 2018 to 2022, in tabular form. [45043/23]

National Treatment Purchase Fund

Pádraig Mac Lochlainn

566. Deputy Pádraig Mac Lochlainn asked the Minister for Health the number of primary total hip and primary total knee replacement surgeries outsourced by NTPF from Sligo University Hospital to the private sector during each of the calendar years 2018 to 2022, in tabular form. [45044/23]

National Treatment Purchase Fund

Pádraig Mac Lochlainn

567. Deputy Pádraig Mac Lochlainn asked the Minister for Health the total value (cost) of NTPF funding for outsourcing surgical patients from Letterkenny University Hospital to undergo all surgical procedures in the private sector during each of the calendar years 2018 to 2022, in tabular form. [45045/23]

National Treatment Purchase Fund

Pádraig Mac Lochlainn

568. Deputy Pádraig Mac Lochlainn asked the Minister for Health to provide the total value cost of NTPF funding for outsourcing surgical patients from Sligo University Hospital to undergo all surgical procedures in the private sector during each of the calendar years 2018 to 2022, in tabular form. [45046/23]

Health Services

Pádraig Mac Lochlainn

625. Deputy Pádraig Mac Lochlainn asked the Minister for Health when day care services will be reinstated at Carndonagh, Community Hospital, County Donegal; if he is aware that a public meeting, attended by hundreds of people in the local community, took place recently, calling for the urgent reinstatement of these services. [45353/23]

Healthcare Infrastructure Provision

Pádraig Mac Lochlainn

626. Deputy Pádraig Mac Lochlainn asked the Minister for Health if the HSE will deliver a minor injury unit to be based at Carndonagh Community Hospital as part of the plan to reduce attendances at the crisis laden Emergency Department at Letterkenny University Hospital. [45354/23]

Broadband Infrastructure

Pádraig Mac Lochlainn

44. Deputy Pádraig Mac Lochlainn asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications the timeframe for the roll-out of at least 30mb broadband speeds to a location (details supplied) in County Donegal as part of the national broadband plan; if such areas with poor or no broadband coverage shall be prioritised during the roll-out phase as part of the scheme; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [44105/23]

Road Projects

Pádraig Mac Lochlainn

89. Deputy Pádraig Mac Lochlainn asked the Minister for Transport when he will meet with the A5/N2 Cross-Border Committee of councillors and council officials, as they have requested, to discuss the Irish government's plans to co-fund or fund these two road upgrade projects. [44184/23]

Flood Risk Management

Pádraig Mac Lochlainn

151. Deputy Pádraig Mac Lochlainn asked the Minister for Public Expenditure, National Development Plan Delivery and Reform when the Minister of State for the OPW will meet with the elected members of the Inishowen municipal district, Donegal County Council, as they have repeatedly requested, to examine how the flood defence works at Burnfoot, County Donegal, can be advanced more speedily, in order that eight families can be returned to their council homes that were vacated for safety reasons after the August 2017 flood in the area and to assure other local affected homeowners and businesses. [44003/23]

Office of Public Works

Pádraig Mac Lochlainn

152. Deputy Pádraig Mac Lochlainn asked the Minister for Public Expenditure, National Development Plan Delivery and Reform when the OPW will meet with the elected members of the Inishowen municipal district, Donegal County Council and other important local stakeholders in relation to plans to develop An Grianán of Aileach, County Donegal, as they recently committed to. [44004/23]

Defective Building Materials

Pádraig Mac Lochlainn

305. Deputy Pádraig Mac Lochlainn asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage when his Department officials will establish the banking working group to engage with the banks and financial institutions and assist families affected by defective concrete blocks; if the homeowner representatives that have engaged with all of the stakeholders, including the Minister for Finance, the Central Bank and the Banking and Payments Federation, over recent months will serve on this working group. [44048/23]

Fishing Industry

Pádraig Mac Lochlainn

398. Deputy Pádraig Mac Lochlainn asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the number of staff working at the Sea Fisheries Protection Authority in each of the years 2007 to 2023, in tabular form. [43896/23]

Fishing Industry

Pádraig Mac Lochlainn

399. Deputy Pádraig Mac Lochlainn asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the budget allocated to the Sea Fisheries Protection Authority for each of the years 2007 to 2023, in tabular form. [43897/23]

Childcare Services

Pádraig Mac Lochlainn

452. Deputy Pádraig Mac Lochlainn asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth if he will provide a breakdown of how the hundreds of millions of euro in Government expenditure on childcare has been allocated in 2022 and 2023, in tabular form. [44096/23]

Hospital Trusts

Pádraig Mac Lochlainn

555. Deputy Pádraig Mac Lochlainn asked the Minister for Health if he plans to upgrade the status of Letterkenny University Hospital from a model 3 hospital. [44006/23]

Health Services

Pádraig Mac Lochlainn

556. Deputy Pádraig Mac Lochlainn asked the Minister for Health if he will ask the HSE to include Donegal town as one of the locations for a surgical hub, due to its location between Sligo University Hospital and Letterkenny University Hospital and to support the ability of surgeons and consultants to work through the long waiting lists for surgical procedures at both hospitals and to deliver equality of access to healthcare for the people of the north-west. [44007/23]

Departmental Data

Pádraig Mac Lochlainn

557. Deputy Pádraig Mac Lochlainn asked the Minister for Health the number of inpatient discharges for every acute hospital in the State in 2022 and 2023, in tabular form. [44008/23]

Hospital Services

Pádraig Mac Lochlainn

558. Deputy Pádraig Mac Lochlainn asked the Minister for Health the budget allocated to every acute hospital in the State in 2022 and 2023, in tabular form. [44009/23]

Health Service Executive

Pádraig Mac Lochlainn

589. Deputy Pádraig Mac Lochlainn asked the Minister for Health to confirm the number of overpayments made by HSE Pensions Management and subsequent requests for repayment letters issued to retired staff in each of the years, 2020, 2021, 2022 and to date in 2023; and to make a statement on the concerns of retired staff in respect of the volume of calculation errors arising. [44188/23]

School Funding

Pádraig Mac Lochlainn

239. Deputy Pádraig Mac Lochlainn asked the Minister for Education if her Department will reimburse a school in County Donegal (details supplied) on an exceptional needs basis, for the severe loss of income and debt that they have faced due to the enrolment policy of the Department. [43254/23]

General Practitioner Services

Pádraig Mac Lochlainn

336. Deputy Pádraig Mac Lochlainn asked the Minister for Health the mechanisms now in place for medical card holders who currently do not have access to a GP and are unable to secure a GP practice to take them as a patient. [43252/23]

Defective Building Materials

Pádraig Mac Lochlainn

146. Deputy Pádraig Mac Lochlainn asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage his views in response to the confirmation from a person (details supplied) speaking at the Oireachtas Joint Committee on Finance, Public Expenditure and Reform on Wednesday 27 September 2023 that mortgages can only be issued for a home built to current building regulations; the reason the enhanced defective concrete block grant scheme only provides grant aid for homeowners to remediate or rebuild their homes to previous building regulations that are out of date and that are not mortgageable or re-mortgageable; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [43128/23]

Hospital Appointments Status

Pádraig Mac Lochlainn

227. Deputy Pádraig Mac Lochlainn asked the Minister for Health when a person in County Donegal (details supplied) can expect to receive a date for an operation from Galway University Hospital; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [43127/23]

National Broadband Plan

Pádraig Mac Lochlainn

156. Deputy Pádraig Mac Lochlainn asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications the timeframe for the roll-out of at least 30mb broadband speeds to a location (details supplied) in County Donegal as part of the national broadband plan; if such areas with poor or no broadband coverage shall be prioritised during the roll-out phase as part of the scheme; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [42624/23]

Departmental Data

Pádraig Mac Lochlainn

473. Deputy Pádraig Mac Lochlainn asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine to outline the awareness of his Department of the ongoing assessment for oyster trestles along the Quay Shore, Newtowncunningham, County Donegal, and the plans to potentially cultivate oysters in Lough Swilly; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [42223/23]

State Bodies

Pádraig Mac Lochlainn

490. Deputy Pádraig Mac Lochlainn asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine what plans he and his Department have to renew or offer a long-term lease which will expire soon at a building (details supplied) in Howth, County Dublin, that is currently operating as a seafood retail outlet and training centre, in conjunction with Bord Iascaigh Mhara; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [42449/23]

Brexit Supports

Pádraig Mac Lochlainn

510. Deputy Pádraig Mac Lochlainn asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if he will publish, in tabular form, a full breakdown of all funding allocated by his Department under the Brexit adjustment reserve processing capital support scheme, by applicant, project, funds applied for, funds allocated, application date, funds drawn down to date, funds outstanding, and deadline for payment; any rejected applications by applicant, project and funds applied for; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [42757/23]

Brexit Supports

Pádraig Mac Lochlainn

511. Deputy Pádraig Mac Lochlainn asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the reason his Department and associated State agencies working with the fishing and aquaculture industries in Ireland have set a deadline of 30 October 2023 for drawdown of funding from the Brexit adjustment reserve fund, when the EU regulation states that expenditure needs to be incurred and paid by public authorities by 31 December 2023 and Member States need to report by 30 September 2024 about the measures carried out; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [42758/23]

Disability Services

Pádraig Mac Lochlainn

548. Deputy Pádraig Mac Lochlainn asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth when the parents of a child in County Donegal (details supplied) can expect an appointment from Inishowen children's disability network team; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [42570/23]

Fishing Industry

Pádraig Mac Lochlainn

453. Deputy Pádraig Mac Lochlainn asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine to publish the full list, in tabular form, by vessel name, registered owner, vessel size, quota attached to the vessel, tonnage and port of all participants in the fishing boat decommissioning scheme approved through the Brexit adjustment reserve funding; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [41512/23]

Fishing Industry

Pádraig Mac Lochlainn

454. Deputy Pádraig Mac Lochlainn asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the additional supporting measures that he is considering introducing through the Brexit adjustment reserve fund to assist the Irish fishing, aquaculture and processing industries; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [41513/23]

Fishing Industry

Pádraig Mac Lochlainn

455. Deputy Pádraig Mac Lochlainn asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine to publish a full list of prawn catch, broken down by port location and vessel, in the State for the past five years; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [41514/23]

Fishing Industry

Pádraig Mac Lochlainn

456. Deputy Pádraig Mac Lochlainn asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine to publish a full list of fishing vessels in the State, by registered owner, name of vessel and port location, licensed to fish razor clams; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [41515/23]

Fishing Industry

Pádraig Mac Lochlainn

457. Deputy Pádraig Mac Lochlainn asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if he is satisfied that the current regulations for the fishing of razor clams in Ireland are sustainable; if he has given any consideration to capping the number of boats/registered vessels allowable to fish the species; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [41516/23]

Fishing Industry

Pádraig Mac Lochlainn

458. Deputy Pádraig Mac Lochlainn asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if he is aware of a proposed 700-tonne limit for the fishing of razor clams in Ireland that is intended to be introduced from 2024; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [41517/23]

Fishing Industry

Pádraig Mac Lochlainn

459. Deputy Pádraig Mac Lochlainn asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine what engagements he has had with the British government in relation to any plans it may have for development of offshore renewable energy in areas 7G and 7F that will potentially impact Irish fishing waters and the Irish fishing industry; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [41518/23]

Inshore Fisheries

Pádraig Mac Lochlainn

460. Deputy Pádraig Mac Lochlainn asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if his Department has given any consideration in communication with Bord Iascaigh Mhara to opening a processing plant for the Irish inshore shellfish fisheries industry, and namely, the cockle industry, following market and regulatory disruption due to Brexit; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [41519/23]

State Bodies

Pádraig Mac Lochlainn

461. Deputy Pádraig Mac Lochlainn asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine what plans he and his Department have to renew a long-term lease on the Bord Iascaigh Mhara coastal training centre based in Howth, County Dublin; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [41520/23]

Tax Credits

Pádraig Mac Lochlainn

143. Deputy Pádraig Mac Lochlainn asked the Minister for Finance the reason the Government does not provide the same tax relief for rental costs to students and their families, regardless of where they are studying on the island of Ireland, the Republic of Ireland or Northern Ireland. [40882/23]

Third Level Education

Pádraig Mac Lochlainn

295. Deputy Pádraig Mac Lochlainn asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science the reason that the Government does not provide the same financial assistance to students and their families, regardless of where they are studying on the island of Ireland, the Republic of Ireland or Northern Ireland; and if he appreciates how unfair this discrepancy is to students who live in the border counties of the Republic of Ireland. [40881/23]

Defective Building Materials

Pádraig Mac Lochlainn

432. Deputy Pádraig Mac Lochlainn asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage if he has engaged with the Minister for Finance on the requests from homeowners affected by defective blocks that the works they are carrying out to remediate their homes and related professional fees, under the enhanced defective block grant scheme, be exempt from VAT; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [39793/23]

Building Regulations

Pádraig Mac Lochlainn

511. Deputy Pádraig Mac Lochlainn asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage if he will establish with the National Standards Authority of Ireland when it will issue a clear directive on the acceptable levels of deleterious materials and compressive strength in concrete blocks that will allow sellers and buyers of second-hand homes to have full clarity on their transaction. [40104/23]