Parliamentary questions

Care of the Elderly

Patricia Ryan

240. Deputy Patricia Ryan asked the Minister for Health the number of dementia advisors for each CHO area since Covid in each of the years 2020, 2021, 2022 and to date in 2023, in tabular form. [44474/23]

Broadband Infrastructure

Patricia Ryan

59. Deputy Patricia Ryan asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications the reason a housing estate in County Kildare (details supplied) was not included in the laying of fibre broadband cables when it was supplied to all surrounding areas only a short number of metres down the road, meaning residents can only access extremely poor, intermittent Internet connection, no matter what supplier is used, and therefore cannot avail of any opportunity to work or study from home; and if he will provide a possible timeline for this estate’s omission to be rectified. [43102/23]

Road Safety

Patricia Ryan

84. Deputy Patricia Ryan asked the Minister for Transport the plans, if any, the Government has to install motion sensor lights on roads in County Kildare; and if so, what timeline would be envisaged. [43104/23]

National Car Test

Patricia Ryan

85. Deputy Patricia Ryan asked the Minister for Transport the number of candidates currently on the waiting list for NCT tests in County Kildare; the availability of appointments; the earliest appointment currently available; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [43105/23]

Fire Stations

Patricia Ryan

145. Deputy Patricia Ryan asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage if he will clarify if there are plans for a new fire station in Monasterevin; and if so, if he will provide a timeframe for same. [43097/23]

Social Insurance

Patricia Ryan

148. Deputy Patricia Ryan asked the Minister for Social Protection if the PRSI contributions of parents can be made applicable for the provision of glasses, optician services and dental services to their children; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [43099/23]

Social Welfare Code

Patricia Ryan

149. Deputy Patricia Ryan asked the Minister for Social Protection the measures she would consider putting in place to assist those older people with disabilities who are ageing, in addition to having a disability, who are already living in, or in imminent danger of, falling into poverty due to the cost-of-living crisis, compounded with the additional costs that having a disability incur. [43100/23]

Social Welfare Code

Patricia Ryan

158. Deputy Patricia Ryan asked the Minister for Social Protection if, with regard to the 18.5 hours per week limited allowed to work or study in order to qualify for carer’s allowance, she acknowledges that this would exclude most part-time jobs or part-time course, as these usually are minimum 20 hours per week; if the 18.5 hours limit could be increased to allow for carers to take up part-time work or to upskill with part-time courses. [43098/23]

Mental Health Services

Patricia Ryan

221. Deputy Patricia Ryan asked the Minister for Health the measures he will take to address the serious underfunding in mental health, which has been exposed in the aftermath of the Covid-19 pandemic and the extraordinary demands made on already overstretched services. [43095/23]

Health Services Staff

Patricia Ryan

222. Deputy Patricia Ryan asked the Minister for Health if he can look into the fact that there is no sick leave or absence cover provided for home care workers; and to clarify the reason the HSE has to call the family of the person in receipt of the home care to have them step in when a home care worker is either sick or absent. [43096/23]

Health Services

Patricia Ryan

223. Deputy Patricia Ryan asked the Minister for Health the measures being considered to address the recruitment and retention crisis being experienced in section 39-funded organisations, where lower pay levels are causing those in section 39 agencies to leave for jobs or grades in section 38 and HSE positions with more remuneration, where the section 39 agencies are still operating on a level of funding, which is now 40 cent less per hour of service than what was allocated in 2005; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [43103/23]

Health Services

Patricia Ryan

228. Deputy Patricia Ryan asked the Minister for Health the reason there is no respite available to an elderly gentleman (details supplied); the reason the public health nurse said that they would look for respite but would be unable to give a date for same; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [43133/23]

Social Welfare Code

Patricia Ryan

200. Deputy Patricia Ryan asked the Minister for Social Protection what measures she can implement to end the discrimination against many disabled people in receipt of disability allowance, a benefit paid to disabled people directly, who are at risk of losing the benefit should they marry because the benefit is means tested. [41936/23]

Disability Services

Patricia Ryan

246. Deputy Patricia Ryan asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth how the hours provided for respite care are arrived at; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [41938/23]

Fire Stations

Patricia Ryan

130. Deputy Patricia Ryan asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Defence the measures he is taking to guarantee the future of the fire station at the Curragh, County Kildare; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [40808/23]

Education Costs

Patricia Ryan

162. Deputy Patricia Ryan asked the Minister for Education the reason the payment for after-school studies in DEIS schools in south County Kildare has to be paid in full, at approximately €180 per term per child, causing further financial stress on families, where no option for payment in instalments is available despite requests for same; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [40807/23]

Housing Schemes

Patricia Ryan

183. Deputy Patricia Ryan asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the reason people availing of the derelict house grant are required to pay the money to the contractor up front and then claim back for the local authority, which makes the grant unattainable for most people as they do not have such funds available, and in those circumstances, the reason the local authority cannot be authorised to pay the contractors directly, thus making the grant more easily accessible to those who need it. [40810/23]

Social Insurance

Patricia Ryan

200. Deputy Patricia Ryan asked the Minister for Social Protection if she will ensure that PRSI, taken in the wrong from a person (details supplied) is refunded at the earliest opportunity; the position regarding payment of PRSI after the age of 66 years; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [40809/23]

Social Welfare Appeals

Patricia Ryan

203. Deputy Patricia Ryan asked the Minister for Social Protection the reason appeals for refusal of carer’s allowance are currently taking many months to process; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [40811/23]

Health Services

Patricia Ryan

254. Deputy Patricia Ryan asked the Minister for Health if he will address the case of a person (details supplied). [40803/23]

Health Services

Patricia Ryan

255. Deputy Patricia Ryan asked the Minister for Health the reason Naas General Hospital does not appear to have sufficient wound dressing for their in-patients (details supplied) and are telling patients that they must bring in their own dressings from home; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [40804/23]

Disability Services

Patricia Ryan

257. Deputy Patricia Ryan asked the Minister for Transport the reason persons suffering from cancer are not eligible for a blue disability badge; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [35167/23]

Grant Payments

Patricia Ryan

866. Deputy Patricia Ryan asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science if, with regard to income thresholds for SUSI eligibility, he will examine the refusal of a SUSI grant to a student (details supplied); if he will investigate whether an exception can be made and expedited given, the deadline for response/appeal to SUSI. [35166/23]

Disability Services

Patricia Ryan

228. Deputy Patricia Ryan asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth if he can offer an explanation for the 75% failure to meet set targets for movement of those with disabilities in congregated residential care settings to community-based settings; what measures Government will take to bring Ireland into line with the UN convention on the rights of people with disabilities; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [34719/23]

Home Care Packages

Patricia Ryan

276. Deputy Patricia Ryan asked the Minister for Health if, with regard to the Public Sector Performance Report and figures showing that only 80 of a targeted 235 intensive homecare packages were delivered, he can explain the reason for the 66% shortfall; what measures he and his Department will put in place to ensure that all intensive homecare packages are delivered in future; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [34715/23]

Home Care Packages

Patricia Ryan

277. Deputy Patricia Ryan asked the Minister for Health if he can explain the 66% shortfall where only 80 of 235 targeted homecare packages were delivered (Public Sector Performance Report 2022); what measures the Government intends to take to ensure targets are met in future; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [34716/23]

Home Care Packages

Patricia Ryan

278. Deputy Patricia Ryan asked the Minister for Health if, with reference to the Public Sector Performance Report 2022 and figures showing approximately 40% of target home support house undelivered, what measures the Government will take to ensure targets are met; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [34717/23]

General Practitioner Services

Patricia Ryan

279. Deputy Patricia Ryan asked the Minister for Health what measures he would consider to address the extreme shortage of GP services in Kildare, in circumstances where a person (details supplied) has been unable to find a GP willing to take them on as a patient, and where their partner (now expecting their first child) was, after considerable effort on their own and their partner's behalf, only able to find a GP willing to accept them as a patient outside their catchment area, so that they and their child could receive vital maternity care; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [34720/23]

Deportation Orders

Patricia Ryan

154. Deputy Patricia Ryan asked the Minister for Justice further to Parliamentary Question No. 154 of 21 June 2023, if she can clarify queries with regard to the deportation orders granted from 2018 to date, 790 in total, as the issue queried originally was not answered in the first instance; how many of those orders have been fully executed, and the people subjected to them deported as ordered; with regard to the orders not as yet executed, which agency is charged with keeping a record of their whereabouts; which agency is responsible for the supervision of same; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [33099/23]

Disability Services

Patricia Ryan

169. Deputy Patricia Ryan asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth what can be done to help a person (details supplied) who has two special needs adult sons with profound intellectual disabilities. [33100/23]

Pharmacy Services

Patricia Ryan

215. Deputy Patricia Ryan asked the Minister for Health if he has or will conduct a review of pharmacy dispensing fees and the extent of service provision by community pharmacists; if he has or will engage with an organisation (details supplied) on the matter; the dates on which he has or will engage; if he will establish a review which encompasses the scope of services provided or which could be provided by community pharmacy; and if he will include scoping of a minor ailments or minor illness scheme in community pharmacy in the terms of reference of the aforementioned review. [33097/23]

Nursing Homes

Patricia Ryan

216. Deputy Patricia Ryan asked the Minister for Health if he can confirm his availability for a meeting with an organisation (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [33101/23]

Covid-19 Pandemic

Patricia Ryan

16. Deputy Patricia Ryan asked the Taoiseach if he can confirm that the public inquiry into nursing home deaths during Covid, which he promised in January of this year, has been or will be established; and if he can confirm the date of same before Dáil Éireann's summer recess. [31512/23]

Work Permits

Patricia Ryan

42. Deputy Patricia Ryan asked the Minister for Transport what assistance measures he can put in place, or what measures he would consider, to assist bus companies (details supplied) with the high costs of applications for work permits for drivers, having had to source them from outside this jurisdiction; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [31500/23]

Work Permits

Patricia Ryan

60. Deputy Patricia Ryan asked the Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment if he will expedite the process of issuing work permits to drivers at a company (details supplied) in order that the company can address chronic staff shortages which are causing significant problems with providing an efficient reliable bus service between County Kildare and Dublin; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [31499/23]

Housing Schemes

Patricia Ryan

85. Deputy Patricia Ryan asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage further to Parliamentary Question No. 109 of 14 June 2023, if he will clearly indicate the amount of funding given to Kildare County Council to purchase homes under the tenant-in-situ scheme since the lifting of the ban on no-fault evictions; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [31498/23]

Vacant Properties

Patricia Ryan

86. Deputy Patricia Ryan asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage if, with regard to the vacant property refurbishment grant, he can clarify how people who wish to apply for the grant but cannot get a mortgage on the vacant property concerned due to its not being 'habitable' (i.e. no working kitchen) will be able to avail of the grant; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [31501/23]

Departmental Expenditure

Patricia Ryan

18. Deputy Patricia Ryan asked the Minister for Transport if he can explain the reason that, despite his Department having an underspend of €97 million on transport and infrastructure, this Deputy has been informed by Kildare County Council that there "are no funds" to repair and resurface dangerously deteriorated sections of road in Kildare South; when, if ever, he intends to allocate these funds to already financially pressed local authorities to be used, or if those funds have or are intended to be re-allocated for other purposes; and if so, what purposes. [30211/23]

Road Projects

Patricia Ryan

69. Deputy Patricia Ryan asked the Minister for Transport when he intends to allocate funding from his Department’s €97 million surplus for road maintenance; how much of that will be allocated to Kildare County Council, which, in response to representations made by this Deputy, has stated that it has nothing in the budget to fix a very badly deteriorated and pot-holed section of road in Monasterevin; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [30213/23]

Approved Housing Bodies

Patricia Ryan

132. Deputy Patricia Ryan asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage to provide, in tabular form, the numbers of social housing units allocated to approved housing bodies in the years 2020, 2021, 2022 and to date in 2023; the methodology used for such allocation; and what measures could be taken to ensure smaller approved housing bodies with specific remits, such as (details supplied) and other such smaller AHBs, have an equal chance of being allocated properties in Part V developments. [30215/23]

Deportation Orders

Patricia Ryan

154. Deputy Patricia Ryan asked the Minister for Justice the number of deportation orders granted in the State in the years 2020, 2021, 2022 and to date in 2023, in tabular form; of those orders, how many have been fully executed; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [30212/23]

Covid-19 Pandemic Supports

Patricia Ryan

225. Deputy Patricia Ryan asked the Minister for Health if he can clarify the reasons employees of a company (details supplied) have been deemed ineligible to receive the pandemic special recognition payment; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [30214/23]

Nursing Homes

Patricia Ryan

226. Deputy Patricia Ryan asked the Minister for Health how many private nursing homes have closed in County Kildare in the years 2018, 2019, 2020, 2021, 2022 and to date in 2023, in tabular form. [30216/23]

Health Services Staff

Patricia Ryan

227. Deputy Patricia Ryan asked the Minister for Health to provide the locations of the 47 community specialist teams, 60 in total, currently operating in each CHN or CHO, in tabular form; and the locations and projected dates of coming into operation of the remaining 13 teams. [30217/23]

Hospital Waiting Lists

Patricia Ryan

228. Deputy Patricia Ryan asked the Minister for Health the reason a person (details supplied) has been informed there is a minimum waiting time of eight weeks at the Mater Hospital in Dublin to receive an urgent ultrasound to their throat; if he will explain how urgent something has to be when a two-month wait is required before such urgent treatment can be accessed; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [30218/23]

Energy Prices

Patricia Ryan

51. Deputy Patricia Ryan asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications the measures or reliefs he could consider or put in place to prevent pensioners and others on low fixed incomes being further energy-impoverished by "standing charges" imposed on them by gas providers, even when there is no gas being used, as a €20 standing charge per month is a significant sum out of a pensioner's income; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [28787/23]

School Staff

Patricia Ryan

88. Deputy Patricia Ryan asked the Minister for Education the reason that a school (details supplied) is to lose a teacher for the coming school year, resulting in the two largest classes having to be divided up, despite enrolment numbers in excess of 25 for the past two years; if anything can be done to prevent this; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [28786/23]

Housing Schemes

Patricia Ryan

109. Deputy Patricia Ryan asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the amount of additional funding that has been given to Kildare County Council to purchase homes under the 'tenant in situ' scheme since the lifting of the 'no fault' eviction ban on 1 April 2023; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [28788/23]

Child and Family Agency

Patricia Ryan

131. Deputy Patricia Ryan asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth if he will consider intervening in the very serious case of a young mother (details supplied); the measures he can take to help this woman and her family; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [28789/23]

Health Services

Patricia Ryan

165. Deputy Patricia Ryan asked the Minister for Health the number of physiotherapists and physiotherapy services available to MS sufferers, and those with other neurological conditions in CHO7 for the years 2020, 2021, 2022 and to date in 2023, in tabular form; and the cost of funding same. [28790/23]