Parliamentary questions

Departmental Strategies

Pauline Tully

93. Deputy Pauline Tully asked the Minister for Rural and Community Development if she will provide an update on her Department’s progress in implementing Action 128 of the Mid-Term Review of the National Disability Inclusion Strategy 2017-2021 to develop initiatives to improve employment opportunities for people with disabilities living in rural areas, including through remote working options; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [53855/22]

Energy Conservation

Pauline Tully

54. Deputy Pauline Tully asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications the reason that persons in receipt of the household benefits package are not automatically eligible for a Sustainable Energy Authority Ireland fully-funded energy upgrade; if he will consider a review of the grant to ensure that persons receiving this payment automatically qualify; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [53700/22]

Special Educational Needs

Pauline Tully

108. Deputy Pauline Tully asked the Minister for Education the number of professionals (details supplied) who were based within a special school setting in each of the five years prior to the introduction of children’s disability network teams; the number of these professionals who were based within a special school setting in the first quarter of 2021; the number these professionals who are currently recruited and based within a special school setting in tabular form; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [53724/22]

Disability Services

Pauline Tully

170. Deputy Pauline Tully asked the Minister for Health further to Parliamentary Question No. 145 of 12 July 2022, the number of psychologists, dietitians, physiotherapists, occupational therapists and speech and language therapists who have been recruited from outside the European Union since these disciplines were placed on the critical skills occupations list, in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [53638/22]

Disability Services

Pauline Tully

171. Deputy Pauline Tully asked the Minister for Health if the new interim clinical guidance has issued to children's disability network teams; if CDNTs are currently conducting assessments of need and if he will make a statement on the matter. [53640/22]

Disability Services

Pauline Tully

172. Deputy Pauline Tully asked the Minister for Health the number of staff who have retired or resigned from children's disability network teams since all 91 teams became operational; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [53641/22]

Agriculture Schemes

Pauline Tully

134. Deputy Pauline Tully asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the supports that are available within his Department to encourage the adoption of on-farm solar energy generation; and if he will outline the targets within his Department to encourage such; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [53118/22]

Energy Conservation

Pauline Tully

199. Deputy Pauline Tully asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications the reason that persons who are in receipt of the blind pension and invalidity pension are not automatically eligible for a Sustainable Energy Authority Ireland fully-funded energy upgrade given the findings of a report (details supplied) commissioned by the Department of Social Protection; if he will consider a review of the grant to ensure that people receiving these payments automatically qualify; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [53562/22]

National Educational Psychological Service

Pauline Tully

368. Deputy Pauline Tully asked the Minister for Education if she will consider increasing funding for those studying trainee educational and child psychology courses to bring them level to their trainee clinical psychology counterparts; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [52728/22]

Covid-19 Pandemic

Pauline Tully

599. Deputy Pauline Tully asked the Minister for Health further to Parliamentary Question No. 557 of 27 September 2022, the timeline for non-HSE and non-Section 39 organisations to receive their pandemic special recognition payment; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [52834/22]

Health Services

Pauline Tully

620. Deputy Pauline Tully asked the Minister for Health if it is intended that the National Gender Service Ireland will expand its service to treat Irish children and young persons who have been diagnosed with gender dysphoria in Ireland, given that a British healthcare setting (details supplied), which takes referrals from Irish children and young persons who have been diagnosed with gender dysphoria, is to change to a regional service and will no longer be taking these referrals; if so, the timeframe for this to become operational; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [52989/22]

Legal Aid

Pauline Tully

9. Deputy Pauline Tully asked the Minister for Justice her plans to increase the financial and human resources available to the Legal Aid Board to enable persons with disabilities to vindicate their rights in court, in view of the fact that the Assisted Decision-Making (Capacity) (Amendment) Bill 2022 is close to completing all Stages of the legislative process and the decision support service will open thereafter; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [52429/22]

Courts Service

Pauline Tully

21. Deputy Pauline Tully asked the Minister for Justice her plans to introduce compulsory disability training for those involved in the administration of justice, in view of the fact that the Assisted Decision Making (Capacity) (Amendment) Bill 2022 is close to completing all stages of the legislative process and the decision support service will open thereafter; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [52428/22]

Health Services Staff

Pauline Tully

151. Deputy Pauline Tully asked the Minister for Health if he will detail the engagements that his Department has had with the Department of Further and Higher Education, Innovation and Science, the HSE and the Higher Education Authority since July 2020 to identify skills shortages in health and social care and the need for additional further and higher education courses in this area; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [52463/22]

Disability Services

Pauline Tully

174. Deputy Pauline Tully asked the Minister for Health if the workforce planning process that his Department commenced, in conjunction with the clinical programme for persons with disabilities, has been finalised; and if he will detail the findings of the workforce planning process. [52464/22]

Social Welfare Eligibility

Pauline Tully

270. Deputy Pauline Tully asked the Minister for Social Protection the reason that the wage subsidy scheme is not available to disabled people who are self-employed; if she will consider extending the wage subsidy scheme to disabled people who are self-employed; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [52546/22]

Departmental Data

Pauline Tully

271. Deputy Pauline Tully asked the Minister for Social Protection the number of disabled people who availed of the wage subsidy scheme in each year from 2017 to 2021; the expenditure on the wage subsidy scheme for people with disabilities in each year from 2017 to 2021; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [52547/22]

Child Protection

Pauline Tully

313. Deputy Pauline Tully asked the Minister for Justice if private bus drivers who are engaged in the transportation of children are subject to Garda vetting. [52679/22]

Health Services Staff

Pauline Tully

322. Deputy Pauline Tully asked the Minister for Health if he will report on the pro-active measures that he and his Department are now taking to attract physiotherapists, occupational therapists, speech and language therapists and orthoptists since these roles were added to the critical skills list; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [45184/22]

Health Services Staff

Pauline Tully

323. Deputy Pauline Tully asked the Minister for Health the number of physiotherapists, occupational therapists, speech and language therapists and orthoptists that have been recruited since these roles were added to the critical skills list; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [45187/22]

Rights of People with Disabilities

Pauline Tully

66. Deputy Pauline Tully asked the Minister for Transport if his attention has been drawn to reports that taxis for disabled persons in Dublin often do not turn up even when booked well in advance; his views on the adequacy of access to taxi services for disabled persons in Dublin; if he will consider introducing measures to prevent taxi owners who have received State funding to convert their vehicles for wheelchair access, from not turning up after taking a booking from a disabled person; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [52329/22]

Rights of People with Disabilities

Pauline Tully

67. Deputy Pauline Tully asked the Minister for Transport if he will detail the membership of the advisory committee on SPSVs; if this committee has any members who are representing disabled persons’ organisations; if this committee has consulted with any disabled persons’ organisations; the names of the disabled persons’ organisations that the committee has consulted with; if the issue of taxis not turning up after taking bookings from disabled persons has been discussed by this committee; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [52330/22]

Disability Services

Pauline Tully

167. Deputy Pauline Tully asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science the membership of the disability advisors' working network; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [52082/22]

Disability Services

Pauline Tully

168. Deputy Pauline Tully asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science if there was an underspend in the fund for students with disabilities in each of the years 2017 to 2021; the extent of any such underspend; if and to where any underspend in funding was reassigned; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [52083/22]

Disability Services

Pauline Tully

169. Deputy Pauline Tully asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science if students with disabilities from here studying in Northern Ireland have access to the fund for students with disabilities; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [52084/22]

Disability Services

Pauline Tully

170. Deputy Pauline Tully asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science if he will consider extending the fund for students with disabilities to part-time students studying in further education institutions as recommended in the 2017 review of the Fund for Students with Disabilities; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [52064/22]

Disability Services

Pauline Tully

171. Deputy Pauline Tully asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science his actions to increase the number of disabled people in the apprenticeship system; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [52065/22]

Disability Services

Pauline Tully

172. Deputy Pauline Tully asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science his actions to increase the number of disability support staff in further and higher education institutions to reflect the increase in the number of disabled students; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [52066/22]

Disability Services

Pauline Tully

173. Deputy Pauline Tully asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science the ratio of disability support staff to disabled students in further and higher education institutions from 2016/2017 academic year to the 2020/2021 academic year, in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [52067/22]

Disability Services

Pauline Tully

174. Deputy Pauline Tully asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science his views that the disability support staff should be aware of the different types of disability and the supports required for each of these disabilities; if he has plans to introduce training for disability support staff to ensure they have knowledge of a broad range of disabilities and the supports required for each of these disabilities; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [52068/22]

Medical Cards

Pauline Tully

273. Deputy Pauline Tully asked the Minister for Health if he is considering introducing medical cards on a mandatory basis for amputees; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [50601/22]

Special Educational Needs

Pauline Tully

444. Deputy Pauline Tully asked the Minister for Education the plans she has in place to introduce a personal assistant service (personalised budget) for children with disabilities in schools, which could greatly assist in getting the specific help they need while in a mainstream setting; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [51525/22]

Special Educational Needs

Pauline Tully

445. Deputy Pauline Tully asked the Minister for Education if she will consider prohibiting the use of seclusion and restraint in schools; if she will consider prohibiting the use of reduced timetables for children with disabilities who have behavioural issues; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [51526/22]

Special Educational Needs

Pauline Tully

446. Deputy Pauline Tully asked the Minister for Education the actions she will take to ensure that all children who need access to the in-school July provision programme in 2023 can access it; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [51527/22]

Special Educational Needs

Pauline Tully

447. Deputy Pauline Tully asked the Minister for Education the actions she has taken to ensure that all children with additional learning needs can request and receive an individualised education plan as is contained within the Education for Persons with Special Educational Needs Act 2004; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [51528/22]

Special Educational Needs

Pauline Tully

448. Deputy Pauline Tully asked the Minister for Education if she will detail the training that has been undertaken by newly-recruited special needs assistants prior to the start of the school year in order to better support students with a disability; if she will provide details of the ongoing training for SNAs; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [51529/22]

Special Educational Needs

Pauline Tully

449. Deputy Pauline Tully asked the Minister for Education if she will detail the initiatives that are in place to develop cross-departmental links between education, special education and disability; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [51530/22]

Special Educational Needs

Pauline Tully

450. Deputy Pauline Tully asked the Minister for Education the way in which the policies of schools are monitored to ensure that primary and secondary schools cannot refuse to enrol a child with a disability; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [51531/22]

Special Educational Needs

Pauline Tully

451. Deputy Pauline Tully asked the Minister for Education if she will provide an update on the review of the Education for Persons with Special Educational Needs Act 2004, including the way in which it intends to enable a right to educational supports for children with special educational needs; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [51532/22]

Social Welfare Benefits

Pauline Tully

521. Deputy Pauline Tully asked the Minister for Social Protection if the €500 lump sum payment for those in receipt of disability allowance includes disabled persons who have been transferred from disability allowance to a pension; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [51523/22]

Social Welfare Benefits

Pauline Tully

522. Deputy Pauline Tully asked the Minister for Social Protection if a family carer caring for more than one person is entitled to a family carers’ €500 lump sum payment for each person who they are caring for; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [51524/22]

Further and Higher Education

Pauline Tully

631. Deputy Pauline Tully asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science his plans to increase the number of places in further and higher education facilities in the 2023/2024 academic year to study speech and language therapy, occupational therapy, psychology and physiotherapy courses; the level that each of these additional courses will be delivered in tabular form;; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [52077/22]

Departmental Consultations

Pauline Tully

632. Deputy Pauline Tully asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science the engagements that his Department has had with the Department of Health, the HSE and the Higher Education Authority since July 2020 to identify skills shortages in health and social care and the need for additional further and higher education courses in this area; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [52078/22]

Medical Cards

Pauline Tully

769. Deputy Pauline Tully asked the Minister for Health if a disabled person will lose their entitlement to their medical card if they are accepted for the basic income for the arts pilot scheme; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [51533/22]

Social Welfare Benefits

Pauline Tully

73. Deputy Pauline Tully asked the Minister for Social Protection if she will consider reviewing the means test for disability allowance in order that as well as assessing income the application process also takes into account the additional cost of disability; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [50600/22]

Early Childhood Care and Education

Pauline Tully

108. Deputy Pauline Tully asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth if he will introduce some flexibility in the ECCE scheme to enable children with disabilities to repeat a pre-school year if needed in order that they can have a successful primary school transition; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [50602/22]

Disability Services

Pauline Tully

150. Deputy Pauline Tully asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth the timeframe for the transfer of disability from the Department of Health to his Department; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [50603/22]

Housing Provision

Pauline Tully

73. Deputy Pauline Tully asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the number of wheelchair liveable houses that are required by each local authority across all 13 basis of need categories in view of the 2021 Summary of Social Housing Assessments; his plans to ensure the delivery of these wheelchair liveable houses; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [50687/22]

Housing Provision

Pauline Tully

74. Deputy Pauline Tully asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the number of wheelchair liveable houses that have been allocated in the past 12 months by each local authority in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [50688/22]

Housing Provision

Pauline Tully

75. Deputy Pauline Tully asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the number of wheelchair liveable houses that each local authority have in their current plans, broken down by municipal district in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [50689/22]