Parliamentary questions

Dental Services

James Lawless

367. Deputy James Lawless asked the Minister for Health the procedures in place for children in Leixlip and Celbridge, County Kildare who require dental services in the dental system; the location of the nearest treatment centre; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [52781/19]

Hospital Staff Recruitment

James Lawless

443. Deputy James Lawless asked the Minister for Health his plans to replace the only pain management consultant who is due to leave their post by the end of 2019 (details supplied); if his plans include an experienced replacement capable of continuing the clinics and ensuring appointments and prescriptions do not lapse; if the plans ensure immediate funding for a multidisciplinary team for pain management in the children’s hospitals; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [53171/19]

Sports Funding

James Lawless

537. Deputy James Lawless asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport the initiatives or grants available for local organisations and groups to assist local schools in the promotion of sports and active lifestyles courses for students; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [51625/19]

Partial Capacity Benefit Scheme Applications

James Lawless

379. Deputy James Lawless asked the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection the status of an application for partial capacity benefit by a person (details supplied). [50699/19]

Medical Aids and Appliances Provision

James Lawless

426. Deputy James Lawless asked the Minister for Health the reason the provision of asthma inhalers is not included on the long term illness scheme; if he will reconsider same; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [50234/19]

Garda Vetting Applications

James Lawless

109. Deputy James Lawless asked the Minister for Justice and Equality the status of a Garda vetting application by a person (details supplied). [49479/19]

Departmental Funding

James Lawless

105. Deputy James Lawless asked the Minister for Education and Skills the initiatives or grants available for local organisations and groups to assist local schools in the promotion of sports and active lifestyle courses for students; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [49176/19]

Departmental Correspondence

James Lawless

108. Deputy James Lawless asked the Minister for Education and Skills further to Parliamentary Question No. 153 of 19 November 2019, if a copy of the letter outlining points raised at the meeting including the importance of a balanced research system will be provided. [49271/19]

Emergency Departments Waiting Times

James Lawless

49. Deputy James Lawless asked the Minister for Health the reason to date in 2019 more than 850 persons over 75 years of age have endured emergency department wait times of more than 24 hours at Naas General Hospital. [48777/19]

Railway Stations

James Lawless

414. Deputy James Lawless asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport the measures he is taking to address the lack of parking at Sallins and Naas railway stations (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [48647/19]

Railway Stations

James Lawless

213. Deputy James Lawless asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport the measures he is taking to address the lack of parking at Sallins and Naas railway stations (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [48404/19]

Departmental Submissions

James Lawless

153. Deputy James Lawless asked the Minister for Education and Skills if he has made a submission to the upcoming plan by Science Foundation Ireland; if so, if the submission included reference to the balance of research carried out through Science Foundation Ireland funding; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [47212/19]

School Enrolments

James Lawless

171. Deputy James Lawless asked the Minister for Education and Skills if the need for extra secondary school places for a school (details supplied) will be examined; if he will liaise with school management regarding the provision of the extra places; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [47277/19]

Bus Services

James Lawless

562. Deputy James Lawless asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport if his attention has been drawn to the capacity issues on the No. 120 bus route between Edenderry and Dublin with the removal of double decker buses; and if he has spoken to the NTA on its plans to improve the service. [47656/19]

Special Educational Needs Service Provision

James Lawless

181. Deputy James Lawless asked the Minister for Education and Skills his plans to address the shortage of school places for children diagnosed with ASD in north County Kildare; his plans to expand the number of places available at a school (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [46317/19]

Water Quality

James Lawless

215. Deputy James Lawless asked the Minister for Housing, Planning and Local Government the measures being taken to reassure the public that water is appropriately treated and fit for consumption at both the Leixlip and Ballymore Eustace water plants; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [45595/19]

State Pension (Contributory) Eligibility

James Lawless

1077. Deputy James Lawless asked the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection if the case of a person (details supplied) will be investigated; and if the person will be assisted in locating their contributions. [44965/19]

School Accommodation Provision

James Lawless

113. Deputy James Lawless asked the Minister for Education and Skills if maps of the current school planning areas are available; and if a copy is available for use by schools. [42477/19]

Social Welfare Code

James Lawless

249. Deputy James Lawless asked the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection the reason those in receipt of illness benefit will not receive the Christmas bonus payment which is paid to those in receipt of other social protection payments; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [42405/19]

Garda Deployment

James Lawless

146. Deputy James Lawless asked the Minister for Justice and Equality the number of gardaí in County Kildare in each of the years 2011 to 2018 and to date in 2019, in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [40712/19]

Community Alert Programme

James Lawless

96. Deputy James Lawless asked the Minister for Justice and Equality his plans to improve the existing community text alert scheme; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [40177/19]

Heavy Goods Vehicle Levy

James Lawless

209. Deputy James Lawless asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport if the practice will continue to allow UK commercial vehicles to use the road network system here free of charge excluding toll roads; if a daily tax certificate system will be introduced; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [39981/19]

Schools Facilities

James Lawless

197. Deputy James Lawless asked the Minister for Education and Skills the status of the provision of consent to a school (details supplied) to apply to Kildare County Council for planning permission for a sports facility; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [39389/19]

Garda Data

James Lawless

246. Deputy James Lawless asked the Minister for Justice and Equality the number of operational gardaí on duty across all stations in north County Kildare on each Saturday in August 2019, in tabular form by station; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [39278/19]

Closed-Circuit Television Systems

James Lawless

215. Deputy James Lawless asked the Minister for Justice and Equality his plans to extend the application dates for the community-based CCTV scheme; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [38401/19]

Fire Service Staff

James Lawless

535. Deputy James Lawless asked the Minister for Housing, Planning and Local Government his plans to introduce rent allowance payments for members of the retained fire services similar to those in full-time fire services; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [38358/19]

Schools Facilities

James Lawless

352. Deputy James Lawless asked the Minister for Education and Skills the position regarding proposed extensions, upgrading and-or replacement of school facilities and buildings at both primary and post-primary level in Clane, County Kildare; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [35438/19]

Schools Facilities

James Lawless

353. Deputy James Lawless asked the Minister for Education and Skills the position regarding proposed extensions, upgrading and-or replacement of school facilities and buildings at both primary and post-primary level in Prosperous, County Kildare; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [35439/19]

Schools Facilities

James Lawless

354. Deputy James Lawless asked the Minister for Education and Skills the position regarding proposed extensions, upgrading and-or replacement of school facilities and buildings at both primary and post-primary level in Kilcock, County Kildare; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [35440/19]

Garda Equipment

James Lawless

518. Deputy James Lawless asked the Minister for Justice and Equality the reason the terms of the contract for the Garda footwear tender have changed from an open procedure to a single framework agreement. [35284/19]

Garda Equipment

James Lawless

519. Deputy James Lawless asked the Minister for Justice and Equality the reason no suitable tender was selected for the Garda footwear tender; and if all applicants failed to satisfy the minimum and-or maximum qualifying threshold marks as set out under the award criteria tables. [35285/19]

Garda Equipment

James Lawless

520. Deputy James Lawless asked the Minister for Justice and Equality the reason invitations for the Garda footwear tender now come from his office and not from An Garda Síochána directly. [35286/19]

Garda Equipment

James Lawless

521. Deputy James Lawless asked the Minister for Justice and Equality the reason the invitation for tenders for Garda footwear does not refer to new technologies available which improve safety in footwear; and the reason these are not requirements. [35287/19]

Passport Controls

James Lawless

527. Deputy James Lawless asked the Minister for Justice and Equality the protocols and procedures for minors travelling alone in relation to passport control at Dublin Airport; the requirement, if applicable, for letters of consent from parents or guardians; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [36495/19]

Broadband Service Provision

James Lawless

1492. Deputy James Lawless asked the Minister for Communications, Climate Action and Environment if he will address a matter regarding the provision of broadband at a location (details supplied). [35119/19]

Illegal Dumping

James Lawless

1495. Deputy James Lawless asked the Minister for Communications, Climate Action and Environment the expenditure on the anti-dumping initiative to date; the number of drones purchased for enforcement purposes; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [35281/19]

Roads Maintenance

James Lawless

1612. Deputy James Lawless asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport the position regarding the upgrading and resurfacing of the M4 motorway between Celbridge and Kilcock, County Kildare; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [36197/19]

Home Loan Scheme

James Lawless

1972. Deputy James Lawless asked the Minister for Housing, Planning and Local Government when funding is expected to be released to local authorities in order that Rebuilding Ireland home loan applications can be assessed and awarded; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [35856/19]

Garda Equipment

James Lawless

665. Deputy James Lawless asked the Minister for Justice and Equality the communications he has had with the Garda Commissioner in relation to the decision to remove equipment from laptop computers used by senior officers manufactured by a company (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [31706/19]

Garda Equipment

James Lawless

666. Deputy James Lawless asked the Minister for Justice and Equality if all technology manufactured by a company (details supplied) will be removed from all equipment used by An Garda Síochána in the interests of national security; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [31707/19]

HSE Staff Recruitment

James Lawless

1127. Deputy James Lawless asked the Minister for Health if the recruitment embargo in the HSE has been lifted as planned; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [31794/19]

Drug Trials

James Lawless

463. Deputy James Lawless asked the Minister for Health if a drug investigation or approval is in place for RTA 408 which may be an effective treatment for Friedreich's ataxia (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [30501/19]

Courts Service Properties

James Lawless

290. Deputy James Lawless asked the Minister for Justice and Equality his plans for the vacant courthouse building in Kilcock, County Kildare; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [29362/19]

Road Safety

James Lawless

598. Deputy James Lawless asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport the regulations or national guidelines being used for compliance with road safety issues in the construction of the Sallins bypass; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [29074/19]

Household Benefits Scheme

James Lawless

745. Deputy James Lawless asked the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection her plans to introduce a free television licence or reduction in the licence fee for legally blind persons; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [29305/19]

Social Welfare Benefits Eligibility

James Lawless

766. Deputy James Lawless asked the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection the reason there is a different means test for the disability pension as opposed to the blind pension; and if this will change. [29327/19]

Summer Works Scheme Eligibility

James Lawless

136. Deputy James Lawless asked the Minister for Education and Skills if a school (details supplied) will qualify for funding to fence boundaries with adjacent lands under the summer works scheme; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [28853/19]

Garda Deployment

James Lawless

341. Deputy James Lawless asked the Minister for Justice and Equality the number and rank of new Garda personnel appointed to the Naas district in the past three months; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [28063/19]

Speech and Language Therapy Waiting Lists

James Lawless

472. Deputy James Lawless asked the Minister for Health the waiting list for non-urgent referrals to the speech and language therapist in the mid-Kildare network disability team; and if the waiting list time will improve as vacant posts are filled. [26645/19]

Disabled Drivers Permits

James Lawless

617. Deputy James Lawless asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport his plans to review the criteria for disabled parking to include hidden disabilities that may not necessarily impair mobility significantly, such as autism or dementia; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [26076/19]

Bus Services

James Lawless

664. Deputy James Lawless asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport if his attention has been drawn to planned changes to the 126 bus route in order to address the issues with unreliability on the route. [26359/19]

Naturalisation Applications

James Lawless

113. Deputy James Lawless asked the Minister for Justice and Equality the status of an application for naturalisation by a person (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [25875/19]

Illness Benefit Payments

James Lawless

644. Deputy James Lawless asked the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection if the delayed illness benefit to a person (details supplied) will be rectified. [25254/19]

Garda Vetting

James Lawless

95. Deputy James Lawless asked the Minister for Justice and Equality if one Garda vetting application can be carried between separate organisations; and if not, if a person has to complete a separate application for each organisation with which the person is involved. [24670/19]

Inland Waterways Maintenance

James Lawless

51. Deputy James Lawless asked the Minister for Culture, Heritage and the Gaeltacht her plans for dredging or otherwise removing weed from the Royal and Grand canals, particularly through County Kildare, to enable boat, barge and canoe traffic and render same navigable to develop tourism and amenity prospects; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [24097/19]

Carbon Tax Yield

James Lawless

138. Deputy James Lawless asked the Minister for Finance if the proceeds of the carbon tax are used for a particular purpose or fund or if they contribute to the general taxation fund. [23527/19]

Special Educational Needs Service Provision

James Lawless

211. Deputy James Lawless asked the Minister for Education and Skills if provision can be made for a person (details supplied) in an autism unit when the person transfers to secondary school in September 2020. [23287/19]

Closed-Circuit Television Systems

James Lawless

337. Deputy James Lawless asked the Minister for Justice and Equality the issues regarding the provision of CCTV in local communities with regard to adherence to the GDPR rules; the steps he has taken in examining this issue; the advice available to local community groups on the provision of CCTV in towns and villages; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [23631/19]

Dental Services Provision

James Lawless

667. Deputy James Lawless asked the Minister for Health the HSE dental services that will be available in Leixlip, Maynooth, Celbridge and Kilcock, County Kildare, when the current HSE dentist (details supplied) in the health centre in Maynooth retires in six months; the area in which this service will be located in future; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [24108/19]

Speech and Language Therapy Staff

James Lawless

86. Deputy James Lawless asked the Minister for Health when the recruited speech therapist is due to commence further to the vacancies in the mid-Kildare NDT; and his plans to address a backlog in referrals which have arisen from the position being vacant. [23067/19]

Bus Services

James Lawless

137. Deputy James Lawless asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport if his attention has been drawn to plans to introduce a bus service linking Caragh village to Naas town and Sallins train station. [22923/19]

Schools Site Acquisitions

James Lawless

93. Deputy James Lawless asked the Minister for Education and Skills the status of planning for a new school (details supplied). [22487/19]

Medicinal Products Availability

James Lawless

251. Deputy James Lawless asked the Minister for Health his plans to make Spinraza treatment available for patients suffering with spinal muscular atrophy; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [22520/19]

Emergency Works Scheme Applications

James Lawless

109. Deputy James Lawless asked the Minister for Education and Skills if a decision has been made on the application by a school (details supplied) for additional accommodation and emergency works; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [22246/19]

Summer Works Scheme Eligibility

James Lawless

247. Deputy James Lawless asked the Minister for Education and Skills if school works and repairs qualify for the summer works scheme; and if not, the funding options available. [21507/19]

Child and Adolescent Mental Health Services

James Lawless

417. Deputy James Lawless asked the Minister for Health the waiting time for patients who are waiting on an appointment with the child and adolescent mental health services in County Kildare. [21816/19]

Home Help Service Provision

James Lawless

427. Deputy James Lawless asked the Minister for Health if suitable homecare hours will be made available to a person (details supplied). [21868/19]

Bus Éireann Services

James Lawless

578. Deputy James Lawless asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport if his attention has been drawn to planned changes to the 126 bus route in order to address the issues with unreliability on the route. [21751/19]

Hospital Overcrowding

James Lawless

62. Deputy James Lawless asked the Minister for Health the reason for the significant overcrowding in the emergency department in Naas General Hospital during 2019. [20827/19]

Schools Building Projects Status

James Lawless

165. Deputy James Lawless asked the Minister for Education and Skills the status of the construction of a school (details supplied); the status of the tendering process; the date of the tender awarded; the timescale for construction to commence; the expected delivery date of the project; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [20616/19]

Schools Building Projects Status

James Lawless

56. Deputy James Lawless asked the Minister for Education and Skills his plans for new secondary school provision in Kill, County Kildare; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [20182/19]

Civil Defence

James Lawless

65. Deputy James Lawless asked the Taoiseach and Minister for Defence the role and functions of the Civil Defence; if there will be forthcoming changes to these roles; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [19182/19]

Departmental Bodies

James Lawless

74. Deputy James Lawless asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade the agency created or designated as the national security authority as required under European Council decision 2013/488/EU; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [19382/19]

Community Alert Programme

James Lawless

522. Deputy James Lawless asked the Minister for Justice and Equality the status of the operation of the community text alert system in County Kildare; the number of alert schemes in operation; if text alert messages are sent out by the local Garda stations in the county or via a centralised Garda station in Dublin; the recent changes to the operation of the text alert schemes; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [19592/19]

HSE Staff Data

James Lawless

960. Deputy James Lawless asked the Minister for Health the number of posts vacant in the mid-Kildare network disability team; the number of posts the HSE is inviting applications for; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [19774/19]

Hospital Waiting Lists Data

James Lawless

971. Deputy James Lawless asked the Minister for Health the waiting time for the orthopaedic surgery list at Tallaght Hospital with particular reference to a person (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [19848/19]

General Practitioner Services Provision

James Lawless

1093. Deputy James Lawless asked the Minister for Health his plans to improve the provision of general practitioner services in Leixlip, County Kildare, in view of the fact that there are no doctors available out of hours or on Thursday afternoons; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [20011/19]

Long-Term Illness Scheme Coverage

James Lawless

266. Deputy James Lawless asked the Minister for Health his plans to include fibromyalgia on the list of conditions covered by the long-term illness scheme; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [17201/19]

Bus Services

James Lawless

40. Deputy James Lawless asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport if his attention has been drawn to the continuous reliability issues affecting the 115 Bus Éireann service in Kilcock, County Kildare; the steps he is taking to ensure this issue is resolved; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [15163/19]

Medical Card Applications

James Lawless

362. Deputy James Lawless asked the Minister for Health the status of a medical card application by a person (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [15500/19]

Nursing and Midwifery Board of Ireland

James Lawless

109. Deputy James Lawless asked the Minister for Health the status of an application for overseas registration to the Nursing and Midwifery Board by a person (details supplied). [14567/19]

Invalidity Pension Appeals

James Lawless

199. Deputy James Lawless asked the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection the status of an invalidity pension appeal by a person (details supplied). [14538/19]

Legislative Process

James Lawless

84. Deputy James Lawless asked the Minister for Communications, Climate Action and Environment the status of the Online Advertising and Social Media (Transparency) Bill 2017; if a money message will be issued to allow it proceed to Committee Stage and support its passage through remaining Stages (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [13996/19]

Garda Vetting Applications

James Lawless

549. Deputy James Lawless asked the Minister for Justice and Equality the status of a Garda vetting application for a person (details supplied). [13707/19]

National Transport Authority

James Lawless

1123. Deputy James Lawless asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport the reason for the delay in publication of the National Transport Authority rail census survey conducted in November 2018; when the survey will be published; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [13838/19]

Road Improvement Schemes

James Lawless

1125. Deputy James Lawless asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport if works are currently or have recently been ongoing on the R149 road westwards past Confey, County Kildare, to survey traffic volumes, counts, speeds, patterns or related matters by the local authority, NTA or other relevant agency; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [13851/19]

Airport Development Projects

James Lawless

1127. Deputy James Lawless asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport if a project to lay a pipeline that would supply fuel to Dublin Airport will be considered (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [13903/19]

Jobseeker's Benefit

James Lawless

1246. Deputy James Lawless asked the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection if consideration has been given towards the adequate rest periods of retained firefighters in receipt of jobseeker's benefit being encouraged into full-time employment through their local employment offices; the position for local fire services in view of the fact they will be without firefighters due to the time spent on call breaching the Organisation of Working Time Act 1997 (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [12919/19]

Probate Data

James Lawless

212. Deputy James Lawless asked the Minister for Justice and Equality the waiting times for the granting of probate in the Probate Office; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [12127/19]

Public Procurement Contracts

James Lawless

428. Deputy James Lawless asked the Minister for Health the OJEU notice under which the contract for the provision of a national agency vendor management system to manage its recruitment agency framework was awarded; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [12130/19]

Public Procurement Contracts

James Lawless

429. Deputy James Lawless asked the Minister for Health when the contract for the provision of a national agency vendor management system was awarded to a company (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [12131/19]

Departmental Funding

James Lawless

430. Deputy James Lawless asked the Minister for Health the financial consideration that has been afforded for the use of a system (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [12132/19]

Public Procurement Contracts

James Lawless

431. Deputy James Lawless asked the Minister for Health the duration of the HSE contract with a company (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [12133/19]

Public Procurement Contracts

James Lawless

432. Deputy James Lawless asked the Minister for Health the number of other companies that tendered for the vendor management system contract; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [12134/19]

Abbey Theatre

James Lawless

30. Deputy James Lawless asked the Minister for Education and Skills the status of the new build project for a school (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [10686/19]

Civil Registration Service

James Lawless

285. Deputy James Lawless asked the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection the recruitment, training and qualification process for celebrants of weddings and similar services; her views on whether the role would benefit from a standardised qualification; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [11188/19]

Home Care Packages Provision

James Lawless

377. Deputy James Lawless asked the Minister for Health the status of a homecare package application by a person (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [10905/19]

Rail Passengers Data

James Lawless

451. Deputy James Lawless asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport the number of passengers commuting daily from each of the stations from Heuston to Newbridge inclusive in each of the years 2004 to 2018 and to date in 2019, in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [10325/19]

State Pension (Non-Contributory) Appeals

James Lawless

598. Deputy James Lawless asked the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection the status of an application for the State pension (non-contributory) by a person (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [9105/19]

VAT Rate Application

James Lawless

87. Deputy James Lawless asked the Minister for Finance the rationale for the increase from a 0% to 23% rate of VAT on health foods and supplements; his views on whether it is justified; his further views on whether this may detrimentally affect the health of users of such supplements; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [8727/19]