Parliamentary questions

Jobseeker's Allowance Eligibility

Robert Troy

24. Deputy Robert Troy asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Social Protection if a person (details supplied) will qualify under the jobseeker's allowance scheme based on the person's Pay Related Social Insurance contributions from 2006 to 2015, given that the person has applied and is awaiting a result. [4482/16]

Supplementary Welfare Allowance Payments

Mattie McGrath

25. Deputy Mattie McGrath asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Social Protection if it is acceptable that extra allowances such as the supplementary welfare allowance diet supplement are being cut off or reduced for persons in receipt of the State pension as a result of the increase of €3 in the State pension; if this counteracts the increase announced in Budget 2016; if this was intended when the increase was announced; if she will ensure that reviews of such payments acknowledge the purpose of the increase in the State pension and make allowance for same; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [4514/16]

Community Employment Schemes Operation

Clare Daly

26. Deputy Clare Daly asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Social Protection the steps she is taking and her oversight to ensure that persons on community employment schemes receive proper health and safety and manual handling training prior to starting a placement and that they are issued with proper protective clothing where appropriate. [4520/16]

Community Employment Schemes Operation

Clare Daly

27. Deputy Clare Daly asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Social Protection how she monitors access to training for participants in community employment schemes; and why some persons are unable to access their required entitlements and choices. [4521/16]

Carer's Allowance Applications

John Perry

28. Deputy John Perry asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Social Protection to facilitate an application by a person (details supplied) under the carer's allowance scheme; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [4552/16]

Tax Code

Pearse Doherty

29. Deputy Pearse Doherty asked the Minister for Finance the expected revenue from the imposition of a 25% special tobacco levy on tobacco companies as a proportion of the profits they generate in the Irish market. [4534/16]

Mortgage Interest Relief Eligibility

Catherine Murphy

30. Deputy Catherine Murphy asked the Minister for Finance the changes in eligibility for tax relief on mortgage interest in respect of first-time buyer home loans in 2009 and 2010; if first-time buyers who obtained their mortgages in those specific years are entitled to the same or to a higher benefit under the scheme; the reason for this measure; the amounts offered in mortgage interest relief for first-time buyers in each year from 2002 to 2015; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [4569/16]

Public Sector Staff Sick Leave

Finian McGrath

31. Deputy Finian McGrath asked the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform to support a matter regarding the case of a person (details supplied) in Dublin 3; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [4568/16]

Ministerial Staff

Peter Fitzpatrick

32. Deputy Peter Fitzpatrick asked the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform if a parliamentary assistant to a Teachta Dála, who is a Minister, has the same entitlement to apply for voluntary early retirement as a parliamentary assistant to a Teachta Dála who is not a Minister; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [4497/16]

Flood Relief Schemes Funding

Colm Keaveney

33. Deputy Colm Keaveney asked the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform further to Parliamentary Question No. 89 of 26 November 2015, if he reconsidered the case and if he will expedite the granting of funding for these necessary flood relief measures; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [4504/16]

Office of the Ombudsman Investigations

Finian McGrath

34. Deputy Finian McGrath asked the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform further to Parliamentary Question No. 16 of 14 October 2015, if he is aware that the judicial reviews against the ombudsman have been settled on terms favourable to the applicants; if he will examine changes to the in-house complaints procedure to ensure that needless and expensive court challenges are not required; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [4505/16]

Departmental Agencies Expenditure

Finian McGrath

35. Deputy Finian McGrath asked the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform the amount the Commission for Public Service Appointments incurred in independent psychologist fees in the years 2012 to 2016 to date; if he will sanction the employment of a psychologist to professionally assist the commission in discharging its important duties; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [4506/16]

Commission for Public Service Appointments

Finian McGrath

36. Deputy Finian McGrath asked the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform further to Parliamentary Question No. 17 of 14 October 2015, the date the legal tender was entered into; if it prevented the Commission for Public Service Appointments from having recourse to the taxing master process; why substantial fees were incurred in this case; if he is aware that the commission is liable for discharging the legal fees of the applicant who successfully argued that the commission was subject to judicial review; given this judgment, the changes he will introduce in the personnel, procedures and processes of the commission; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [4507/16]

Departmental Staff Career Breaks

Finian McGrath

37. Deputy Finian McGrath asked the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform the options open to a civil servant on a six-month career break to extend it by a further two months; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [4508/16]

Departmental Staff Retirements

Finian McGrath

38. Deputy Finian McGrath asked the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform if an existing contract is in place to provide retirement planning courses for civil servants; when the next tendering process will take place for such courses; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [4509/16]

Planning Issues

Seán Kyne

39. Deputy Seán Kyne asked the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform further to Parliamentary Question No. 232 of 11 November 2014, if the plans have been updated. [4517/16]

Pension Provisions

Róisín Shortall

40. Deputy Róisín Shortall asked the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform why the employment status of a person (details supplied) in County Dublin in relation to a pension was changed from constable to labourer; the implications of this change on the rate of payment to the person; and if this rate of payment is correct. [4537/16]

Action Plan for Jobs

Dara Calleary

41. Deputy Dara Calleary asked the Minister for Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation his targets to reduce long-term unemployment in terms of specific numbers and percentages in each of the years 2016 to 2020; and the measure that will be taken to achieve this. [4530/16]

Basic Payment Scheme Payments

Billy Kelleher

42. Deputy Billy Kelleher asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the reason for the delay in a person (details supplied) in County Cork receiving a grant under the area aid scheme; when the application will be completed; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [4489/16]

GLAS Eligibility

Michael Fitzmaurice

43. Deputy Michael Fitzmaurice asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if tier 3 farmers will be allowed into the second tranche of the green low-carbon agri-environment scheme; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [4495/16]

Agriculture Scheme Payments

Timmy Dooley

44. Deputy Timmy Dooley asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine when a person (details supplied) in County Clare will receive farm payments; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [4496/16]

Areas of Natural Constraint Scheme Eligibility

Joe Carey

45. Deputy Joe Carey asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the steps whereby a person can retain payment under the areas of natural constraint scheme while entering a long-term leasing arrangement with another person; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [4527/16]

Fishing Industry

Brendan Griffin

46. Deputy Brendan Griffin asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the supports in place or to be put in place for a person (details supplied) in County Kerry who has been unable to fish for the past few months; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [4533/16]

Basic Payment Scheme Payments

Patrick O'Donovan

47. Deputy Patrick O'Donovan asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the reason a person (details supplied) in County Wexford has not received a payment under the basic payment scheme; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [4539/16]

GLAS Payments

John Perry

48. Deputy John Perry asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine to facilitate a payment to a person (details supplied) under the green low-carbon agri-environment scheme; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [4551/16]

Overseas Missions

Gerry Adams

49. Deputy Gerry Adams asked the Minister for Defence if he will provide details of the humanitarian work of the Defence Forces in Tibnin in Lebanon; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [3907/16]

Commemorative Events

Gerry Adams

50. Deputy Gerry Adams asked the Minister for Defence if relatives of 1916 veterans who did not accept a State pension are permitted for inclusion on the register to attend State centenary events; the procedure for inclusion on the register; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [4526/16]

Parole Boards

Finian McGrath

51. Deputy Finian McGrath asked the Minister for Justice and Equality the progress in giving effect to the 2011 decision to establish the Parole Board on a legally independent basis; the details of appointments made to the board in the past three years; if the vacancies were advertised; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [4511/16]

Irish Naturalisation and Immigration Service Data

Clare Daly

52. Deputy Clare Daly asked the Minister for Justice and Equality further to Parliamentary Question No. 143 of 26 November 2015 and her statement that the statistics were being compiled and would be provided to the Deputy in due course, if she will forward same to this Deputy. [4532/16]

Crime Levels

Niall Collins

53. Deputy Niall Collins asked the Minister for Justice and Equality if she is aware of the continued concern of the local community at the increased crime levels in Tallaght in Dublin 24; her views on the need to provide additional resources to An Garda Síochána to deal with this situation; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [4543/16]

Home Schooling

Charlie McConalogue

54. Deputy Charlie McConalogue asked the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs the number of children being home educated; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [4498/16]

Home Schooling

Charlie McConalogue

55. Deputy Charlie McConalogue asked the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs the status of the review of the guidelines on home school tuition, including the next steps he will take in furthering the review; when it will be completed; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [4499/16]

After-School Support Services

Finian McGrath

56. Deputy Finian McGrath asked the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs the steps he has taken and when he will establish a group to agree a model for after-school care, including a quality framework (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [4559/16]

Action Plan on Bullying

Finian McGrath

57. Deputy Finian McGrath asked the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs if he will publish a national strategy on children’s cyber safety and to ratify United Nations treaties to protect children online; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [4564/16]

Drug Treatment Programmes

Finian McGrath

58. Deputy Finian McGrath asked the Minister for Health why a drugs treatment centre (details supplied) in Dublin 17 is being forced to close due to threats and intimidation; to act on this matter; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [4567/16]

Treatment Abroad Scheme

Mary Mitchell O'Connor

59. Deputy Mary Mitchell O'Connor asked the Minister for Health why surgery has been delayed for a person (details supplied) in Dublin 18; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [4490/16]

Hospital Staff Recruitment

Thomas P. Broughan

60. Deputy Thomas P. Broughan asked the Minister for Health the urgent steps he is taking to fill the 120 vacant nursing posts at Beaumont Hospital in Dublin 9; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [4491/16]

Nursing Staff Recruitment

Thomas P. Broughan

61. Deputy Thomas P. Broughan asked the Minister for Health the cost of recruiting an additional 1,000 nurses; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [4492/16]

Health and Social Care Professionals Registration Boards

Mary Mitchell O'Connor

62. Deputy Mary Mitchell O'Connor asked the Minister for Health the steps he is taking to ensure balance between the public interest and the interests of practitioners and service providers when appointments are made to the Registration Boards established for designated professions under the Health and Social Care Professionals Act 2005; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [4512/16]

Legislative Measures

Mary Mitchell O'Connor

63. Deputy Mary Mitchell O'Connor asked the Minister for Health how long it will take to complete by-laws under the Health and Social Care Professionals Act 2005; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [4513/16]

Respite Care Services

Willie O'Dea

64. Deputy Willie O'Dea asked the Minister for Health the status of parents and guardians in regard to respite care facilities and the apparently new policy of transferring long-term residents into smaller unfamiliar venues and homes which causes upset and in some cases health problems to the person with disabilities; why parents and guardians have not been consulted on this, given the vulnerability of persons with a disability; why there is a need to transfer residents who have for many years been cared for safely in the same familiar setting; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [4515/16]

Medical Card Eligibility

Michael Ring

65. Deputy Michael Ring asked the Minister for Health if a person who is ordinarily resident here but is currently a student in the United Kingdom can qualify for a Medical Card; how frequently must this person return home to Ireland to be considered as ordinarily resident by the Health Service Executive; if it is sufficient to return at end-of-term time; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [4524/16]

Medical Card Eligibility

Michael Creed

66. Deputy Michael Creed asked the Minister for Health his views on an automatic entitlement to a Medical Card for persons diagnosed with Prader-Willi Syndrome further to a meeting he had in late 2015 with an organisation (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [4529/16]

Patient Transfers

Niall Collins

67. Deputy Niall Collins asked the Minister for Health his views on media reports that the HSE plans to close St. Brigid's nursing home in Crooksling, Brittas, County Dublin, and to transfer the 56 beds to the proposed new community care centre in Tymon North, Tallaght in Dublin 24 and on the concerns of the local community at this suggestion. [4540/16]

Vaccination Programme

John Browne

68. Deputy John Browne asked the Minister for Health to establish an independent investigation into the adverse affects of the Gardasil vaccination; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [4555/16]

Vaccination Programme

John Browne

69. Deputy John Browne asked the Minister for Health to put financial and educational supports in place to assist persons affected by the adverse affects of the Gardasil vaccination; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [4556/16]

Treatment Abroad Scheme

Noel Harrington

70. Deputy Noel Harrington asked the Minister for Health why a person (details supplied) was denied scheduled surgery under the treatment abroad scheme while on the public waiting list; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [4557/16]

Mental Health Services Provision

Finian McGrath

71. Deputy Finian McGrath asked the Minister for Health if he is aware of the huge distress for psychiatric patients at an institution (details supplied) which prohibits smoking; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [4565/16]

Northern Ireland Issues

Gerry Adams

72. Deputy Gerry Adams asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade if he asked the British Government whether the recent proposals to block legal action against British soldiers in Iraq will be extended to the actions of the British Army in the north of Ireland; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [3901/16]

International Election Monitoring

Finian McGrath

73. Deputy Finian McGrath asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade if and on what basis additional persons have been added to the Election Observation Roster since it was established in May 2013; how the assessors involved in the Roster selection were selected and appointed; the number of days they worked for his Department and the daily fee they were paid; if he sought the views of the European Commission on whether this selection process met the high standards expected by the Commission; if the current model of selection will stand up to review such as in a case where an original Roster member who was not selected but who has significantly better qualifications and experience than those who were; if he will arrange for an independent review of the Roster system, including the selection processes; if he will conduct a fresh selection process in 2016 that will include professional interviews to ensure that the Roster is based on merit alone; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [4510/16]

Special Educational Needs Service Provision

Aengus Ó Snodaigh

74. Deputy Aengus Ó Snodaigh asked the Minister for Education and Skills the status of an application by a person (details supplied) in Dublin 12 for an appliance; and when can they expect a decision on their case. [4483/16]

Schools Building Projects Administration

Shane Ross

75. Deputy Shane Ross asked the Minister for Education and Skills the criteria she has used to decide on the location of the proposed new secondary school in Firhouse Old Bawn in Dublin 24; the proposed catchment area for this new school; if it will be an Educate Together secondary school; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [4494/16]

Home Tuition Scheme Administration

Charlie McConalogue

76. Deputy Charlie McConalogue asked the Minister for Education and Skills the Departments and agencies which have a role in the oversight of home school tuition; if she will consolidate oversight of home school tuition within her Department; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [4500/16]

European Globalisation Fund

Caoimhghín Ó Caoláin

77. Deputy Caoimhghín Ó Caoláin asked the Minister for Education and Skills if she will submit an application under the European Globalisation Fund following the liquidation of Xtravision and the resulting 580 job losses; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [4518/16]

Schools Building Projects Status

Joe Carey

78. Deputy Joe Carey asked the Minister for Education and Skills her views on a case regarding a school (details supplied) in County Clare; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [4522/16]

Schools Building Projects Status

Michael Creed

79. Deputy Michael Creed asked the Minister for Education and Skills when she will issue approval for new buildings for a school (details supplied) in County Cork; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [4528/16]

Residential Institutions Statutory Fund

Mary Lou McDonald

80. Deputy Mary Lou McDonald asked the Minister for Education and Skills to provide a financial statement for Caranua for the year 2015 including a breakdown of the moneys spent in 2015. [4535/16]

Residential Institutions Statutory Fund

Mary Lou McDonald

81. Deputy Mary Lou McDonald asked the Minister for Education and Skills the amount that remains in Caranua's fund. [4536/16]

Departmental Properties

Niall Collins

82. Deputy Niall Collins asked the Minister for Education and Skills her plans for the former site of a school (details supplied) in Dublin 12; her views on the interest of the local community in this issue; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [4541/16]

Schools Building Projects Status

Niall Collins

83. Deputy Niall Collins asked the Minister for Education and Skills if she has made contact with South Dublin County Council regarding the proposed Kingswood Community College in Dublin 24; the progress made in respect of condition No. 3 attached to the planning permission granted, which dealt with the detailed design elements of access and pedestrian crossings; if she will issue a compliance submission to the Council; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [4542/16]

Schools Refurbishment

Gerry Adams

84. Deputy Gerry Adams asked the Minister for Education and Skills if she is aware of the situation regarding the 35 year old roof at a school (details supplied) in County Longford, that an application for funding to replace it was refused and an Emergency Works Grant awarded instead in November 2015, and that new leaks have been identified since then; if she will review her decision not to replace the roof; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [4553/16]

Third Level Participation

Finian McGrath

85. Deputy Finian McGrath asked the Minister for Education and Skills to support Aontas in its efforts to build further on adult learning in third level education; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [4561/16]

School Accommodation

Finian McGrath

86. Deputy Finian McGrath asked the Minister for Education and Skills to support a school (details supplied) in County Dublin; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [4562/16]

Social and Affordable Housing Provision

Robert Troy

87. Deputy Robert Troy asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government further to Parliamentary Question No. 147 of 13 January 2016, how many persons are awaiting social housing in the Lanesboro, County Longford area, and how he decided on 16 new units only. [4519/16]

Rental Accommodation Standards

Jonathan O'Brien

88. Deputy Jonathan O'Brien asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government to support certification of all rented accommodation; to support legislation to make landlords responsible for certification; and to support the view that in order to register with the Private Residential Tenancies Board landlords must prove they have complied with the minimum standards and have a certificate to prove this. [4501/16]

Social and Affordable Housing Expenditure

Joan Collins

89. Deputy Joan Collins asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government if he has reviewed the offer of €2 billion from the Irish League of Credit Unions to facilitate the building of social housing; the status of the process to date; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [4503/16]

Water Services Provision

Michael Creed

90. Deputy Michael Creed asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government the progress to date in his negotiations with the local authorities and Irish Water on the takeover of estates where there are problems with pumping stations and treatment plants and where the developer is no longer in business; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [4516/16]

Architectural Qualifications

Áine Collins

91. Deputy Áine Collins asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government to establish a board to examine the credentials of architects and if established practitioners would qualify under a new regulation of the special entry route, given that Architects Alliance of Ireland has made an updated submission. [4538/16]

Local Authority Expenditure

Niall Collins

92. Deputy Niall Collins asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government if he has had contact with South Dublin County Council on the need for additional funding for the Council Housing Programme; if he appreciates the need in this regard; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [4544/16]

Litter Pollution

Niall Collins

93. Deputy Niall Collins asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government to provide additional assistance and funding to South Dublin County Council to allow it to take further effective action in respect of the scourge of litter, graffiti and illegal postering throughout the county; if he appreciates the concerns of the wider community on the matter; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [4545/16]

Broadband Service Provision

Billy Kelleher

94. Deputy Billy Kelleher asked the Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources the date for the roll-out of high speed broadband for the Hermitage, Glanmire, County Cork; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [4484/16]

Renewable Energy Generation

Finian McGrath

95. Deputy Finian McGrath asked the Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources to support a matter (details supplied) regarding geothermal energy; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [4560/16]

Road Projects Status

Timmy Dooley

96. Deputy Timmy Dooley asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport the status of the east-west link road from Dundalk, County Louth to Cavan town; why progress on this section of road is solely the preserve of the local authorities; and the amount spent on the road to date. [4554/16]

Hedge Cutting Season

Finian McGrath

97. Deputy Finian McGrath asked the Minister for Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht to support a matter on Birdwatch Ireland (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [4558/16]

Taoiseach's Meetings and Engagements

Gerry Adams

1. Deputy Gerry Adams asked the Taoiseach the conversations he has held with European Union leaders following the attacks by the Islamic State of Iraq and Syria in Paris in France on 13 November 2015; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [42226/15]

Taoiseach's Meetings and Engagements

Gerry Adams

2. Deputy Gerry Adams asked the Taoiseach if he will report on his meeting with the ambassador of France to Ireland, His Excellency, Mr. Jean-Pierre Thébault; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [42227/15]

Taoiseach's Meetings and Engagements

Micheál Martin

3. Deputy Micheál Martin asked the Taoiseach if he has spoken to the President of France, Mr. François Hollande, since the horrendous attacks in Paris, France on 13 November 2015; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [42290/15]

Taoiseach's Meetings and Engagements

Richard Boyd Barrett

4. Deputy Richard Boyd Barrett asked the Taoiseach if he will report on discussions he has held with the President of France, Mr. François Hollande, since the tragic events in Paris, France; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [42435/15]

Taoiseach's Meetings and Engagements

Richard Boyd Barrett

5. Deputy Richard Boyd Barrett asked the Taoiseach to report on discussions he held with European Union leaders since the atrocities in Paris in France on 13 November 2015; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [44825/15]

Taoiseach's Meetings and Engagements

Joe Higgins

6. Deputy Joe Higgins asked the Taoiseach to report on his communication with the President of France, Mr. Francois Hollande, or with the ambassador of France to Ireland, His Excellency, Mr. Jean-Pierre Thébault following the tragic terrorist attacks in Paris, in France on 13 November 2015. [2804/16]

School Enrolments

Micheál Martin

7. Deputy Micheál Martin asked the Taoiseach if the end to baptism barriers for school entry was discussed when he last met church leaders; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [43468/15]

School Enrolments

Gerry Adams

8. Deputy Gerry Adams asked the Taoiseach the discussions he has had with church leaders and others regarding the practice of parents having to get their children baptised in order to gain entry to the school of their choice; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [3918/16]

Health Services Reform

Billy Kelleher

57. Deputy Billy Kelleher asked the Minister for Health why the undertakings on universal health insurance and the introduction of free general practitioner care for the whole population, the two key health commitments in the 2011 programme for Government, were not honoured; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [4093/16]

Ambulance Service Provision

Caoimhghín Ó Caoláin

58. Deputy Caoimhghín Ó Caoláin asked the Minister for Health the steps he is taking to address the seriously inadequate ambulance provision, on standby and in service, in County Monaghan and in counties Cavan, Louth and Meath generally; if he accepts that, despite this Deputy highlighting to him in advance the serious lack of ambulance cover across these counties over the Christmas-new year period, there was a total failure on his part and on the part of the ambulance service to act; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [4081/16]

Hospital Equipment

John Halligan

59. Deputy John Halligan asked the Minister for Health why it took 11 months to redeploy staff from an old computed tomography, CT, scanner in University Hospital Waterford to a new scanner which opened in April 2015; if he is aware that the older machine was in perfect working order when it was taken out of use; if the hospital ever made an application for additional staff in order that both machines could be operated simultaneously; if it is best practice to have a perfectly functional CT machine not in use at the hospital while waiting lists for scans are at an unacceptable level; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [4100/16]

Congregated Settings Report

Colm Keaveney

60. Deputy Colm Keaveney asked the Minister for Health the funding the Health Service Executive will provide in 2016 for moving persons out of congregated settings; the number of persons this will benefit; the proportion of persons currently in congregated settings that will benefit; how long it will take to move all those in congregated settings out of them at this rate of support; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [4094/16]

Medicinal Products Availability

Caoimhghín Ó Caoláin

61. Deputy Caoimhghín Ó Caoláin asked the Minister for Health why the drug Sativex is not available to persons who suffer from multiple sclerosis despite the then Minister of State for Primary Care, Deputy Alex White, signing a statutory instrument legalising its use in July 2014; when it will be available; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [4082/16]

Vaccination Programme

Clare Daly

62. Deputy Clare Daly asked the Minister for Health if he has recently met with representatives of the Reactions and Effects of Gardasil Resulting in Extreme Trauma, REGRET, group, to discuss available or potential health support services, and other supports for families represented; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [3892/16]

Hospital Waiting Lists

Richard Boyd Barrett

63. Deputy Richard Boyd Barrett asked the Minister for Health if he will address the increasingly long waiting times for operations at Cappagh Hospital in County Dublin, where waiting times of 18 months and longer are leading to some patients developing conditions arising out of the long-term use of pain medication, which is necessary given the waiting times; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [3942/16]

Disability Services Funding

Maureen O'Sullivan

64. Deputy Maureen O'Sullivan asked the Minister for Health to address serious concerns regarding intellectual disability care given successive cuts to funding, staff and available care, given that an ageing population is impacting on intellectual disability care and that carers, such as parents, are often elderly and given the need for care for such persons. [3941/16]

Accident and Emergency Departments

Billy Kelleher

65. Deputy Billy Kelleher asked the Minister for Health why the overcrowding in hospital emergency departments has not seen a significant improvement despite the initiatives taken during 2015; if the €100 million shortfall in the funding for hospitals will have a detrimental impact on access to emergency department and scheduled waiting list targets in 2016; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [3924/16]

Vaccination Programme

Maureen O'Sullivan

66. Deputy Maureen O'Sullivan asked the Minister for Health if he is aware of revelations made by a doctor (details supplied) to the World Health Organization, of the manipulation of data and the suppression of science, in order to maintain the illusion of the safety of the human papilloma virus vaccine, in the face of valid contradictory evidence and that the length of time for which Gardasil is effective is suspect; and if he will address the serious health issues experienced by more than 200 girls, where the common denominator is the vaccine. [3940/16]

Hospital Beds Data

John Browne

67. Deputy John Browne asked the Minister for Health if hospital acute bed capacity here is sufficient and if the norm for hospital bed occupancy should be 85% capacity, as is the case in other countries; the details of the acute bed capacity here on 1 January 2016 and the number of additional beds that are required in order that the bed capacity here will have a norm of 85% occupancy; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [3929/16]

Mental Health Services Provision

Mick Wallace

68. Deputy Mick Wallace asked the Minister for Health if he has plans to put a 24-hour acute mental health unit in County Wexford; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [3923/16]

Hospital Groups

Michelle Mulherin

69. Deputy Michelle Mulherin asked the Minister for Health the status of the review of the emergency department at Mayo General Hospital; when the recommendations will be published; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [3889/16]

Programme for Government Initiatives

Billy Kelleher

70. Deputy Billy Kelleher asked the Minister for Health why two fundamental health commitments in the 2011 programme for Government, namely, the undertakings on universal health insurance and the introduction of free general practitioner care for the entire population, were not met; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [3926/16]

Legislative Measures

John Halligan

71. Deputy John Halligan asked the Minister for Health where he has amended the Health (Miscellaneous Provisions) Bill 2015, which is shortly due to come before both Houses of the Oireachtas and which will seek to amend the Medical Practitioners Act 2007, to remove the requirement for an equivalence of a certificate of experience for doctors who qualified outside the European Union and who are seeking registration in the trainee specialist division of the register; if he made a commitment to so amend the Bill; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [3933/16]

Medicinal Products Licensing

Caoimhghín Ó Caoláin

72. Deputy Caoimhghín Ó Caoláin asked the Minister for Health if he is aware of the drug Nivolumab, an immunosuppressant drug treatment for cancers that experts have described as a game-changer; if he will license this drug once clinical trials are completed; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [3936/16]

Ambulance Service Response Times

Seán Kyne

73. Deputy Seán Kyne asked the Minister for Health the progress in improving emergency vehicle response times in rural areas and in Connemara, County Galway, in particular; if the stationing of ambulances at primary care centres or local hospital facilities and the introduction of advance emergency vehicles, with a paramedic, is being considered; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [3887/16]

Hospital Beds Data

John Halligan

74. Deputy John Halligan asked the Minister for Health the number of beds that were allocated to University Hospital Waterford in the recent winter hand-out allowance for overcrowded hospitals; the number of beds allocated, by hospital, in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [3931/16]