Parliamentary questions

Special Educational Needs

Patricia Ryan

65. Deputy Patricia Ryan asked the Minister for Education if she will provide a definite location for the proposed special school in County Kildare; the current status of the process; and the timeline for completion of same. [18220/24]

School Funding

Patricia Ryan

66. Deputy Patricia Ryan asked the Minister for Education with regard to the removal of the ICT grant in Spring 2023, if she will take steps to speed up the payment of the late payment of the ancillary services grant and ICT digital strategy grant to schools that are running out of funds due to having purchased ICT and special needs equipment in anticipation of receiving the ICT grant as in the case of a school (details supplied). [18221/24]

Vacant Properties

Patricia Ryan

82. Deputy Patricia Ryan asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the number of local authority houses currently boarded up in County Kildare; and the timeline for those houses being ready for allocation. [18219/24]

Social Welfare Appeals

Patricia Ryan

105. Deputy Patricia Ryan asked the Minister for Social Protection the reason the unemployment benefit payments of a school caretaker (details supplied) are not going into their account when they are on annual leave. [18211/24]

Hospital Transfers

Patricia Ryan

166. Deputy Patricia Ryan asked the Minister for Health further to Parliamentary Question No. 237 of 22 November 2023, if he will provide an update on the current situation; the number of residents who have been moved already, those who have yet to be moved, and any whom have sadly passed away in the interim (details supplied). [18214/24]

Nursing Homes

Patricia Ryan

167. Deputy Patricia Ryan asked the Minister for Health with regard to Cherry Orchard nursing home and the planned removal and relocation of elderly and vulnerable nursing home residents, the status of any engagement he and/or his Department have had with the affected persons and their families, advocates or representatives since the situation arose in late 2023, and in the intervening time; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [18215/24]

Medical Cards

Patricia Ryan

168. Deputy Patricia Ryan asked the Minister for Health the protocols for reimbursement of fees for blood tests for medical card holders; and if the procedure can be simplified. [18216/24]

Health Services

Patricia Ryan

169. Deputy Patricia Ryan asked the Minister for Health the number of hours for each public health nurse in CHO7; and if these hours will be increased in light of the population increase, in tabular form. [18217/24]

Health Services

Patricia Ryan

170. Deputy Patricia Ryan asked the Minister for Health the current number of applications for dementia care nurses in the CHO7 area, and in particular County Kildare, in tabular form. [18218/24]

School Enrolments

Patricia Ryan

174. Deputy Patricia Ryan asked the Minister for Education the measures, if any, in place to deal with the fact that a school (details supplied) is already at maximum pupil capacity now and cannot accept any pupil from even its main feeder primary school, even considering the other two schools in the area. [17084/24]

Schools Building Projects

Patricia Ryan

175. Deputy Patricia Ryan asked the Minister for Education if she will clarify, with regard to the new school premises built in Kildare town to house a school (details supplied) whose building is being reclaimed for Army use, whether the school will be accepting pupils from the Kildare town area at its new location, not just pupils from the Suncroft and Curragh areas. [17085/24]

Schools Building Projects

Patricia Ryan

176. Deputy Patricia Ryan asked the Minister for Education if she will clarify, with regard to claims being made that a new building for a school (details supplied) in Kildare is a new school for Kildare town, whether it is a new school or just the old school being accommodated in new premises. [17086/24]

School Staff

Patricia Ryan

177. Deputy Patricia Ryan asked the Minister for Education to outline any measures she or her Department are considering to offer incentives to teachers to fill the many vacant teaching posts in County Kildare; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [17087/24]

Emergency Accommodation

Patricia Ryan

209. Deputy Patricia Ryan asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the measures, if any, in place to address the fact there is no available emergency accommodation in the whole of County Kildare, while families are being forced to present at local Garda stations and sleep on the floor; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [17088/24]

International Protection

Patricia Ryan

277. Deputy Patricia Ryan asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth to state clearly if it his intention to use any other single residential properties, similar to the premises at a location (details supplied), to house people seeking temporary international protection; and, if so, where are the locations; and the number of people to be placed in each location. [17089/24]

Low Pay Commission

Patricia Ryan

112. Deputy Patricia Ryan asked the Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment if he will provide, in tabular form, the capital costs and initial set-up costs for the Low Pay Commission from set-up in 2020. [15913/24]

Low Pay Commission

Patricia Ryan

113. Deputy Patricia Ryan asked the Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment to provide, in tabular form for the years 2020 to 2024, the costs of staffing the offices of the Low Pay Commission, to include initial start-up costs, office costs, CEO appointments and all other relevant costs. [15914/24]

Medical Cards

Patricia Ryan

168. Deputy Patricia Ryan asked the Minister for Health if there are any plans to restore the chiropody visits for older medical card holders to four visits per year, as older people, especially diabetic patients, are experiencing mobility issues caused by the extended time between appointments; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [15680/24]

Disabilities Assessments

Patricia Ryan

169. Deputy Patricia Ryan asked the Minister for Health if he will clarify whether there are any plans to provide community occupational therapy services to private nursing homes, as these visits cost a minimum of €500 per assessment and are often beyond the means of residents who would badly need them. [15681/24]

Mental Health Services

Patricia Ryan

170. Deputy Patricia Ryan asked the Minister for Health to clarify the reason an organisation (details supplied) does not provide mental health services to private nursing homes in Kildare, but does provide that service in County Laois; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [15682/24]

Nursing Homes

Patricia Ryan

171. Deputy Patricia Ryan asked the Minister for Health the steps that can be taken to address the issue where private nursing home residents do not have access to transport to attend out-patient appointments and/or small day-ward procedures, meaning they have to use taxis and/or ambulances (if necessary) at great personal expense (approximately €800 per case), such expenses are not covered by the Fair Deal Scheme funding; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [15683/24]

Fire Safety

Patricia Ryan

172. Deputy Patricia Ryan asked the Minister for Health if he will clarify, with regard to HIQA and fire safety requirements in nursing homes/care facilities, which authority is authorised to give fire safety clearance certificates: the local fire services inspection officer or a HIQA-appointed fire safety officer; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [15684/24]

Schools Building Projects

Patricia Ryan

458. Deputy Patricia Ryan asked the Minister for Education the date for the official opening of the new primary school in Monasterevin, County Kildare. [14305/24]

School Enrolments

Patricia Ryan

459. Deputy Patricia Ryan asked the Minister for Education the number of pupils the new primary school soon to be opened in Monasterevin, County Kildare will accommodate. [14306/24]

Housing Schemes

Patricia Ryan

639. Deputy Patricia Ryan asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the number of staff working at processing HAP applications in the HAP offices in Limerick, in tabular form. [14301/24]

Housing Schemes

Patricia Ryan

640. Deputy Patricia Ryan asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage if he will investigate the reason for HAP applications taking from 12 to 18 weeks to be completed, leaving applicants in very difficult situations, causing huge financial distress and even in some cases causing applicants to lose the home due to the delay in completion; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [14302/24]

Housing Schemes

Patricia Ryan

641. Deputy Patricia Ryan asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage when current HAP limits for County Kildare are due to be reviewed, in light of continually rising rent levels; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [14303/24]

International Protection

Patricia Ryan

1110. Deputy Patricia Ryan asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth with regard to the 90-day limit on people seeking temporary international protection staying in specified accommodation centres such as that at Floods Cross, Newhall, the measures that have been put in place to deal with the resulting pressure this limit will put on already scarce housing and accommodation resources in County Kildare and surrounding areas; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [14300/24]

Schools Building Projects

Patricia Ryan

542. Deputy Patricia Ryan asked the Minister for Education her plans for the provision of a new special school in Monasterevin, County Kildare; the type of special school it is or will be; which locations are being considered for the school; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [13162/24]

School Enrolments

Patricia Ryan

543. Deputy Patricia Ryan asked the Minister for Education if, with regard to the placement of people seeking temporary international protection in locations in south Kildare, she will outline the provisions she is considering putting in place to cater for primary and secondary school places for those children, in circumstances where south Kildare schools at both primary and secondary level are already oversubscribed and are already operating waiting lists for the 2024-2025 school year; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [13163/24]

Departmental Data

Patricia Ryan

788. Deputy Patricia Ryan asked the Minister for Social Protection the length of time it is taking her Department to process and complete applications for each payment (details supplied), in tabular form; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [13160/24]

International Protection

Patricia Ryan

1196. Deputy Patricia Ryan asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth if, with regard to the accommodation for people seeking temporary international protection in south Kildare, he can set out clearly what plans are in place for the provision of GP services to these people in circumstances where there is already a huge shortage of GPs in Kildare; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [13161/24]

Departmental Policies

Patricia Ryan

1563. Deputy Patricia Ryan asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science if, with regard to the advanced healthcare assistant, QQI level 6 (details supplied), if any plans are being considered to have the same course rolled out across the TU campuses and covered by the SUSI system, considering the benefits to be gained from it by both healthcare providers and their employees; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [13159/24]

An Garda Síochána

Patricia Ryan

140. Deputy Patricia Ryan asked the Minister for Justice for a breakdown of the number of Garda officers, by rank, attached to all south Kildare Garda stations for the years 2020, 2021, 2022 and 2023, in tabular form ; the number of Garda officers who retired from Kildare south Garda stations in 2020, 2021, 2022 and 2023, in tabular form; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [11100/24]

General Practitioner Services

Patricia Ryan

224. Deputy Patricia Ryan asked the Minister for Health if a Kdoc service could be located in the primary care centre in Athy, County Kildare, to serve the people of Athy; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [11096/24]

General Practitioner Services

Patricia Ryan

225. Deputy Patricia Ryan asked the Minister for Health the reason people in Athy, County Kildare cannot avail of the services of the Caredoc services in County Carlow, with an average round trip of approximately 36km, but can only avail of the Kdoc services in Naas, which involves an average round trip of over 80km; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [11097/24]

Nursing Education

Patricia Ryan

226. Deputy Patricia Ryan asked the Minister for Health the reason the subsistence payment of €1000 per academic agreed to be paid to nursing and midwifery students, and to be backdated to 2022, has not yet been paid to many students in the Southeastern Technological University, Carlow, where payment was due to be paid in instalments in November 2023 February 2024, but no payments have been received; when payments will be made; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [11098/24]

Dental Services

Patricia Ryan

227. Deputy Patricia Ryan asked the Minister for Health the number of dentist vacancies in south Kildare, and surrounding areas; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [11099/24]

General Practitioner Services

Patricia Ryan

59. Deputy Patricia Ryan asked the Minister for Health the measures he and his Department have in place to address the severe shortage of GPs in the south Kildare area, to address the fact that there is an almost two week wait to obtain a GP appointment; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [9740/24]

International Protection

Patricia Ryan

98. Deputy Patricia Ryan asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth the reason for his failure to respond to multiple emails from this Deputy requesting details on all sites to accommodate people seeking temporary international protection in south Kildare, to include those currently in process, or being considered for such sites, and the number planned to be accommodated at same; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [9739/24]

Emergency Accommodation

Patricia Ryan

123. Deputy Patricia Ryan asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth the reason for his failure to respond properly and fully to multiple emails and phone calls regarding the installation of facilities to house people seeking temporary international protection at a location (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [9738/24]

School Transport

Patricia Ryan

194. Deputy Patricia Ryan asked the Minister for Education the measures she has taken to resolve the serious situation with school bus places which resulted in children being left at the side of the road, for the upcoming 2024-2025 school year; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [9741/24]

Defence Forces

Patricia Ryan

37. Deputy Patricia Ryan asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Defence if he will provide, in tabular form, the dates and duration of all road closures in the vicinity and surrounds of the Curragh Camp and firing range for January to December 2023, and to date in 2024; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [8395/24]

Defence Forces

Patricia Ryan

38. Deputy Patricia Ryan asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Defence the amount of compensation paid out to local residents of the Curragh due to road closures for military purposes in each of the years 2019, 2020, 2021, 2022 and 2023, in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [8396/24]

Defence Forces

Patricia Ryan

39. Deputy Patricia Ryan asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Defence if he will clarify why planning permission was not applied for regarding the erection of two sentry posts on land designated as green lands at the Curragh, County Kildare; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [8399/24]

Defence Forces

Patricia Ryan

40. Deputy Patricia Ryan asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Defence if he will clarify whether he will reconstitute the Curragh forum, to include local residents, to discuss their concerns in relation to the Curragh; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [8400/24]

Road Projects

Patricia Ryan

55. Deputy Patricia Ryan asked the Minister for Transport if he will clarify when or if the budget will be provided to Kildare County Council to address the rapidly deteriorating condition of the road between Bolton Hill and Sheriff Hill, County Kildare (details supplied). [8403/24]

Insurance Coverage

Patricia Ryan

66. Deputy Patricia Ryan asked the Minister for Finance if he will comment on the discrimination present in travel insurance policies vis-à-vis those under 65 years of age and those over 65 years of age where the cover period - 60 days and 31 days, respectively - is dramatically different, and whether such differences are permissible under legislation and constitutionally. [8401/24]

School Enrolments

Patricia Ryan

91. Deputy Patricia Ryan asked the Minister for Education if she will look into enrolment challenges currently being experienced by a school (details supplied) where, even though it has the physical space for the children applying to enrol, departmental regulations mean it cannot employ the necessary extra teacher required until 2025, which means it is having to turn away children who have already completed the 2 ECCE preschool years, with some children going to almost six years of age starting primary school. [8394/24]

Schools Building Projects

Patricia Ryan

92. Deputy Patricia Ryan asked the Minister for Education if she will clarify if there are any plans for the possible construction of a secondary school in the area around Prosperous-Clane-Derrinturn and south Kildare; and, if so, if her Department has identified any possible site and what stage the process is now at. [8397/24]