Parliamentary questions

Tourism Industry

Brian Stanley

15. Deputy Brian Stanley asked the Minister for Tourism, Culture, Arts, Gaeltacht, Sport and Media the details of the mitigation measures being considered to cover losses in ancillary tourist services, due to tourist accommodation being utilised for other uses; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [16833/24]

Tourism Industry

Brian Stanley

31. Deputy Brian Stanley asked the Minister for Tourism, Culture, Arts, Gaeltacht, Sport and Media if her Department plans to provide tourist amenities at the Cúil Na Móna plant at Togher, Portlaoise, along with the three bogs in Laois, that is, Cúil na Móna, Coolnacartan and Cashel; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [16832/24]

Poverty Data

Brian Stanley

95. Deputy Brian Stanley asked the Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment his views on the scale of in-work-poverty, where, according to CSO data, the rate stands at 5.9%; and the role that a living wage plays in combatting this. [16835/24]

National Minimum Wage

Brian Stanley

121. Deputy Brian Stanley asked the Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment the number of times the Labour Employer Economic Forum subgroup on collective bargaining has met in 2024; and if he can provisionally indicate when the action plan on collective bargaining coverage to be presented to the European Commission as part of its transposition of the EU directive on adequate minimum wages will be published. [16834/24]

School Textbooks

Brian Stanley

186. Deputy Brian Stanley asked the Minister for Education if her Department will review the tendering arrangements for secondary school books; and if consideration can be given to tendering in smaller lots, such as by school year or subject, to allow local bookshops to be able to tender; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [17135/24]

Tax Exemptions

Brian Stanley

22. Deputy Brian Stanley asked the Minister for Finance to address the inconsistency in VAT regulations and extend the VAT exemptions to psychotherapists and counsellors providing services and to ensure equal treatment with other professionals working in the sector; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [17016/24]

EU Funding

Brian Stanley

155. Deputy Brian Stanley asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications the total number of applications seeking to avail of the EU just transition community and enterprise grant scheme that were received up to the deadline of 28 February 2024; the number of these from counties Laois and Offaly; the successful applicants processed since 28 February; and the breakdown of the amount paid to applicants via the scheme to date. [15973/24]

EU Funding

Brian Stanley

156. Deputy Brian Stanley asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications the total number of unapproved applicants for the EU just transition community and enterprise grant scheme; if these applications will be processed ahead of the proposed April deadline; and if she plans to extend the current delivery dates for, as yet, unprocessed applications beyond the dates of June 2024 to March 2026. [15974/24]

Public Transport

Brian Stanley

195. Deputy Brian Stanley asked the Minister for Transport if he will provide details of all lands reserved for future public transport sites, such as train stations in Laois and Offaly; if he will provide any details to progress plans to deliver on those sites; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [15962/24]

Road Tolls

Brian Stanley

196. Deputy Brian Stanley asked the Minister for Transport when the contract with the operator of the M7-M8 Portlaoise toll expires; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [15965/24]

Schools Building Projects

Brian Stanley

267. Deputy Brian Stanley asked the Minister for Education the status of the planned building project for a school (details supplied) in Portlaoise, County Laois; and the projected timescale for construction of the new building to start. [15966/24]

Schools Building Projects

Brian Stanley

350. Deputy Brian Stanley asked the Minister for Education the status of progress on the proposed new school (details supplied); if the project is in the capital school building programme; and the projected timeline for construction. [16594/24]

Legislative Process

Brian Stanley

383. Deputy Brian Stanley asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage if a European citizen can seek remedies under section 160 of the Planning and Development Act 2000 to implement the legislation transposed into Irish law by the Houses of the Oireachtas under section 3 of the European Communities Act 1972, to give effect to the CJEU judgements against Ireland in Cases C-50/09 and C-215/06; if not, if he must transform further legislation to ensure compliance with Articles 2 to 4 of the EIA Directive, as amended by the Public Participation Directive 2003/35; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [16685/24]

Mental Health Services

Brian Stanley

612. Deputy Brian Stanley asked the Minister for Health for an update on the plans for the Erkina House, HSE mental health residence in Rathdowney, County Laois; his plans on the refurbishment and the upgrade of the facility; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [15956/24]

Primary Care Centres

Brian Stanley

613. Deputy Brian Stanley asked the Minister for Health for an update on the plans for the primary care centre at St. Finian's Campus, Portlaoise; the progress that has been made; what funding has been allocated; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [15957/24]

Home Help Service

Brian Stanley

614. Deputy Brian Stanley asked the Minister for Health the current waiting times for elderly home support services in counties Laois and Offaly, in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [15958/24]

Home Care Packages

Brian Stanley

615. Deputy Brian Stanley asked the Minister for Health the number of people that were on the waiting list for home care packages in counties Laois and Offaly, at the end of each year from 2018 to 2023, in tabular form. [15959/24]

General Practitioner Services

Brian Stanley

616. Deputy Brian Stanley asked the Minister for Health the number of GPs currently practising in counties Laois and Offaly, respectively; the number of new GPs who have taken up work in each of those counties in each of the years 2021, 2022 and 2023; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [15960/24]

General Practitioner Services

Brian Stanley

617. Deputy Brian Stanley asked the Minister for Health the number of people in counties Laois and Offaly, respectively who are without a GP and are currently on a waiting list for one; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [15961/24]

Dental Services

Brian Stanley

618. Deputy Brian Stanley asked the Minister for Health if he will provide a breakdown of waiting lists for dental surgery and orthodontics for CHO8, by county and by year from January 2019 to January 2024; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [15963/24]

Dental Services

Brian Stanley

619. Deputy Brian Stanley asked the Minister for Health the waiting list for the HSE school dental screening service for CHO8, by county and by school year; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [15964/24]

Development Contributions

Brian Stanley

595. Deputy Brian Stanley asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage if his Department will extend the exemption for development levies for self-build (one-off) homes (details supplied). [13565/24]

Hospital Services

Brian Stanley

1433. Deputy Brian Stanley asked the Minister for Health if he will outline, in respect of multidisciplinary meetings at St. James’s Hospital, how the oversight of the National Clinical Guidelines No. 19 August 2019 on oesophageal cancer is conducted; if any independent review is conducted; and if so, if this review is published. [14566/24]

Hospital Services

Brian Stanley

1434. Deputy Brian Stanley asked the Minister for Health in respect of multidisciplinary meetings at St. James’s Hospital with those deemed unfit over 70 years to undergo treatment through radiotherapy or chemotherapy how is this assessed; how this is communicated to the patient; and if protocols are in place to regulate how patients are informed they are unfit for treatment due to age, from each of the conferences held at St. James’s Hospital. [14567/24]

Hospital Services

Brian Stanley

1435. Deputy Brian Stanley asked the Minister for Health in respect of multidisciplinary meetings (MDMs) at S.t James’s Hospital how oversight is ensured for the application of the ethical treatment of the elderly in census decisions; if there is any independent review; and if there are any publications to demonstrate analyses of ethical treatment for the elderly by MDMs in decision making. [14568/24]

Hospital Services

Brian Stanley

1436. Deputy Brian Stanley asked the Minister for Health in respect of multidisciplinary meetings at St. James’s Hospital, if it is normal procedure to inform patients their cancer cannot be treated and need palliative care by letter; and what specific protocols are in place to prevent this from occurring. [14569/24]

Hospital Services

Brian Stanley

1437. Deputy Brian Stanley asked the Minister for Health in respect of multidisciplinary meetings (MDMs) at St. James’s Hospital and the gastrointestinal conference and a census decision on a patient, how dissenting opinions or views are acknowledged; and if patients are informed of these opinions. [14570/24]

Hospital Services

Brian Stanley

1438. Deputy Brian Stanley asked the Minister for Health in respect of multidisciplinary meetings at St. James’s Hospital, how the oversight is conducted of the ethical guidelines of the Medical Council; and how is this reported. [14571/24]

Health Services

Brian Stanley

1581. Deputy Brian Stanley asked the Minister for Health to provide an update on plans for the new day care centre at Abbeyleix Hospital; if the preliminary design has been completed; and what commitments there are to finance it. [15190/24]

Health Services

Brian Stanley

1582. Deputy Brian Stanley asked the Minister for Health if beds in Abbeyleix Hospital that are designated for ‘Portlaoise Hospital transitional care’ in the A side of the unit and unused for a period of time, can be utilised for community respite care. [15191/24]

Transport Infrastructure Ireland

Brian Stanley

156. Deputy Brian Stanley asked the Minister for Transport the total value of funding that has been allocated to Laois for 2024 from Transport Infrastructure Ireland (TII); and what percentage is that of TII's total budget for 2024. [13333/24]

Transport Infrastructure Ireland

Brian Stanley

157. Deputy Brian Stanley asked the Minister for Transport the total value of funding that has been allocated to Offaly for 2024 from Transport Infrastructure Ireland (TII); and what percentage of that is TII's total budget for 2024. [13334/24]

Active Travel

Brian Stanley

157. Deputy Brian Stanley asked the Minister for Transport the reason none of the €3 million active travel investment grant was allocated to Graiguecullen despite this being the third largest town in County Laois and an area that would greatly benefit from further safe travel initiatives seeing as there are no cycle lanes or e-chargers present there at the moment. [11828/24]

Vacant Properties

Brian Stanley

620. Deputy Brian Stanley asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the number of current vacant and void properties identified in County Laois, in tabular form; to list the towns and villages where these properties are located and to provide, in detail, the efforts that are being made to make these properties habitable, particularly those owned by Laois County Council; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [11822/24]

Domestic, Sexual and Gender-based Violence

Brian Stanley

817. Deputy Brian Stanley asked the Minister for Justice to provide an update on the progress of the establishment of Cuan, the new statutory domestic, sexual and gender based violence (DSGBV) agency; to provide, in detail, the efforts that are being made under the zero tolerance strategy to develop new refuge units in County Laois and to include if providers and sites have been identified; to list the towns where these sites are located and the number of family places being allocated to each. [11823/24]

Medical Cards

Brian Stanley

1332. Deputy Brian Stanley asked the Minister for Health the medical card entitlement income thresholds in 2004, 2009, 2014 and 2019, in tabular form. [12079/24]

Departmental Funding

Brian Stanley

1584. Deputy Brian Stanley asked the Minister for Rural and Community Development the amount of funding allocated in 2023 to each county under the local improvement scheme, in tabular form; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [12164/24]

Departmental Funding

Brian Stanley

1585. Deputy Brian Stanley asked the Minister for Rural and Community Development the amount of funding allocated in 2023 to each county under the outdoor recreation infrastructure scheme, in tabular form; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [12165/24]

State Properties

Brian Stanley

238. Deputy Brian Stanley asked the Minister for Public Expenditure, National Development Plan Delivery and Reform the rental income obtained by the State from the property known as the Great Heath of Maryborough, Portlaoise, County Laois, for each of the last 20 years, 2004 to 2023, inclusive. [10165/24]

Voluntary Sector

Brian Stanley

562. Deputy Brian Stanley asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth to outline what financial supports are available to organisations such as (details supplied) to secure premises for their activities, programmes and support services. [10244/24]

Voluntary Sector

Brian Stanley

563. Deputy Brian Stanley asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth to outline what financial supports are available to organisations such as (details supplied) in regard to energy costs etc. for premises. [10245/24]

National Children's Hospital

Brian Stanley

31. Deputy Brian Stanley asked the Minister for Health the expected final cost of the National Children's Hospital; and whether it will meet the deadline for completion. [8119/24]

Health Service Executive

Brian Stanley

50. Deputy Brian Stanley asked the Minister for Health the total spend on agency staff in the HSE in 2022 and 2023 in CHO8. [8118/24]

Further and Higher Education

Brian Stanley

23. Deputy Brian Stanley asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science if he is aware of the University of Limerick's recent purchase of social housing units in Rhebogue, County Limerick. [8903/24]

Student Accommodation

Brian Stanley

41. Deputy Brian Stanley asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science if he will provide an up-to-date report on the provision of student accommodation at University College Dublin, Trinity College Dublin, Dublin City University and the University of Limerick. [8902/24]

Livestock Issues

Brian Stanley

66. Deputy Brian Stanley asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if his Department can provide grant aid or any other assistance to Mountrath livestock mart to reopen for business. [3927/24]

Livestock Issues

Brian Stanley

460. Deputy Brian Stanley asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if his Department would provide support for livestock marts in situations where they need grant assistance to refurbish and upgrade facilities. [7833/24]

School Facilities

Brian Stanley

203. Deputy Brian Stanley asked the Minister for Education the progress on the provision of a sports gym at a school (details supplied) following her meeting with local Deputies and school representatives. [7195/24]

School Facilities

Brian Stanley

204. Deputy Brian Stanley asked the Minister for Education to provide an update on the possibility of using funding from her Department, the Department of Rural and Community Development, and the Department of Tourism, Culture, Arts, Gaeltacht, Sport and Media to provide a sports hall at a school (details supplied). [7196/24]

Business Supports

Brian Stanley

20. Deputy Brian Stanley asked the Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment for details of the increased costs of business grants announced in the budget; the amount per grant and when the scheme will begin. [5280/24]