Parliamentary questions

Departmental Reports

Denis Naughten

139. Deputy Denis Naughten asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications further to the commitment given by his officials to the Joint Oireachtas Committee on Social Protection regarding when the final report of the independent analysis of the warmth and well-being scheme carried out by the London School of Tropical Medicine will be published; the reason for missing the latest publication deadline; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [17200/24]

Tax Exemptions

Denis Naughten

228. Deputy Denis Naughten asked the Minister for Finance if he will increase accessibility to therapeutic services by extending the VAT exemption to counsellors and psychotherapists; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [16591/24]

Departmental Schemes

Denis Naughten

472. Deputy Denis Naughten asked the Minister for Social Protection the administration cost of each assistance and benefit scheme operated by her Department, where available in the most recent year for which data is available; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [16447/24]

Agriculture Schemes

Denis Naughten

545. Deputy Denis Naughten asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if consideration is being given to extending the closing date for the spreading of lime under the liming scheme beyond June 2024, given challenging weather and ground conditions due to the incessant rainfall and the need to close up lands for winter forage as soon as weather conditions improve; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [16125/24]

Mental Health Services

Denis Naughten

621. Deputy Denis Naughten asked the Minister for Health the current status of plans for the development of a new acute adult mental health unit to replace the existing unit at Roscommon University Hospital; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [15969/24]

Hospital Charges

Denis Naughten

194. Deputy Denis Naughten asked the Minister for Health if he will provide an update on the plans to address parking charges in hospitals, especially for those who attend hospital regularly due to ongoing treatment; following the receipt of recommendations of the HSE review group on same; the next steps that will be taken; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [15785/24]

Energy Policy

Denis Naughten

62. Deputy Denis Naughten asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications for energy in line with Ireland signing a global accord at the United Nations climate summit in Dubai, United Arab Emirates, to move away from fossil fuels and eliminate subsidies for coal, oil and gas, if he will outline the steps being taken domestically, at EU and IEA level as co-chair; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [13650/24]

Road Network

Denis Naughten

270. Deputy Denis Naughten asked the Minister for Transport if he will outline, in light of the EPA Research Report 454, titled "Farm-Carbon: Hedgerows and Non-forest Woodland (Hedgerow Carbon Project)”, the plans he has to direct Transport Infrastructure Ireland and local road authorities to expand the planting of hedges on motorway medians and on wide areas on the boundaries of our road network which are currently fallow; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [15482/24]

Schools Amalgamation

Denis Naughten

432. Deputy Denis Naughten asked the Minister for Education the engagement to date with schools (details supplied) regarding amalgamation and the provision of a co-educational offering; if she will review the options for 2nd level facilities in the catchment, in the interest of pupils, their subject choices, and the maximisation in the use of educational facilities funded by the local community and the Exchequer; if consideration has been given to options for coordination in advance of approving any request from individual schools boards of management; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [14057/24]

Social Welfare Benefits

Denis Naughten

814. Deputy Denis Naughten asked the Minister for Social Protection the number of persons in receipt of the full rate of carer’s allowance; the number in receipt of a reduced rate of carer’s allowance; the number in receipt of the half-rate carer’s allowance; the number of recipients of the carer’s support grant; the steps which she is taking to ensure that all full-time carers avail of the carer’s support grant; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [15481/24]

Departmental Licences

Denis Naughten

959. Deputy Denis Naughten asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine when a decision will be made on an application (details supplied); the reason for the delay; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [14135/24]

EU Regulations

Denis Naughten

1032. Deputy Denis Naughten asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine when the EU Regulation on deforestation-free products will be enacted, in full, by Ireland; the staffing and resources which have been ring-fenced for its implementation; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [14980/24]

Energy Conservation

Denis Naughten

94. Deputy Denis Naughten asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications what monies were allocated to the Sustainable Energy Authority of Ireland (SEAI) residential and community retrofit scheme in 2023; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [11912/24]

Schools Amalgamation

Denis Naughten

465. Deputy Denis Naughten asked the Minister for Education the engagement to date with schools in general regarding amalgamation and the provision of a co-educational offering; if she will review the options for 2nd level facilities in the catchment, in the interest of pupils, their subject choices, and the maximisation in the use of educational facilities funded by the local community and the Exchequer; if consideration has been given to options for coordination in advance of approving any request from individual schools boards of management; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [12444/24]

Energy Conservation

Denis Naughten

627. Deputy Denis Naughten asked the Minister for Housing; Local Government and Heritage the total capital investment in the construction of social housing units in 2023; the average spend per unit under the deep retrofit scheme for 2023; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [11913/24]

Energy Conservation

Denis Naughten

628. Deputy Denis Naughten asked the Minister for Housing; Local Government and Heritage the monies allocated to the Local Authority Retrofit Programme in 2023; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [11914/24]

Energy Policy

Denis Naughten

78. Deputy Denis Naughten asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications the steps which he is taking to enhance the domestic sourcing and production of HVO as a replacement for diesel and kerosene; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [11325/24]

Departmental Schemes

Denis Naughten

81. Deputy Denis Naughten asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications the number of homes that had their retrofitting applications refused in 2022 and 2023, respectively; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [10135/24]

Fuel Poverty

Denis Naughten

82. Deputy Denis Naughten asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications the steps he is taking to address fuel poverty in homes; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [10134/24]

Energy Conservation

Denis Naughten

147. Deputy Denis Naughten asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications the steps he is taking to address curtailment of renewable energy on the grid; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [10137/24]

School Transport

Denis Naughten

228. Deputy Denis Naughten asked the Minister for Education her timeline for the revision and expansion of the school transport service; if she will amend the distance travelled to the nearest pick up point as an interim measure, in light of the fact that this would not increase demand on capacity; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [11420/24]

Departmental Consultations

Denis Naughten

308. Deputy Denis Naughten asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth the number of childminders that have responded to the public consultation on the draft childminding regulations; if he will list where this consultation has been advertised; the budget spent on public awareness to date; if he will outline the engagement to date in the drafting of the consultation document; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [11203/24]

Hospital Appointments Status

Denis Naughten

386. Deputy Denis Naughten asked the Minister for Health when a child will be called for an appointment with a paediatrician (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [11355/24]

Hospital Appointments Status

Denis Naughten

387. Deputy Denis Naughten asked the Minister for Health when a child will be called for an appointment to UHG paediatric Department (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [11356/24]

Nursing Homes

Denis Naughten

388. Deputy Denis Naughten asked the Minister for Health when a person (details supplied) will receive a response to her appeal of the fair deal nursing home means assessment; the reason for the delay; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [11357/24]

Cancer Services

Denis Naughten

389. Deputy Denis Naughten asked the Minister for Health when a person (details supplied) will be called for a BRAC2 gene test; the current waiting time for such tests; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [11358/24]

Nursing Homes

Denis Naughten

403. Deputy Denis Naughten asked the Minister for Health further to Parliamentary Question No. 331 of 30 March 2023 assuring Dáil Éireann of the adequacy of independent pre-admission assessments of nursing home residents, and in light of newspaper reports of the advice from his officials to enhance safeguarding checks in light of recent revisions to the means calculation of the fair deal scheme, if he can outline when such a recommendation was made on enhanced safeguarding checks; his timeline for the implementation of such enhanced checks; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [11389/24]

Covid-19 Pandemic

Denis Naughten

406. Deputy Denis Naughten asked the Minister for Health if he will outline his plans to extend the special scheme of paid leave for healthcare workers suffering from long Covid; if he intends to extend or replace this scheme before it is due to end in March 2024; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [11392/24]

Covid-19 Pandemic

Denis Naughten

407. Deputy Denis Naughten asked the Minister for Health further to Parliamentary Question No. 653 of 11 July 2023, if he will outline the planned revision of the model of care for long Covid; when the model of care was last reviewed; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [11393/24]

Covid-19 Pandemic

Denis Naughten

408. Deputy Denis Naughten asked the Minister for Health further to Parliamentary Question No. 289 of 15 June 2023, the proportion of the €2.2 million allocated for the development of long Covid services in 2022 that was spent exclusively on long Covid services; the allocation drawn down by each clinic in 2022; the corresponding figures for 2023; the respective period of operation of each clinic; the number of new patients and recurring patients treated to date; the number of patients awaiting a first appointment in each clinic; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [11394/24]

Covid-19 Pandemic

Denis Naughten

409. Deputy Denis Naughten asked the Minister for Health further to Parliamentary Question No. 290 of 15 June 2023, the number of full-time posts allocated to post-acute and long Covid clinics, by clinic and speciality; if the position has been filled; if an offer has been made; if a recruitment competition is ongoing; if the HSE recruitment process has commenced in view of the emerging evidence on long Covid; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [11395/24]

Covid-19 Pandemic

Denis Naughten

410. Deputy Denis Naughten asked the Minister for Health further to Parliamentary Question No. 291 of 15 June 2023, if he will outline the metrics at each clinic in 2022, including the number of new patients seen and the number waiting at the end of the year; the corresponding figures for 2023; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [11396/24]

Covid-19 Pandemic

Denis Naughten

411. Deputy Denis Naughten asked the Minister for Health the number of staff presently availing of the special scheme of paid leave in respect of long Covid; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [11397/24]

Special Protection Areas

Denis Naughten

152. Deputy Denis Naughten asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the reason a person (details supplied) was not included in the Shannon Callows scheme even though he is within the Shannon SPA; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [11029/24]

Regulatory Bodies

Denis Naughten

112. Deputy Denis Naughten asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications his engagement with ComReg; if he discussed the need to include a rail line coverage obligation in the MBSA2 liberalised use licences; if he will issue a direction to ComReg on such coverage; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [10093/24]

Heritage Sites

Denis Naughten

119. Deputy Denis Naughten asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications when he will approve SEAI grants for heritage building retrofits in line with the recently published Department of Housing guidelines; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [10208/24]

Health Services

Denis Naughten

717. Deputy Denis Naughten asked the Minister for Health when SMA will be included in the heal prick test; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [10338/24]

Nursing Homes

Denis Naughten

773. Deputy Denis Naughten asked the Minister for Health when he will address the anomaly regarding the nursing home support scheme farm exemption which presently excludes the nearest living relative if the relationship is beyond a nephew; the reason for the delay in addressing this anomaly; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [10758/24]

Covid-19 Pandemic

Denis Naughten

185. Deputy Denis Naughten asked the Minister for Health if he will outline his plans to extend the special scheme of paid leave for healthcare workers suffering from long Covid; if he intends to extend or replace this scheme before it is due to end in March 2024; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [9644/24]

Covid-19 Pandemic

Denis Naughten

627. Deputy Denis Naughten asked the Minister for Health the current status of the HSE survey to measure the prevalence of long Covid in the community; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [9298/24]

Trade Relations

Denis Naughten

122. Deputy Denis Naughten asked the Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment the engagement he has had with his EU counterparts on revising the EU carbon border adjustment mechanism to ensure that any revenues generated from taxing imports would be ring-fenced to help poorer countries to scale up to less intensive carbon intensive production; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [8492/24]

Medical Aids and Appliances

Denis Naughten

289. Deputy Denis Naughten asked the Minister for Health the reason a person (details supplied) has not received approval for a new prosthesis; the reason for the delay; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [8519/24]

Disabilities Assessments

Denis Naughten

476. Deputy Denis Naughten asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth when a child (details supplied); will receive an appointment for assessment; the reason for the delay; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [7482/24]

Hospital Facilities

Denis Naughten

523. Deputy Denis Naughten asked the Minister for Health his plans for the future location of the main laboratory for genetic testing in Ireland which is currently housed at CHI Crumlin; the reason this is not being accommodated in the new Children's Hospital; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [7426/24]

Medical Qualifications

Denis Naughten

627. Deputy Denis Naughten asked the Minister for Health in light of the large-scale qualifications fraud currently under investigation by the Nursing and Midwifery Council in the UK, if he is satisfied that no similar concern arises with nursing staff registered here in Ireland or on foot of their UK registration; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [8039/24]

Library Services

Denis Naughten

656. Deputy Denis Naughten asked the Minister for Rural and Community Development the number of number of times the energy kits have been taken out on loan in each library in 2023; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [7869/24]

Health Strategies

Denis Naughten

323. Deputy Denis Naughten asked the Minister for Health for an update on implementation of each of the recommendations of the Sláintecare report of the Oireachtas Committee on the Future of Healthcare; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [7170/24]

Agriculture Schemes

Denis Naughten

278. Deputy Denis Naughten asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine when an ACRES payment (details supplied) will be made; the reason for the delay in issuing such payments; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [7019/24]

Third Level Fees

Denis Naughten

613. Deputy Denis Naughten asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science further to Parliamentary Question No. 57 of 31 January 2024, the reason SUSI is refusing to accept child benefit as proof of residence for a home-schooled Irish born child of a resident Irish citizen, despite the fact that under statute such payments can only be made on Irish residency; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [6059/24]

Agriculture Schemes

Denis Naughten

274. Deputy Denis Naughten asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the number of herd owners who were on a list of farmers (details supplied) within the Shannon Callows who had not been issued with an original letter from the Department for the Shannon Callows flooding scheme; that have now been issued with such a letter; if he will confirm that all farmers on that list have been contacted; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [5949/24]