Parliamentary questions

Social Insurance

Patricia Ryan

148. Deputy Patricia Ryan asked the Minister for Social Protection if the PRSI contributions of parents can be made applicable for the provision of glasses, optician services and dental services to their children; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [43099/23]

Social Welfare Code

Patricia Ryan

149. Deputy Patricia Ryan asked the Minister for Social Protection the measures she would consider putting in place to assist those older people with disabilities who are ageing, in addition to having a disability, who are already living in, or in imminent danger of, falling into poverty due to the cost-of-living crisis, compounded with the additional costs that having a disability incur. [43100/23]

Social Welfare Code

Patricia Ryan

158. Deputy Patricia Ryan asked the Minister for Social Protection if, with regard to the 18.5 hours per week limited allowed to work or study in order to qualify for carer’s allowance, she acknowledges that this would exclude most part-time jobs or part-time course, as these usually are minimum 20 hours per week; if the 18.5 hours limit could be increased to allow for carers to take up part-time work or to upskill with part-time courses. [43098/23]

Mental Health Services

Patricia Ryan

221. Deputy Patricia Ryan asked the Minister for Health the measures he will take to address the serious underfunding in mental health, which has been exposed in the aftermath of the Covid-19 pandemic and the extraordinary demands made on already overstretched services. [43095/23]

Health Services Staff

Patricia Ryan

222. Deputy Patricia Ryan asked the Minister for Health if he can look into the fact that there is no sick leave or absence cover provided for home care workers; and to clarify the reason the HSE has to call the family of the person in receipt of the home care to have them step in when a home care worker is either sick or absent. [43096/23]

Health Services

Patricia Ryan

223. Deputy Patricia Ryan asked the Minister for Health the measures being considered to address the recruitment and retention crisis being experienced in section 39-funded organisations, where lower pay levels are causing those in section 39 agencies to leave for jobs or grades in section 38 and HSE positions with more remuneration, where the section 39 agencies are still operating on a level of funding, which is now 40 cent less per hour of service than what was allocated in 2005; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [43103/23]

Health Services

Patricia Ryan

228. Deputy Patricia Ryan asked the Minister for Health the reason there is no respite available to an elderly gentleman (details supplied); the reason the public health nurse said that they would look for respite but would be unable to give a date for same; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [43133/23]

Social Welfare Code

Patricia Ryan

200. Deputy Patricia Ryan asked the Minister for Social Protection what measures she can implement to end the discrimination against many disabled people in receipt of disability allowance, a benefit paid to disabled people directly, who are at risk of losing the benefit should they marry because the benefit is means tested. [41936/23]

Disability Services

Patricia Ryan

246. Deputy Patricia Ryan asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth how the hours provided for respite care are arrived at; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [41938/23]

Fire Stations

Patricia Ryan

130. Deputy Patricia Ryan asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Defence the measures he is taking to guarantee the future of the fire station at the Curragh, County Kildare; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [40808/23]

Education Costs

Patricia Ryan

162. Deputy Patricia Ryan asked the Minister for Education the reason the payment for after-school studies in DEIS schools in south County Kildare has to be paid in full, at approximately €180 per term per child, causing further financial stress on families, where no option for payment in instalments is available despite requests for same; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [40807/23]

Housing Schemes

Patricia Ryan

183. Deputy Patricia Ryan asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the reason people availing of the derelict house grant are required to pay the money to the contractor up front and then claim back for the local authority, which makes the grant unattainable for most people as they do not have such funds available, and in those circumstances, the reason the local authority cannot be authorised to pay the contractors directly, thus making the grant more easily accessible to those who need it. [40810/23]

Social Insurance

Patricia Ryan

200. Deputy Patricia Ryan asked the Minister for Social Protection if she will ensure that PRSI, taken in the wrong from a person (details supplied) is refunded at the earliest opportunity; the position regarding payment of PRSI after the age of 66 years; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [40809/23]

Social Welfare Appeals

Patricia Ryan

203. Deputy Patricia Ryan asked the Minister for Social Protection the reason appeals for refusal of carer’s allowance are currently taking many months to process; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [40811/23]

Health Services

Patricia Ryan

254. Deputy Patricia Ryan asked the Minister for Health if he will address the case of a person (details supplied). [40803/23]

Health Services

Patricia Ryan

255. Deputy Patricia Ryan asked the Minister for Health the reason Naas General Hospital does not appear to have sufficient wound dressing for their in-patients (details supplied) and are telling patients that they must bring in their own dressings from home; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [40804/23]

Disability Services

Patricia Ryan

257. Deputy Patricia Ryan asked the Minister for Transport the reason persons suffering from cancer are not eligible for a blue disability badge; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [35167/23]

Grant Payments

Patricia Ryan

866. Deputy Patricia Ryan asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science if, with regard to income thresholds for SUSI eligibility, he will examine the refusal of a SUSI grant to a student (details supplied); if he will investigate whether an exception can be made and expedited given, the deadline for response/appeal to SUSI. [35166/23]

Disability Services

Patricia Ryan

228. Deputy Patricia Ryan asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth if he can offer an explanation for the 75% failure to meet set targets for movement of those with disabilities in congregated residential care settings to community-based settings; what measures Government will take to bring Ireland into line with the UN convention on the rights of people with disabilities; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [34719/23]

Home Care Packages

Patricia Ryan

276. Deputy Patricia Ryan asked the Minister for Health if, with regard to the Public Sector Performance Report and figures showing that only 80 of a targeted 235 intensive homecare packages were delivered, he can explain the reason for the 66% shortfall; what measures he and his Department will put in place to ensure that all intensive homecare packages are delivered in future; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [34715/23]