Parliamentary questions

Special Educational Needs Data

Colm Keaveney

222. Deputy Colm Keaveney asked the Minister for Education and Skills if he will provide, in tabular form, information for 2011, 2012 and 2013 and for each county within the State on the total number of whole-time equivalent special needs assistants; the total number of hours allocated to that national complement of whole-time equivalent positions; the total number of children allocated a special needs assistant; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [17338/14]

Pension Provisions

Colm Keaveney

256. Deputy Colm Keaveney asked the Minister for Education and Skills if he will provide details of any pension entitlements in respect of a person (details supplied). [17821/14]

Departmental Bodies

Colm Keaveney

633. Deputy Colm Keaveney asked the Minister for Health in reference to recommendation 20.5 of A Vision for Change, the identity of the current chair and members of the monitoring group; the date of their last submitted report; the details of his response to that report; the actions taken to address any issues identified; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [17830/14]

Mental Health Services Provision

Colm Keaveney

634. Deputy Colm Keaveney asked the Minister for Health the way he will address the issues identified in recent media reports (details supplied) regarding delays in admitting suicidal patients and patients experiencing severe psychotic episodes; to the concerns expressed by psychiatrists about other such patients being discharged earlier than medically prudent and reports that mental health services in north Dublin are in crisis mode; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [17832/14]

Special Educational Needs Service Provision

Colm Keaveney

5. Deputy Colm Keaveney asked the Minister for Education and Skills his plans to improve special needs education; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [16464/14]

Special Educational Needs Staffing

Colm Keaveney

33. Deputy Colm Keaveney asked the Minister for Education and Skills the number of special needs assistants at both primary and post-primary levels in WTE terms in 2011-12, 2012-13 and 2013-14; the number of hours allocated in each year; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [16463/14]

Special Educational Needs Data

Colm Keaveney

195. Deputy Colm Keaveney asked the Minister for Education and Skills if he will provide, in tabular form, information on the following for each year, 2011, 2012, and 2013, the total number of whole time equivalent special needs assistants, the total number of hours allocated to that national complement of whole time equivalent positions, the total number of children allocated a special needs assistant; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [16253/14]

Speech and Language Therapy Provision

Colm Keaveney

581. Deputy Colm Keaveney asked the Minister for Health if he will provide a county breakdown for January 2014 of the number of children awaiting an initial assessment for speech and language therapies; and the numbers on open waiting lists in the following timeframes; 0 to four months; four to eight months; eight to 12 months; 12 to 18 months, 18 to 24 months; more than 24 months [16058/14]

Children in Care

Colm Keaveney

99. Deputy Colm Keaveney asked the Minister for Health his response to the criticisms of child and adolescent mental health services in the recent report by the Ombudsman for Children entitled A Meta-Analysis of Repetitive Root Cause Issues Regarding the Provision of Services for Children in Care; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [15122/14]

Gaelscoil Issues

Colm Keaveney

203. Deputy Colm Keaveney asked the Minister for Education and Skills if he has identified a location and construction date for the provision of a Gaelscoil in Loughrea; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [14942/14]

Diabetes Strategy

Colm Keaveney

499. Deputy Colm Keaveney asked the Minister for Health if the model for the provision of insulin pumps recommended by the paediatric diabetes working group has been fully established; the numbers of children under five and under 16 who are waiting for these pumps; the resource allocation made in the 2012, 2013 and 2014 service plans to fund this objective; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [14723/14]

Diabetes Strategy

Colm Keaveney

500. Deputy Colm Keaveney asked the Minister for Health to set out the progress that has been made in meeting the key objectives of the paediatric diabetes working group, that is: to provide continuous subcutaneous insulin infusion, CSII, therapy to children under five, where appropriate; to ensure that diabetes services and staffing levels are equitable in the five centres nationwide based in Cork, Crumlin, Limerick-Galway, Tallaght and Temple Street; if not already met, then what are the expected dates upon which they will be complete; the resource allocation in the service plans in 2011, 2012, 2013, and 2014 to fund the achievement of these objectives; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [14724/14]

Hospital Staff Data

Colm Keaveney

545. Deputy Colm Keaveney asked the Minister for Health if he will provide details of the number of posts for 2014 that the working group on paediatric diabetes requests or recommends for University Hospital Limerick and University Hospital Galway; the number that were provided for in the service plan for 2014; the number of posts currently in place in both hospitals; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [15018/14]

Medical Aids and Appliances Provision

Colm Keaveney

546. Deputy Colm Keaveney asked the Minister for Health the number of insulin pumps the Health Service Executive purchased in 2013; the number, broken down by HSE area, given out to children under the age of 16; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [15022/14]

Illicit Trade in Tobacco

Colm Keaveney

38. Deputy Colm Keaveney asked the Minister for Finance the number of seizures of illicit cigarettes or other tobacco products that have been made by the agencies of the State in each calendar year from 2011 to 2013, broken down by both the numbers of seizures and the quantities seized; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [14225/14]

Illicit Trade in Tobacco

Colm Keaveney

39. Deputy Colm Keaveney asked the Minister for Finance the specific measures he has taken to combat the trade in illicit cigarettes or other illicit tobacco products since March 2011; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [14226/14]

Illicit Trade in Tobacco

Colm Keaveney

40. Deputy Colm Keaveney asked the Minister for Finance his estimate of the size of the trade in illicit cigarettes or other illicit tobacco products; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [14227/14]

Illicit Trade in Tobacco

Colm Keaveney

41. Deputy Colm Keaveney asked the Minister for Finance the specific measures he has taken to combat the trade in illicit cigarettes or other illicit tobacco products since March 2011; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [14228/14]

Tax Yield

Colm Keaveney

42. Deputy Colm Keaveney asked the Minister for Finance the VAT and excise return from tobacco sales in each calendar year from 2011 to 2013; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [14230/14]

Economic Data

Colm Keaveney

50. Deputy Colm Keaveney asked the Minister for Finance his Department's most recent estimate for the size of the economy's output gap; the implications of this for the Government’s taxation and spending plans; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [14308/14]

IDA Jobs Data

Colm Keaveney

97. Deputy Colm Keaveney asked the Minister for Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation the number of potential employers IDA Ireland has brought to Loughrea, County Galway, in terms of encouraging those business to locate there, in each calendar year since 2011; the number of jobs that have been created through the assistance of IDA Ireland in Loughrea in each calendar year since 2011; the measures he has taken to encourage the creation of jobs specifically in the area of Loughrea since March 2011; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [14224/14]

Agri-Environment Options Scheme Payments

Colm Keaveney

163. Deputy Colm Keaveney asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine when a person (details supplied) may expect to receive their agri-environment option scheme grant; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [14319/14]

Tobacco Control Measures

Colm Keaveney

190. Deputy Colm Keaveney asked the Minister for Health in reference to his intention to introduce plain packaging of tobacco products, the studies from the Australian experience, following their introduction of this measure, he has considered; his estimate, broken down into its individual elements, of the cost of implementing this measure in the State; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [14229/14]

Health Care Infrastructure

Colm Keaveney

197. Deputy Colm Keaveney asked the Minister for Health if the building used by the public health nurse in Portumna, County Galway, is accessible to wheelchair users; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [14304/14]

Health Care Infrastructure

Colm Keaveney

198. Deputy Colm Keaveney asked the Minister for Health if he will open a new public health centre in Portumna; if so, when it is scheduled to be opened; if any contracts have been signed for the purchase or construction of any building; the name of the other party or parties to the contract; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [14305/14]

Mental Health Services Provision

Colm Keaveney

199. Deputy Colm Keaveney asked the Minister for Health the services provided by the mental health services in Portumna, County Galway; the location of such services; the staffing arrangements for such services; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [14306/14]

Mental Health Services Provision

Colm Keaveney

200. Deputy Colm Keaveney asked the Minister for Health the services that are or were being provided as of March 2013 by the mental health services in Portumna, County Galway; the location of such services; the staffing arrangements for such services; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [14307/14]

State Debt

Colm Keaveney

190. Deputy Colm Keaveney asked the Minister for Finance in the period from April 2016 to May 2021 the total amount of Government debt that will need to be rolled-over by new borrowing; the estimate of the yearly cost of interest payments will be on Government debt in each year from 2014 to 2021, including details of what assumptions were used in arriving at estimate; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [12798/14]

Financial Institutions Support Scheme

Colm Keaveney

191. Deputy Colm Keaveney asked the Minister for Finance the total cost to the State of the bank guarantee introduced on 29 September 2008; the total amount received from the various banks in fees relating to this facility; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [12800/14]

Social Welfare Benefits Data

Colm Keaveney

573. Deputy Colm Keaveney asked the Minister for Social Protection the total number of recipients of working age on income supports and the total number of recipients of working age on employment supports, resident in the town of Loughrea, County Galway, for January of each year from 2012 to 2014; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [14217/14]

Health Services

Colm Keaveney

1015. Deputy Colm Keaveney asked the Minister for Health when a child (details supplied) in County Galway may expect to receive rehabilitative treatment as it is critical they receive treatment in the next four to six weeks to aid their recovery; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [13066/14]

Special Educational Needs Data

Colm Keaveney

70. Deputy Colm Keaveney asked the Minister for Education and Skills the total number of pupils currently within Gaelscoileanna; the total number of special needs assistants working in Gaelscoileanna; the total number of pupils and SNAs currently within the primary sector as a whole; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [12534/14]

Health Services Staff Data

Colm Keaveney

192. Deputy Colm Keaveney asked the Minister for Health if he will provide in tabular form the number of therapists employed in psychology, occupational therapy, physiotherapy and speech and language for children with disabilities in each of the four Health Service Executive regions for each year from 2007 to 2014; the waiting times for each service by region for each year from 2007 to 2014; the number of children on the waiting list for each service by region for each year from 2007 to 2014; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [12257/14]

Primary Care Services Provision

Colm Keaveney

196. Deputy Colm Keaveney asked the Minister for Health if he will provide further details on the Health Service Executive initiative of providing speech, language and psychology interventions in group workshops to parents of children with special needs rather than providing these supports directly to the children; the savings generated through this initiative in each of the four HSE areas; the number of parents who have been removed from the waiting list for these therapies as a result of their being unable to attend a group workshop in each of the four HSE areas; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [12261/14]

Primary Care Services Provision

Colm Keaveney

197. Deputy Colm Keaveney asked the Minister for Health if he will provide a breakdown in tabular form of the number of children aged under 18 years who are on the waiting list for psychology services, occupational therapy, physiotherapy and speech and language therapy for between one and two years, two and three years, three and four years and over four years; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [12264/14]

Primary Care Services Provision

Colm Keaveney

198. Deputy Colm Keaveney asked the Minister for Health if he will provide further detail on the criteria used to assign priority status to children with disabilities in relation to psychology, occupational therapy, physiotherapy and speech and language supports; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [12265/14]

Primary Care Services Provision

Colm Keaveney

199. Deputy Colm Keaveney asked the Minister for Health the number of children discharged from the HSE's books each week in relation to psychology, occupational therapy, physiotherapy and speech and language supports; the number of children assigned an inactive status due to inadequate resources; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [12266/14]

Primary Care Services Provision

Colm Keaveney

200. Deputy Colm Keaveney asked the Minister for Health if he will provide in tabular form, and by therapy, the total budget to provide the speech and language, physiotherapy, occupational therapy and psychology services in each of the four Health Service Executive areas; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [12267/14]

Schools Building Projects Status

Colm Keaveney

147. Deputy Colm Keaveney asked the Minister for Education and Skills when the funding for a school (details supplied) in County Galway will be released; the details of the location of the school; the start and completion dates for the construction of the school; any factors that may be causing a delay in the commencement of construction of the school; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [11921/14]

Unemployment Data

Colm Keaveney

268. Deputy Colm Keaveney asked the Minister for Social Protection if she will provide, in tabular form, the numbers of persons on the live register, on any job activation scheme, or on a disability or invalidity payment, in January of 2012, 2013 and to date in 2014; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [12038/14]

Road Improvement Schemes

Colm Keaveney

282. Deputy Colm Keaveney asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport if he will release funding, through the National Roads Authority or otherwise, to Galway County Council to put in place a footpath leading to St. Michael’s Cemetery on Tynagh Road, Portumna and to widen the road for parking and to allow emergency vehicles get through while funerals are taking place; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [11387/14]

VAT Rate Application

Colm Keaveney

53. Deputy Colm Keaveney asked the Minister for Finance in view of the confusion that has arisen between various wholesalers and which has now become a point of concern for consumers if he will clarify the VAT treatment of herbal or fruit-based teas, in particular where such teas do not contain tea leaves derived from tea plants; if such herbal and fruit-based teas are liable for VAT over 0%, if he will consider altering the VAT treatment to make these zero rated; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [11068/14]

Special Educational Needs Service Provision

Colm Keaveney

123. Deputy Colm Keaveney asked the Minister for Education and Skills when he will enact in full the provisions of the Education for Persons with Special Educational Needs Act 2004; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [10982/14]

Flood Relief Schemes Applications

Colm Keaveney

135. Deputy Colm Keaveney asked the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform the reasons that the Office of Public Works has not taken immediate action to alleviate regular flooding at a location (details supplied) in County Galway; if his attention has been drawn to the fact that his Department has full knowledge of this situation for the last decade; if his attention has been drawn to the fact that up to six families cannot access their homes by road and that farmers and animals are also affected; the action he proposes to take; when will works commence; the amount of money being allocated for this project; if he will allocate the necessary funds to Galway County Council for these urgent and critical works; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [10806/14]

Mental Health Services Provision

Colm Keaveney

493. Deputy Colm Keaveney asked the Minister for Health his response to the latest Children's Rights Alliance report card, which for a second year running downgrades the Government's performance on mental health and is now awarding an E grade; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [10967/14]

Mental Health Services Provision

Colm Keaveney

494. Deputy Colm Keaveney asked the Minister for Health if an investigation has been held into the circumstances leading to the admission of 68 children into adult psychiatric wards in 2013; if those circumstances have been addressed and in what manner; if this practice will finally be discontinued in 2014; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [10970/14]

Rights of People with Disabilities

Colm Keaveney

9. Deputy Colm Keaveney asked the Minister for Justice and Equality to set out the plans to ratify the United Nations Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [9493/14]

Victim Support Services

Colm Keaveney

28. Deputy Colm Keaveney asked the Minister for Justice and Equality if he agrees with the assertion in a recent Irish Council for Civil Liberties study (details supplied) that persons with disabilities who are victims of crime remain largely invisible; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [9727/14]

Special Educational Needs Service Provision

Colm Keaveney

126. Deputy Colm Keaveney asked the Minister for Education and Skills if he is satisfied that children with dyslexia are receiving the help they require in school; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [8969/14]

Third Level Participation

Colm Keaveney

149. Deputy Colm Keaveney asked the Minister for Education and Skills the action he will take to ensure a greater participation by persons with disabilities in third level education; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [8968/14]