Parliamentary questions

Emergency Departments

Fergus O'Dowd

1470. Deputy Fergus O'Dowd asked the Minister for Health with respect to the escalating emergency in UHL, if the criteria for escalation was met in the emergency department at UHL on 17 and 18 December 2022; if the escalation protocol was activated on the night of 17 and 18 December 2022 at the hospital; if the escalation protocol was implemented; if not, the reason; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [56399/23]

Emergency Departments

Fergus O'Dowd

1471. Deputy Fergus O'Dowd asked the Minister for Health with respect to the escalating emergency in UHL, UHL's recommended ratio of nursing staff to patients in the emergency department; the recommended doctor to patient ratio in the emergency department, that is, the number of nurses and doctors, respectively to the number of patients; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [56400/23]

Emergency Departments

Fergus O'Dowd

1472. Deputy Fergus O'Dowd asked the Minister for Health with respect to the escalating emergency in UHL, the figures on the nursing staff and doctors on duty in the emergency department on 17 and 18 December 2022; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [56401/23]

Departmental Correspondence

Fergus O'Dowd

1560. Deputy Fergus O'Dowd asked the Minister for Health to review correspondence from a person (details supplied) and seek advice on what supports might be available for them in this difficult situation; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [56882/23]

Vaccination Programme

Fergus O'Dowd

1571. Deputy Fergus O'Dowd asked the Minister for Health if he plans to introduce a free shingles vaccination scheme for older adults to protect them from what can be a debilitating illness; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [57004/23]

Healthcare Policy

Fergus O'Dowd

1580. Deputy Fergus O'Dowd asked the Minister for Health if he expects ozempic to be added to the GMS list for weight loss; the reason the drug is not available under the drug payments, considering the considerable impact it is having on weight and the associated positive effect it is having on health, thus reducing the long term requirement for other services linked to obesity and weight problems; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [57047/23]

Departmental Schemes

Fergus O'Dowd

1724. Deputy Fergus O'Dowd asked the Minister for Health further to the publication of the report carried out by the Economic and Social Research Institute (details supplied) if further consideration has been given to the provision of a capitation grant or low-interest loan scheme for small- to medium-sized nursing homes to meet the cost of required upgrades/building works in order to satisfy HIQA regulations, where that nursing home can show that it does not have the capacity to meet the financial requirements on same, and where there is a clear and identified need for beds in the area in question; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [1554/24]

Health Services

Fergus O'Dowd

1725. Deputy Fergus O'Dowd asked the Minister for Health if he will provide the details of the total number of primary school pupils who are currently awaiting to have their in-school eye, hearing and dental checks, by each CHO area in each of the years 2010 to date; the recommended and targeted age for each of the relevant checks; what improvements are being considered to clear the backlogs in this area, in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [1564/24]

Hospital Facilities

Fergus O'Dowd

1737. Deputy Fergus O'Dowd asked the Minister for Health when he expects the new St. Marys Hospital in Drogheda to be fully operational; if the HSE moratorium has impacted on the progress of the facility; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [1623/24]

Budget 2024

Fergus O'Dowd

1858. Deputy Fergus O'Dowd asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science to outline the achievements to date with respect to making third level easier for medical graduates to succeed in Ireland following Budget 2024; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [1463/24]

Rural Schemes

Fergus O'Dowd

1875. Deputy Fergus O'Dowd asked the Minister for Rural and Community Development if she will seek an update on the long-awaited and much-delayed Ardee Castle redevelopment, funded through the rural regeneration and redevelopment fund; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [1759/24]

Social Welfare Benefits

Fergus O'Dowd

155. Deputy Fergus O'Dowd asked the Minister for Social Protection to outline her Department's response to the results of a recent survey of palliative care nurses by an organisation (details supplied) which found that many terminal cancer patients were dying in cold homes which they could not afford to heat; and if she will extend the household benefits package, the fuel allowance payment and the additional needs payment to persons with a cancer diagnosis, as recommended by the organisation. [55818/23]

Nuclear Plants

Fergus O'Dowd

178. Deputy Fergus O'Dowd asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications his views on the concerns raised in a recent article published in a newspaper on 5 December 2023 (details supplied) in respect of the Sellafield power plant and the potential risk to the public; when his Department learned of this risk; the actions taken by his Department since; if he will provide the relevant dates and any other information related to the matter; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [55308/23]

Road Tolls

Fergus O'Dowd

236. Deputy Fergus O'Dowd asked the Minister for Transport to respond to concerns raised by a person (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [55359/23]

International Protection

Fergus O'Dowd

676. Deputy Fergus O'Dowd asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth what measures are being proposed to remove the significant administrative delays with respect to available sites and premises that are ready to provide IPAS accommodation but are waiting for final fire officer sign offs and so on; if private fire safety specialist firms can be contracted to sign off such sites in order to reduce the back log and pressure on local fire officers; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [54703/23]

International Protection

Fergus O'Dowd

677. Deputy Fergus O'Dowd asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth if he will seek confirmation from IPAS, the total number of beds nationwide that have been offered to IPAS as ready with certification by a competent person in place, but have yet to be taken up by persons seeking international protection and are awaiting a further inspection and sign off by the fire officer; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [54704/23]

Environmental Policy

Fergus O'Dowd

161. Deputy Fergus O'Dowd asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications how he intends on making eco-friendly products such as laundry products more affordable and accessible in Ireland over the coming years, considering that many people currently accessing such products are ordering from abroad; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [54369/23]

Air Quality

Fergus O'Dowd

38. Deputy Fergus O'Dowd asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications if the EPA has any future plans to expand the monitoring of permanent air quality testing systems on site in Drogheda south; if not, the reason why; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [53926/23]

Road Projects

Fergus O'Dowd

54. Deputy Fergus O'Dowd asked the Minister for Transport the status of funding for the Ardee by-pass; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [54029/23]

School Enrolments

Fergus O'Dowd

80. Deputy Fergus O'Dowd asked the Minister for Education further to the publication of the most recent Census figures, if she will provide information on the possible review of school place requirements in County Louth; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [54027/23]