Parliamentary questions

National Broadband Plan

Willie O'Dea

255. Deputy Willie O'Dea asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications when fibre broadband will be available at a location (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [50359/21]

Teaching Council of Ireland

Willie O'Dea

554. Deputy Willie O'Dea asked the Minister for Education the reason the Teaching Council of Ireland is refusing to give full registration to previously registered music teachers unless they do a postgraduate diploma in further education at significant cost to the persons concerned; her views in whether these already highly qualified persons should not lose their posts with music schools, such as the Limerick School of Music, as a result of the Teaching Council of Ireland not providing full registration to them; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [50636/21]

Social Welfare Payments

Willie O'Dea

614. Deputy Willie O'Dea asked the Minister for Social Protection the reason a person (details supplied) who applied for the working family payment received an email confirming that they were entitled to €114 per week and the following day received an email stating that they did not qualify for the payment; the legislation which defines the term dependent child for the purposes of the working family payment; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [50578/21]

Disability Services

Willie O'Dea

781. Deputy Willie O'Dea asked the Minister for Health if his attention has been drawn to the fact that there are only three neurology nurse specialists based at the mid-west regional centre for neurology in UHL instead of the recommended 11; his plans to deal with this shortfall; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [50686/21]

General Practitioner Services

Willie O'Dea

838. Deputy Willie O'Dea asked the Minister for Health if his attention has been drawn to the fact that many of those that are over 70 years of age have to pay €50 or more in general practitioner fees for a medical examination in order to renew their driver licence even though they have become eligible for a free licence; if he will consider allowing the medical examination required for a driver licence to be included for free with the general practitioner visit card; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [51020/21]

Hospital Staff

Willie O'Dea

216. Deputy Willie O'Dea asked the Minister for Health when a specialist diabetic nurse will be appointed to St. John’s Hospital, Limerick; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [50356/21]

Education Schemes

Willie O'Dea

380. Deputy Willie O'Dea asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science if he will allow persons who become disabled after finishing their degree, masters or PhD, to access a SUSI grant again in order to allow them to change to careers that are more in keeping with their new medical situation and in order to encourage more people who are disabled to return to third-level education and the workforce; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [49168/21]

Hospital Waiting Lists

Willie O'Dea

571. Deputy Willie O'Dea asked the Minister for Health the number of persons with diabetes aged 18 years and over who are waiting on a first appointment to the outpatients diabetes clinic in any of the UHL groups; the number of those persons who are waiting six to 12, 12 to 18 and 18 to 24 months, two to four and over five years, in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [49549/21]

Health Services

Willie O'Dea

590. Deputy Willie O'Dea asked the Minister for Health if University Limerick Hospitals Group is included in the remaining six diabetes centres to become dose adjusting for normal eating licensed in 2022; if a centre in the mid-west is included in the remaining six centres becoming licensed in 2022; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [49619/21]

Hospital Staff

Willie O'Dea

591. Deputy Willie O'Dea asked the Minister for Health if he will provide the funding in budget 2022 to provide a minimum of one whole-time equivalent diabetes specialist pump nurse for the adult diabetes clinic in the University Limerick Hospitals Group to enable insulin pump therapy initiation for persons who are clinically suited to this treatment; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [49620/21]

Hospital Services

Willie O'Dea

592. Deputy Willie O'Dea asked the Minister for Health the number of persons over 18 years of age that are attending University Limerick Hospitals Group adult diabetes service and using insulin pump therapy to manage their condition; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [49621/21]

Animal Welfare

Willie O'Dea

657. Deputy Willie O'Dea asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the efforts being made to deal with the rising tide of animal cruelty; the number of cases that have been prosecuted on indictment for animal cruelty; the number of sentences of imprisonment that have been imposed for the mistreatment of animals in the past five years; the average fine imposed upon conviction in the past 12 months; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [49343/21]

Social Welfare Payments

Willie O'Dea

12. Deputy Willie O'Dea asked the Minister for Social Protection the increase in the State pension and other social welfare rates that will be required in Budget 2022 to match inflation since the last increase in rates. [44885/21]

Broadband Infrastructure

Willie O'Dea

179. Deputy Willie O'Dea asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications when fibre broadband will be available in Meentulla, Murroe, County Limerick; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [48785/21]

Social Welfare Benefits

Willie O'Dea

77. Deputy Willie O'Dea asked the Minister for Social Protection the reason an application for the back to education allowance by a person (details supplied) was refused; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [48503/21]

Prison Service

Willie O'Dea

95. Deputy Willie O'Dea asked the Minister for Justice further to Parliamentary Question No. 717 of 24 February 2021, the progress that has been made in relation to this matter; when proposals to deal with this issue will be published; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [48524/21]

Social Welfare Benefits

Willie O'Dea

447. Deputy Willie O'Dea asked the Minister for Social Protection when the full rate of disability allowance will be restored to a person (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [47755/21]

Primary Medical Certificates

Willie O'Dea

280. Deputy Willie O'Dea asked the Minister for Finance when the resumption of applications for primary medical certificates will commence; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [46029/21]

Departmental Schemes

Willie O'Dea

444. Deputy Willie O'Dea asked the Minister for Education if she will establish an ex gratia scheme to compensate the victims of institutional abuse for persons who did not take legal action against the State but who will be taking a judicial review of the matter in October 2021; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [46114/21]

School Transport

Willie O'Dea

469. Deputy Willie O'Dea asked the Minister for Education the reason a school (details supplied) is not included on the school transport scheme; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [46557/21]

Health Services

Willie O'Dea

771. Deputy Willie O'Dea asked the Minister for Health when the Sláintecare project on the development of a national diabetes register will recommence; his views on the need for a national diabetes register; the reason there is no current register; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [46550/21]

Vaccination Programme

Willie O'Dea

774. Deputy Willie O'Dea asked the Minister for Health if there are plans to provide a Covid-19 booster vaccine for those over 60 years of age; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [46562/21]

Social Welfare Payments

Willie O'Dea

119. Deputy Willie O'Dea asked the Minister for Social Protection if a decision will be made on a working family payment application by a person (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [45465/21]

Covid-19 Pandemic

Willie O'Dea

61. Deputy Willie O'Dea asked the Minister for Finance the total spend to date on the Covid-19 pandemic; and the amount by which the national debt has risen as a result. [44886/21]

Community Employment Schemes

Willie O'Dea

458. Deputy Willie O'Dea asked the Minister for Social Protection the position regarding efforts to resolve the issue of providing a pension scheme for community employment supervisors and assistant supervisors; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [44164/21]

General Practitioner Services

Willie O'Dea

579. Deputy Willie O'Dea asked the Minister for Health if he will allow for a six-month extension for applicants to run the general practitioner practice in Templemore, County Tipperary which performs a vital service for the town and its hinterlands; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [43198/21]

Health Services Staff

Willie O'Dea

600. Deputy Willie O'Dea asked the Minister for Health if his attention has been drawn to the fact that there is no dietician provided for rheumatology patients in Ireland; his plans to address this situation; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [43298/21]

Crime Prevention

Willie O'Dea

951. Deputy Willie O'Dea asked the Minister for Justice her plans to introduce a new criminal offence for pet abduction which would recognise that pets are valued as more than just property; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [43181/21]

Covid-19 Pandemic

Willie O'Dea

458. Deputy Willie O'Dea asked the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform if he will give consideration to providing an additional payment or additional leave for frontline staff working in hospitals and other healthcare settings during the Covid-19 pandemic; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [39223/21]

Hospital Staff

Willie O'Dea

2118. Deputy Willie O'Dea asked the Minister for Health when a paediatric haematologist will be appointed; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [36574/21]

Vaccination Programme

Willie O'Dea

2251. Deputy Willie O'Dea asked the Minister for Health if a vaccine (details supplied) will be recognised by Ireland as an eligible vaccine in order to allow Irish citizens travelling from the UAE to avoid having to undertake mandatory hotel quarantine; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [37170/21]

Disability Services

Willie O'Dea

2799. Deputy Willie O'Dea asked the Minister for Health if he will consider providing funding for a group (details supplied) that has been providing services to autistic children in Limerick for the past four years; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [39224/21]

Covid-19 Pandemic

Willie O'Dea

2904. Deputy Willie O'Dea asked the Minister for Health if a person has their marriage name on their passport but on their EU Digital COVID Certificate is their maiden name due to divorce, if they can they still use the EU Digital COVID Certificate to travel abroad; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [39564/21]

Covid-19 Pandemic

Willie O'Dea

3091. Deputy Willie O'Dea asked the Minister for Health when operators in the summer camp sector will be permitted to run their businesses again; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [40239/21]

Rural Schemes

Willie O'Dea

3442. Deputy Willie O'Dea asked the Minister for Rural and Community Development if funding will be made available to a group (details supplied) that has been providing services to autistic children in Limerick for the past four years; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [40241/21]

Vaccination Programme

Willie O'Dea

329. Deputy Willie O'Dea asked the Minister for Health the supports that are available to persons who have had an adverse reaction to one of the Covid-19 vaccinations as in the case of a person (details supplied); and if the persons concerned should proceed to take a second dose of the vaccine. [31917/21]

Medicinal Products

Willie O'Dea

371. Deputy Willie O'Dea asked the Minister for Health if medical cannabis can now be prescribed to cancer patients undergoing chemotherapy; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [32389/21]

An Garda Síochána

Willie O'Dea

540. Deputy Willie O'Dea asked the Minister for Justice if she will consider requesting the Garda Commissioner to allow members of An Garda Síochána who are suspended for alleged offences to at least do duties of a clerical nature in view of the fact that Garda resources are under pressure. [37167/21]

Covid-19 Pandemic

Willie O'Dea

179. Deputy Willie O'Dea asked the Minister for Finance if his attention has been drawn to the fact that due to the Covid-19 pandemic many pilots are in the position in which their ratings have expired and although they are on the pandemic unemployment payment they have to pay thousands of euro to now fund their own recurrent training and the additional expense of a renewal; if it is correct to add VAT to these training fees which is creating a significant additional financial burden on these individuals; if the VAT could be waived; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [36893/21]

Voluntary Sector

Willie O'Dea

255. Deputy Willie O'Dea asked the Minister for Social Protection the way in which the requests for tenders in phase 2 for the regional employment services differ from that of phase 1 given that the requirements and the funding model does not lend itself to the community and voluntary sector being in a position to participate in the tendering process and would be an obstacle to them engaging in it; and the way in which the national employment service will differ from the regional employment services. [36892/21]

Nursing Homes

Willie O'Dea

183. Deputy Willie O'Dea asked the Minister for Health if he plans to continue with the temporary assistance payment after 30 June 2021; if not, the measure that will be introduced to replace the scheme to ensure that no cliff edge will present in regard to Covid-19 supports for nursing homes; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [30593/21]

Medicinal Products

Willie O'Dea

366. Deputy Willie O'Dea asked the Minister for Health the status of the establishment of an inquiry into the historical licensing and prescribing of sodium valproate and the filling of the four currently unfilled epilepsy nurse specialist posts approved in 2018 to manage the mandatory patient safety requirements for women who are prescribed sodium valproate; if he will also consider establishing a stakeholder group to review safety and risk measures around prescribing and distributing this drug; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [28431/21]

National Broadband Plan

Willie O'Dea

163. Deputy Willie O'Dea asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications the timeframe for national broadband roll-out in the area of Meentulla, Murroe, County Limerick; if his attention has been drawn to the fact that the urgency of the roll-out is now more critical than ever, as the only company that can supply a sufficient broadband strength of 7mb in the locality is now withdrawing the service; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [33354/21]

Control of Firearms

Willie O'Dea

488. Deputy Willie O'Dea asked the Minister for Justice the number of semi-automatic centre fire rifles that have been licensed by An Garda Síochána in each of the years 2015 to 2020 and to date in 2021; if the proposal to amend legislation to declare any such firearms licensed post 2015 as invalid licences and revoke same with immediate effect infringes on the constitutional rights of citizens; if she will instruct her Department to consult with persons who own such firearms before signing off on such legislation via an appointed group; and if the State will compensate Irish citizens for their loss of property given that this proposal will affect persons who have invested large sums in these firearms in some cases. [32835/21]

Covid-19 Pandemic Supports

Willie O'Dea

92. Deputy Willie O'Dea asked the Minister for Finance the number of persons in County Limerick receiving support under the employment wage subsidy scheme; the number who were in receipt of the payment in May 2021; the number in County Limerick who have received support under the scheme and its predecessor since March 2020; the expenditure on the schemes in County Limerick over that time; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [31699/21]

Corporate Governance

Willie O'Dea

127. Deputy Willie O'Dea asked the Minister for Finance his views on whether the legislation governing financial and corporate behaviour here is fit for purpose; if not, the changes he plans to make; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [31700/21]

Arts Policy

Willie O'Dea

453. Deputy Willie O'Dea asked the Minister for Tourism, Culture, Arts, Gaeltacht, Sport and Media her plans to introduce a universal basic income pilot for artists as recommended by the Arts Recovery Taskforce; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [30548/21]

State Examinations

Willie O'Dea

806. Deputy Willie O'Dea asked the Minister for Education if advice will be provided in relation to the case of a student (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [31722/21]

State Examinations

Willie O'Dea

821. Deputy Willie O'Dea asked the Minister for Education if alternative arrangements are being put in place for leaving certificate students who miss exams due to a positive test for Covid-19; and the way the ten days of self-isolation are counted. [31913/21]

State Pensions

Willie O'Dea

861. Deputy Willie O'Dea asked the Minister for Social Protection if her Department will allow an individual grievance, conversation or mediation regarding an unsolved pensions issue ongoing for 25 years in the case of a person (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [30818/21]