Parliamentary questions

Covid-19 Pandemic

Neasa Hourigan

666. Deputy Neasa Hourigan asked the Minister for Health further to Parliamentary Question Nos. 200 of 15 February 2023, 1151 of 21 March 2023 and 1452 of 18 April 2023, the number of staff directly employed by the HSE known to be on leave from work for more than one year due to long-Covid symptoms, as evidenced by their receipt of special Covid leave with pay for that period of time; the reason the HSE has not released this figure in response to previous Parliamentary Questions; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [22756/23]

Health Services Staff

Neasa Hourigan

667. Deputy Neasa Hourigan asked the Minister for Health further to Parliamentary Questions Nos. 674 of 28 March 2023 and 1451 of 18 April 2023, the dates that meetings were scheduled since June 2022 between representatives of his Department and trade unions representing healthcare workers with long Covid to discuss pay issues relating to this medical condition; the dates of such meetings between his Department and trade unions on long-Covid and healthcare workers that were cancelled by his Department since June 2022; the reason for these cancellations, acknowledging that this information does not conflict with the workings of industrial relations processes under way; the reason this information had not already been provided in response to previous parliamentary questions; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [22757/23]

Mental Health Services

Neasa Hourigan

668. Deputy Neasa Hourigan asked the Minister for Health further to Parliamentary Questions Nos. 236 of 22 March 2023 and 1744 of 17 April 2023, the names of the HSE estates managers who approved contracts for renovations and other works to Glenwood House, Carrigaline, following the purchase of that property in January 2021; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [22758/23]

Mental Health Services

Neasa Hourigan

722. Deputy Neasa Hourigan asked the Minister for Health further to Parliamentary Question Nos. 484 of 16 November 2021, 1715 of 19 January 2022, 169 of 9 February 2022, 186 of 23 March 2022, 720 of 17 May 2022, 1903 of 14 June 2022, 565 of 13 December 2022, 354 of 19 January 2023, 570 of 7 March 2023 and 1454 of 18 April 2023, when the clinical directors of the North Cork, West Cork and South Lee areas agreed to accept referrals of service-users requiring residential placement from the Midleton/Youghal and Cobh/Glenville into community residences under their clinical remit; if, in particular, the clinical directors in question were made aware of the increased need for placements from outside their areas resulting from the closure of the Owenacurra Centre, Midleton, prior to that closure being announced, when the HSE's plan at that stage was to not replace any residential mental health services in East Cork; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [23128/23]

Mental Health Services

Neasa Hourigan

725. Deputy Neasa Hourigan asked the Minister for Health further to Parliamentary Question No. 598 of 25 April 2023, the estimated costs associated with renovations of Millfield House, Cork; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [23133/23]

Mental Health Services

Neasa Hourigan

726. Deputy Neasa Hourigan asked the Minister for Health further to Parliamentary Question No. 170 of 9 February 2022 and 597 of 25 April 2023, if he can confirm that the ten-bed replacement service for the Owenacurra Centre, Midleton, will be a 'continuing care' mental health service, as suggested in the response to Parliamentary Question No. 597 of 25 April 2023, bearing in mind that continuing care mental health services have a specific staff: client ratio; how one can reconcile a contention in the same response that the service will be replaced in 2024 with recent briefings from the HSE suggesting that it does not yet have a site identified for this project, nor a 'development team' appointed, nor capital funding secured; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [23135/23]

Irish Sign Language

Neasa Hourigan

754. Deputy Neasa Hourigan asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science if he will provide an update on the progress made to date in respect of implementing the recommendations specific to his Department outlined in the Report on the Operation of the Irish Sign Language Act 2017 to improve the functioning of the ISL Act; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [22769/23]

Shared Services

Neasa Hourigan

11. Deputy Neasa Hourigan asked the Minister for Public Expenditure, National Development Plan Delivery and Reform if he will outline a timeline, completion date and cost to the State of the financial management shared services project by the National Shared Services Office; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [21316/23]

Flexible Work Practices

Neasa Hourigan

68. Deputy Neasa Hourigan asked the Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment the engagement his Department has had with other Departments and State bodies in providing employees with the option to avail of a four-day week; the number of employees in State bodies currently doing so; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [21317/23]

Employment Rights

Neasa Hourigan

104. Deputy Neasa Hourigan asked the Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment the work his Department has undertaken in relation to reviewing sick leave entitlements and how it interacts with other entitlements such as maternity leave; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [21318/23]

School Facilities

Neasa Hourigan

192. Deputy Neasa Hourigan asked the Minister for Education if any allowance will be made for out-of-hours community use of a hall (details supplied) under the agreement to transfer the hall to school ownership; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [22319/23]

Civil Service

Neasa Hourigan

235. Deputy Neasa Hourigan asked the Minister for Justice how many civil servants are currently seconded to An Garda Síochána; how many of those seconded employees have an active transfer request; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [22317/23]

Civil Service

Neasa Hourigan

236. Deputy Neasa Hourigan asked the Minister for Justice how many civil servants were seconded to An Garda Síochána in 2020, 2021, 2022 and to 1 May 2023; how many seconded employees transferred out of An Garda Síochána in the corresponding timeframe; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [22318/23]

Departmental Schemes

Neasa Hourigan

148. Deputy Neasa Hourigan asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the oversight that is in place within his Department on the collection, distribution and operation of the Horse and Greyhound Racing Fund; the responsibility and future plans of his Department in the continuance of this fund within the annual budgetary cycle; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [21315/23]

Anti-Terrorism Measures

Neasa Hourigan

56. Deputy Neasa Hourigan asked the Minister for Finance if he will outline the current position of his Department on the transfer of money between Ireland and Cuba. [21314/23]

Financial Services

Neasa Hourigan

83. Deputy Neasa Hourigan asked the Minister for Finance if he will outline plans to address regulation of independent operators of ATMs, given that 75% of ATMs in Ireland are now owned by organisations that are not banks, are not regulated as regards service standards or fees and charges and for whom the Central Bank's conduct of business rules do not apply; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [21313/23]

Waste Management

Neasa Hourigan

139. Deputy Neasa Hourigan asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications if he will provide an update on the roll-out of the deposit return scheme; the timeline for the development of the relevant IT, infrastructure and communication systems associated with the scheme; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [21227/23]

Transport Costs

Neasa Hourigan

191. Deputy Neasa Hourigan asked the Minister for Transport if he has plans to allow school groups, accompanied by a teacher, to use public transport without fares for expeditions; if he will consider the matter as a policy position; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [21494/23]

Transport Costs

Neasa Hourigan

192. Deputy Neasa Hourigan asked the Minister for Transport his plans to support school groups, accompanied by a teacher, to use public transport for expeditions; if he is aware of current operational difficulties in organising the payment of fares and-or collection of tickets for school groups using public transport in this way; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [21495/23]

Greyhound Industry

Neasa Hourigan

514. Deputy Neasa Hourigan asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine his views on the contribution of the Irish greyhound industry to GNP; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [21577/23]

Mental Health Services

Neasa Hourigan

554. Deputy Neasa Hourigan asked the Minister for Health if he will provide an update on the work of his Department in relation to youth-specific mental health initiatives and promoting positive mental health among young people; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [21045/23]

Healthcare Infrastructure Provision

Neasa Hourigan

581. Deputy Neasa Hourigan asked the Minister for Health the estimated costs of the construction of independent living pods near the Millfield House mental health facility in Blackpool, Cork; the estimated costs of any additional renovations of Millfield House itself; the HSE managers who proposed these plans; when these proposals were first made; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [21215/23]

Healthcare Infrastructure Provision

Neasa Hourigan

582. Deputy Neasa Hourigan asked the Minister for Health the date that capital funding committed to renovations of Milfield House and the construction of independent living pods nearby was applied for by local HSE management; the date that this capital funding was approved by national HSE management; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [21216/23]

Healthcare Infrastructure Provision

Neasa Hourigan

583. Deputy Neasa Hourigan asked the Minister for Health the projected timeline associated with the construction of independent living pods near the Millfield House mental health facility in Blackpool, Cork, and with renovations of Millfield House itself; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [21217/23]

Mental Health Services

Neasa Hourigan

584. Deputy Neasa Hourigan asked the Minister for Health if current security arrangements for Millfield House, Blackpool, are expected to continue indefinitely or for a fixed timeframe; if the security arrangement will also apply to the independent living pods near Millfield House that recently received planning approval from Cork City Council; if so, if the current security costs will increase; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [21218/23]

Public Sector Pay

Neasa Hourigan

591. Deputy Neasa Hourigan asked the Minister for Health if he plans to update pay scales for non-consultant hospital doctors; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [21265/23]

Mental Health Services

Neasa Hourigan

615. Deputy Neasa Hourigan asked the Minister for Health further to Parliamentary Questions Nos. 638 of 5 October 2021, 691 of 29 November 2022, 1553 of 18 January 2023, 204 of 15 February 2023, 1153 of 21 March 2023 and 1453 of 18 April 2023, the reason for a lack of any detail on staffing levels or basic service-planning for a new facility in Midleton, County Cork that will accommodate three residents with severe and enduring mental health difficulties (details supplied); how families whose relatives have already been offered placements in this service can be expected to make an informed decision on those offers in the absence of this information; the number of staff that will be deployed to the service on a day-to-day basis; if those regular staff who are on site daily will include psychiatric nurses or healthcare assistants or both; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [21507/23]

Mental Health Services

Neasa Hourigan

616. Deputy Neasa Hourigan asked the Minister for Health further to Parliamentary Question No. 596 of 25 April 2023, if he will provide details of any follow-up consultation that the Mental Health Commission may have had with residents who reported to the commission that they were happy to move from the Owenacurra Centre, Midleton and satisfied with their new placements; in particular, the number of follow-up consultations and the time that had elapsed since they had made this transition; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [21518/23]

Mental Health Services

Neasa Hourigan

617. Deputy Neasa Hourigan asked the Minister for Health further to Parliamentary Question Nos. 602 of 25 April 2023, the reason the Mental Health Commission has declined a request from the Oireachtas Committee on Health to comment on the provision of community residential mental health placement serving the combined HSE catchments of the Cobh/Glenville and Midleton/Youghal adult mental health teams (details supplied); his views on the Commission's lack of comment on the HSE's removal of the majority of east Cork's residential placement provision over the coming years without having an interim placement arrangement in place; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [21519/23]

Mental Health Services

Neasa Hourigan

618. Deputy Neasa Hourigan asked the Minister for Health the amount of capital funding applied for by Cork HSE management in respect of the development of a ten-bed residential mental health service in Midleton, County Cork; the date this capital funding was applied for and for the managers making this application and the managers deciding on the proposals; if he will provide details of the level of communication that has taken place thus far on this proposal between HSE management and with any other stakeholders; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [21520/23]

Road Safety

Neasa Hourigan

10. Deputy Neasa Hourigan asked the Minister for Transport if he will provide an update on the implementation of camera enforcement as part of the BusConnects programme; if this measure will be brought forward as part of a road safety strategy by his Department, as outlined to the Oireachtas Committee of Public Accounts in 2022; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [20240/23]

Road Safety

Neasa Hourigan

24. Deputy Neasa Hourigan asked the Minister for Transport if he will provide an update on progress since November 2022 on the implementation of red light cameras across the road traffic network and the stated commitment to further develop camera-based enforcement by An Garda Síochána, including at junctions and for management of bus and cycle lanes; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [20239/23]

Flood Risk Management

Neasa Hourigan

154. Deputy Neasa Hourigan asked the Minister for Public Expenditure, National Development Plan Delivery and Reform if his Department still supports the statement in the environmental impact assessment report to the River Bride (Blackpool) certified drainage scheme that flooding in Blackpool is primarily fluvial; if restricting the river channel in Blackpool by constructing hard flood defences will also restrict pluvial flow; if the scheme has been designed to meet the risks presented by pluvial flooding events, such as that of October 2022; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [21395/23]

Departmental Bodies

Neasa Hourigan

177. Deputy Neasa Hourigan asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage if delays in An Bord Pleanála may affect projects under the Cork area commuter rail programme in meeting deadlines for European and other funding opportunities; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [20862/23]

Local Authorities

Neasa Hourigan

201. Deputy Neasa Hourigan asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage if he will outline the funding framework to reimburse local authorities for the proposed reduction in development fees; the percentage amount of reimbursement; the timeline for implementation, as it aligns with the implementation of the reduction of development fees; the budget line under which this will be included in the local government Vote; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [20229/23]

Housing Schemes

Neasa Hourigan

208. Deputy Neasa Hourigan asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the status of the review of Housing Adaptation Grants for Older People and People with a Disability; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [20271/23]

Data Protection

Neasa Hourigan

282. Deputy Neasa Hourigan asked the Minister for Justice if his Department has consulted the Data Protection Commissioner or carried out a data protection impact assessment in relation to the property marking scheme; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [20367/23]

Health Service Executive

Neasa Hourigan

449. Deputy Neasa Hourigan asked the Minister for Health the reason minutes of a meeting from February 2023 of the HSE Board's Safety and Quality Committee, at which the closure of the Owenacurra Centre, Midleton was discussed, had not yet been published as of 25 April 2023; when the minutes of the meeting will be published; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [20584/23]

Library Services

Neasa Hourigan

487. Deputy Neasa Hourigan asked the Minister for Rural and Community Development if she will outline the guidance provided by her Department to local authorities in relation to public library membership; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [20448/23]

Consular Services

Neasa Hourigan

131. Deputy Neasa Hourigan asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs if he has intervened in the case of a person (details supplied) with the Greek government or through any other diplomatic channel, given that criminal charges brought against them and 23 other volunteers and aid workers by the Greek government, have been condemned by several human rights organisations as politically motivated, and carry severe prison sentences if upheld; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [19466/23]

Bus Services

Neasa Hourigan

182. Deputy Neasa Hourigan asked the Minister for Transport when the pilot bus service identified in the Phoenix Park Transport and Mobility Options Study Post-Consultation Report, and scheduled to commence in quarter 1 of 2022 will commence; if the issue around access though the Cabra gate for any such bus has been resolved; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [19174/23]

Tax Credits

Neasa Hourigan

213. Deputy Neasa Hourigan asked the Minister for Finance the estimated cost to the Exchequer of increasing the single-person child carer credit in Budget 2024, in line with the €150 increase to the married person or civil partner credit in Budget 2023; if consideration is being given to same; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [19106/23]

Tax Credits

Neasa Hourigan

214. Deputy Neasa Hourigan asked the Minister for Finance the estimated cost to the Exchequer of increasing the single-person child carer credit by €75, €100 or €150 respectively. [19107/23]

Tax Credits

Neasa Hourigan

215. Deputy Neasa Hourigan asked the Minister for Finance if he will consider equivalising the tax rate for recipients of the single-person child carer credit with the two-adult single-earner household rate; the estimated cost to the Exchequer of equivalising these two rates; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [19108/23]

Tax Credits

Neasa Hourigan

216. Deputy Neasa Hourigan asked the Minister for Finance the number of people in receipt of the single-person child carer credit. [19109/23]

Direct Provision System

Neasa Hourigan

280. Deputy Neasa Hourigan asked the Minister for Education the number of individuals currently residing in direct provision centres that are enrolled in primary and post-primary education respectively. [19556/23]

Direct Provision System

Neasa Hourigan

489. Deputy Neasa Hourigan asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth the number of minors currently residing in direct provision centres across the State. [19555/23]

Direct Provision System

Neasa Hourigan

490. Deputy Neasa Hourigan asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth the procedures in place to ensure minors residing in direct provision centres are enrolled in education; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [19557/23]

Health Services

Neasa Hourigan

536. Deputy Neasa Hourigan asked the Minister for Health his views on the In Sickness and in Debt Report relating to the administration of the treatment abroad scheme, the EU cross-Border directive scheme and the Northern Ireland planned healthcare scheme; his plans to implement its recommendations; his plans to promote and advertise the use of these schemes to help alleviate waiting lists for medical procedures; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [19073/23]

Health Services

Neasa Hourigan

596. Deputy Neasa Hourigan asked the Minister for Health in what context and by whom was the Board of the Mental Health Commission informed that some residents of the Owenacurra Centre, Midleton were "happy to move from the Owenacurra Centre and are satisfied with where they have been moved to", as stated in a letter from the Chairperson to a current resident dated 24 March 2023 and as reported in a newspaper (details supplied) on 17 April 2023; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [19458/23]