Parliamentary questions

Hospital Appointments Administration

Frank O'Rourke

388. Deputy Frank O'Rourke asked the Minister for Health the status of surgery for a person (details supplied) in Tallaght hospital; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [25275/17]

Occupational Therapy

Frank O'Rourke

431. Deputy Frank O'Rourke asked the Minister for Health if he will expedite access for a person (details supplied) to occupational therapy services; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [25469/17]

Health Services Staff Recruitment

Frank O'Rourke

468. Deputy Frank O'Rourke asked the Minister for Health when the post of child psychologist within the primary care psychology services in Kildare north is expected to be filled; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [25717/17]

Home Care Packages Provision

Frank O'Rourke

474. Deputy Frank O'Rourke asked the Minister for Health his plans to review existing home care package scheme with a view to expanding delivery of the scheme beyond HSE approved providers (details supplied); the detail of the benefits persons are actually receiving from their allocated approved provider; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [25734/17]

Dental Services Waiting Lists

Frank O'Rourke

489. Deputy Frank O'Rourke asked the Minister for Health if he will expedite an appointment for orthodontic services on behalf of a person (details supplied) who has been on a waiting list for more than four years; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [25864/17]

Garda Vetting Legislation

Frank O'Rourke

102. Deputy Frank O'Rourke asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Justice and Equality her plans to facilitate transition year students who have not reached 16 years of age to secure work experience in schools in view of the restriction with Garda vetting for those under 16 years of age; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [24424/17]

Health Services Staff Recruitment

Frank O'Rourke

470. Deputy Frank O'Rourke asked the Minister for Health his immediate plans to recruit the necessary occupational therapy staff to reduce the unacceptable waiting lists (details supplied); his longer term plans to provide the resources required to enable the unit to provide ongoing essential services in a timely manner; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [24259/17]

Medicinal Products Supply

Frank O'Rourke

535. Deputy Frank O'Rourke asked the Minister for Health if his Department will consider sourcing additional pharmaceutical companies for chemotherapy drugs in view of the fact that the current supplier (details supplied) which has the monopoly on the market, has been unable to provide full supplies to hospitals over the past two weeks, due to a production constraint resulting in cancer patients treatment being reduced and compromised; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [24712/17]

Planning Issues

Frank O'Rourke

146. Deputy Frank O'Rourke asked the Minister for Housing, Planning, Community and Local Government his views on whether there are significant problems with section 28(2) of the Planning and Development (Housing) and Residential Tenancies Act 2016 which only allows for a second extension for housing developments that commenced on site before the original planning permission expired, most of which would have been before 2012. [23705/17]

Planning Issues

Frank O'Rourke

147. Deputy Frank O'Rourke asked the Minister for Housing, Planning, Community and Local Government the advice which can be given to developers whose planning permission, and a section 42 extension, has expired and is awaiting section 28(2) commencement to apply for a second extension; if in the intervening period all construction work should cease until such a time as he decides to commence section 28 and the developer can apply for an extension; if such developers should reapply for planning permission; and his views on whether this is acceptable. [23706/17]

Planning Issues

Frank O'Rourke

148. Deputy Frank O'Rourke asked the Minister for Housing, Planning, Community and Local Government the specific amendments he plans to make to section 28(2) of the Planning and Development (Housing) and Residential Tenancies Act 2016 in the Planning and Development (Amendment) Bill 2016; and his views on whether the non-enactment of section 28(2) could have very serious consequences in delaying housing developments for which the planning permission has expired. [23707/17]

Long-Term Illness Scheme Coverage

Frank O'Rourke

232. Deputy Frank O'Rourke asked the Minister for Health if the long-term illness scheme will include Crohn's disease on the list of approved conditions (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [23510/17]

Medicinal Products Regulation

Frank O'Rourke

449. Deputy Frank O'Rourke asked the Minister for Health if consideration is being given to the inclusion of Parkinson's disease as one of the medical conditions for which cannabis for medicinal use could be approved on the list of medical conditions which is being compiled by the Health Products Regulatory Authority; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [23142/17]

Hospital Waiting Lists

Frank O'Rourke

485. Deputy Frank O'Rourke asked the Minister for Health the number of persons awaiting spinal surgery at Tallaght hospital; the number of persons by waiting list (details supplied); the average waiting time on each list; the number of persons awaiting spinal surgery at Tallaght hospital who have been referred from Naas hospital; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [22021/17]

Garda Recruitment

Frank O'Rourke

135. Deputy Frank O'Rourke asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Justice and Equality if she will consider raising the age limit which is imposed on persons wishing to join An Garda Síochána whereby persons must be 18 years of age but not yet 35 years of age on midnight of the closing date for the competition; if she will consider extending recruitment to older persons by bringing the age limit in line with that of the PSNI, in which the age limit stands at 42 years of age; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [21131/17]

Hospital Facilities

Frank O'Rourke

276. Deputy Frank O'Rourke asked the Minister for Health if he will consider issuing guidelines to Naas Hospital to provide free parking for persons undergoing cancer treatment; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [21108/17]

School Catchment Areas

Frank O'Rourke

268. Deputy Frank O'Rourke asked the Minister for Education and Skills the policies pursued for school building capacity to cater for the increased demand for school places that is emerging in view of the increase in the number of housing units being developed in the towns of Maynooth, Celbridge, Kilcock and Clane, County Kildare; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [16438/17]

Schools Building Projects Status

Frank O'Rourke

269. Deputy Frank O'Rourke asked the Minister for Education and Skills the status of a letter of intent; if it has been issued to the preferred bidder for the contracts for tender in respect of a school (details supplied); when construction is scheduled to begin; the anticipated completion date; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [16439/17]

Road Improvement Schemes

Frank O'Rourke

326. Deputy Frank O'Rourke asked the Minister for Housing, Planning, Community and Local Government his plans to provide funding to extend the Clane ring road in County Kildare, in view of the increased number of housing units being developed in the town; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [16442/17]

Dog Licences

Frank O'Rourke

157. Deputy Frank O'Rourke asked the Minister for Housing, Planning, Community and Local Government if he will consider reviewing the legislation surrounding dog licensing with a view to exempting assistance and disability dogs from the licence fee in order to assist with the provision of such a support, as is the case with guide dogs that are exempt from licensing; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [14349/17]