Parliamentary questions

Health Services Staff

Joan Collins

573. Deputy Joan Collins asked the Minister for Health the number of vacant WTE speech and language therapist posts within CHO7; and when these vacancies will be filled, in tabular form. [49819/23]

Rights of the Child

Joan Collins

837. Deputy Joan Collins asked the Minister for Justice further to Parliamentary Question Nos. 143, 144 and 145 of 5 July 2023, where she replied that "the criminal law (sexual offences and human trafficking) Bill 2023, which will be published this month, will remove the final obstacles to ratification of the protocol", and that, if enacted, the State should be in a position to ratify the second optional protocol to the UNCRC on the Sale of and Child Pornography; and if she will explain the discrepancies in the above statements. [48257/23]

Rights of the Child

Joan Collins

838. Deputy Joan Collins asked the Minister for Justice to clarify if Ireland will be able to ratify the 2nd optional protocol on the Sale of Children, Child Prostitution and Child Pornography once the Criminal Law (sexual offences and human trafficking) Bill 2023 is enacted. [48259/23]

Rights of the Child

Joan Collins

839. Deputy Joan Collins asked the Minister for Justice further to Parliamentary Question No.167 of 5 July 2023, if she will clarify what she meant by certain outstanding aspects of the protocol (details supplied). [48260/23]

Child Protection

Joan Collins

1053. Deputy Joan Collins asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth if there will be no further reason not to proceed to ratification of the UNCRC second optional protocol, on the sale of children, child prostitution and child pornography, once Ireland is in compliance with certain outstanding aspects. [48261/23]

Child Protection

Joan Collins

1054. Deputy Joan Collins asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth further to Parliamentary Question No. 167 of 5 July 2023, the exact requirements to proceed to the next steps; and how soon an awareness-raising campaign will commence (details supplied). [48262/23]

Child Protection

Joan Collins

1055. Deputy Joan Collins asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth if he has made preparations for the ratification of the UNCRC second optional protocol, on the sale of children, child prostitution and child pornography (details supplied); and, if so, if he will elaborate on his plans for same. [48263/23]

Child Protection

Joan Collins

1056. Deputy Joan Collins asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth if the awareness-raising campaign in schools and colleges will be in the hands solely of him or if it will require the agreement of the Ministers for Education and Justice, or other school bodies, as Ireland must be compliant with all of Article 9 of the second optional protocol to the UNCRC (OPSC) when Ireland ratifies it. [48267/23]

Child Protection

Joan Collins

1057. Deputy Joan Collins asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth as Ireland has had a very long time to prepare for all that is needed to comply with Article 9 of the second optional protocol to the UNCRC (OPSC), if he has a plan in place, or does he envisage that it will not take too long to put in place. [48268/23]

Child Protection

Joan Collins

1060. Deputy Joan Collins asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth if the awareness-raising campaign on Article 9 of the second optional protocol to the UNCRC will be ongoing and done in such a way that the general public can see the information without having to read small print or a www link (details supplied); and if the awareness campaign will be similar to the 'Disability rights are Human Rights' campaign. [48343/23]

Child Protection

Joan Collins

1061. Deputy Joan Collins asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth further to Parliamentary Question No. 122 of 29 March 2023, to outline his plans for Ireland meeting its obligation on Article 9 of the UNCRC, in particular when Ireland ratifies the second optional protocol to the UNCRC (OPSC). [48344/23]

International Agreements

Joan Collins

67. Deputy Joan Collins asked the Minister for Finance if Ireland will be supporting the adoption of a United Nations tax convention under the proposal set out by the UN Secretary General (details supplied). [46844/23]

Employment Rights

Joan Collins

80. Deputy Joan Collins asked the Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment if he will outline what the Workplace Relations Commission’s response was to a request concerning legislation (details supplied); the reason the directive, guaranteed at the time by the then Minister, was never implemented; and the position of the Government on this vitally important issue. [46846/23]

Disability Services

Joan Collins

160. Deputy Joan Collins asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth to clarify if all children in a school (details supplied) will have access to services; and what the plans are to broaden these hours and services in the school. [46819/23]

Hospital Services

Joan Collins

182. Deputy Joan Collins asked the Minister for Health the reason laboratory services are unable to cope with important routine blood testing; and if phlebotomy services are temporarily closing in other hospitals (details supplied). [46823/23]

General Practitioner Services

Joan Collins

183. Deputy Joan Collins asked the Minister for Health the reason there is a change to the GMS payment for family practices (details supplied); if a new arrangement has been negotiated with the HSE and Revenue; and if the HSE has considered the ramifications. [46824/23]

Vaccination Programme

Joan Collins

185. Deputy Joan Collins asked the Minister for Health the reason there is no scheme in place to reimburse the cost of the shingles vaccine (details supplied); and if he will administer a blanket vaccine, as with the over-60s flu and Covid vaccine, or bring in a form of reimbursement. [46826/23]

Employment Support Services

Joan Collins

380. Deputy Joan Collins asked the Minister for Social Protection the reason the local employability service in south Dublin which has been supporting community since 2004 has been advised that services are to go to public tendering (details supplied). [46707/23]

Hospital Services

Joan Collins

623. Deputy Joan Collins asked the Minister for Health the reason patients waiting for gynaecology outpatients are being advised that “due to the increased demand for gynaecology services at the Coombe Women and Infants University Hospital, waiting time routine appointments may exceed 52 weeks”; and what plans the HSE and the hospital have to resolve these waiting lists (details supplied). [46704/23]

Departmental Data

Joan Collins

624. Deputy Joan Collins asked the Minister for Health if he is concerned that children’s health may be compromised due to the lack of staff in Limekiln Lane Health Centre, the Old County Road health centre and Curlew Road health centre, Dublin 12 (details supplied); the staff level rates and vacancy rates in these three centres; how many staff have been recruited since May 2023; and how many staff have left, in tabular form. [46716/23]

Employment Rights

Joan Collins

203. Deputy Joan Collins asked the Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment if the intention of the overtime element of the new ERO legislation was to see security workers paid time and a half for every hour worked over 48 hours (details supplied); and if not, his plans to close this loophole that employers are now taking advantage of to avoid paying their workers time and a half rates. [44995/23]

Control of Dogs

Joan Collins

425. Deputy Joan Collins asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if any of the recommendations from the interdepartmental working group which has been examining issues under the Control of Dogs Act (details supplied) have been implemented and if he will provide details on the recommendation on signage of the by-laws on dogs in parks; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [44934/23]

Control of Dogs

Joan Collins

646. Deputy Joan Collins asked the Minister for Rural and Community Development if any of the recommendations from the interdepartmental working group which has been examining issues under the Control of Dogs Act (details supplied) have been implemented and if she will provide details on the recommendation on signage of the by-laws on dogs in parks. [44935/23]

State Pensions

Joan Collins

323. Deputy Joan Collins asked the Minister for Social Protection if a benchmarking report (details supplied) has been submitted to Government; and if so, when the report will be published. [43655/23]

Hospital Staff

Joan Collins

490. Deputy Joan Collins asked the Minister for Health the number of WTE consultant rheumatologists at St. James's Hospital in 2021, 2022 and to date in 2023, in tabular form. [43589/23]

Health Services

Joan Collins

491. Deputy Joan Collins asked the Minister for Health the way the €2.1 million allocated in 2023 for the full resumption of dementia specific day care services will be spent, in tabular form. [43590/23]

Hospital Procedures

Joan Collins

492. Deputy Joan Collins asked the Minister for Health the number of craniosynostosis surgeries performed at CHI Temple Street in 2022 and to date in 2023, in tabular form. [43591/23]

Health Strategies

Joan Collins

493. Deputy Joan Collins asked the Minister for Health the way the €2.7 million allocated for the implementation of the national strategy for accelerating genomic medicine in Ireland will be spent in 2023, in tabular form. [43592/23]

Health Services

Joan Collins

495. Deputy Joan Collins asked the Minister for Health the counselling services offered within the adolescent addiction services; and the number of staff within these services. [43606/23]

Care Services

Joan Collins

496. Deputy Joan Collins asked the Minister for Health the number of respite centres in CHO7 in 2022 and to date in 2023, in tabular form. [43605/23]

Medical Research and Training

Joan Collins

497. Deputy Joan Collins asked the Minister for Health the estimated cost in 2024 to provide an additional 120 GP training places. [43610/23]

Health Services

Joan Collins

498. Deputy Joan Collins asked the Minister for Health his plans to establish a centre of excellence for adult deficit hyperactivity disorder; and the costs of these plans. [43611/23]

Hospital Procedures

Joan Collins

499. Deputy Joan Collins asked the Minister for Health the number of vascular stenting procedures carried out in each public hospital in 2021, 2022 and to date in 2023, in tabular form. [43612/23]

Healthcare Infrastructure Provision

Joan Collins

501. Deputy Joan Collins asked the Minister for Health to provide an update on the establishment of a National Psychology Placement Office; and the funding for this establishment, including staff costs. [43615/23]

Bus Services

Joan Collins

14. Deputy Joan Collins asked the Minister for Transport to intervene and arrange a meeting with the NTA with public representatives and a resident representation regarding the removal of several bus routes in Dublin (details supplied), as to date the NTA has refused to do so. [42970/23]

Bus Services

Joan Collins

64. Deputy Joan Collins asked the Minister for Transport if he stands over the NTA’s refusal to meet public representatives and residents following a request from this Deputy to meet the NTA before it attempts to implement changes to bus services (details supplied). [42973/23]

Water Services

Joan Collins

341. Deputy Joan Collins asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage what oversight, if any, his Department has in the awarding of public contracts by Uisce Éireann, particularly in relation to the Hybrid 2 project at Ringsend, which has been awarded to a company (details supplied); and if he is satisfied that this company is complying with obligations under public procurement regulations, Statutory Instrument no. 284/2016 Section 18 subsection (4) (a), in the fields of 'Environmental, Social and Labour Law'. [41364/23]

Abortion Services

Joan Collins

32. Deputy Joan Collins asked the Minister for Health how he is making the Health (Termination of Pregnancy Services) (Safe Access Zones) Bill 2023 a priority, to have it in operation by Christmas 2023 (details supplied). [40652/23]

Hospital Waiting Lists

Joan Collins

53. Deputy Joan Collins asked the Minister for Health the reason that a person (details supplied) has been waiting so long for their operation. [40651/23]

Adoption Services

Joan Collins

834. Deputy Joan Collins asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth what percentage of tracing applications made under the Birth Information and Tracing Act 2022 have been allocated to a social worker by the Adoption Authority of Ireland and Tusla – the Child and Family Agency respectively (with the percentage provided for each body). [39992/23]

Pension Provisions

Joan Collins

69. Deputy Joan Collins asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications if he will sign-off on agreed pensionincreases (details supplied). [35681/23]

Taxi Regulations

Joan Collins

188. Deputy Joan Collins asked the Minister for Transport to reasonably justify the decision of the NTA in November 2022, to accommodate 30% of taxi operators, while excluding the other 70% from extending the operational life of taxi vehicles (details supplied). [35659/23]

Hospital Services

Joan Collins

1102. Deputy Joan Collins asked the Minister for Health if he will deliver on the promise in the Programme for Government to support Clinical Genetic Services at CHI, Crumlin, by appointing six genomic resource associate roles to reduce the currently unacceptable two-year waiting list, as called for by a campaign (details supplied). [35627/23]

Dental Services

Joan Collins

1124. Deputy Joan Collins asked the Minister for Health the options that are available to a person aged 15 years who has been waiting since January 2019 for orthodontic treatment; if they qualify for treatment under the National Treatment Purchase Fund or the Cross-Border Directive; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [35778/23]

Hospital Waiting Lists

Joan Collins

840. Deputy Joan Collins asked the Minister for Health if there is a lack of theatre beds and resources and long waiting lists for scoliosis procedures in Tallaght Hospital (details supplied). [34309/23]

Housing Policy

Joan Collins

18. Deputy Joan Collins asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage in response to my Leader’s Question on Part V segregation the Minister made statements (details supplied); is it Government policy to ‘pepper-pot’ Part V tenants across developments or to continue to allow the segregation of Part V tenants into separate areas or blocks, as seen in The Davitt apartment complex. [33096/23]

Hare Coursing

Joan Collins

76. Deputy Joan Collins asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage if he will refuse 2023-2024 licences for cruel hare coursing as there appears to be uncertainty over the number of hare’s in the country (details supplied) [32725/23]

Social Welfare Payments

Joan Collins

108. Deputy Joan Collins asked the Minister for Social Protection if she will confirm, in view of a statement made by the Minister for Finance on 22 June 2023 that “there will be a core welfare package to try to improve the incomes of people who are on fixed incomes”, that these increases will be above the rate of inflation and will increase welfare payments in real terms. [32977/23]

Raidió Teilifís Éireann

Joan Collins

126. Deputy Joan Collins asked the Minister for Social Protection through investigations by her Department and a firm (details supplied) how many RTÉ workers were found to be on bogus self-employment contracts; and how many have now been placed on full employee contacts. [32975/23]

Raidió Teilifís Éireann

Joan Collins

128. Deputy Joan Collins asked the Minister for Social Protection in relation to information (details supplied) from an email I have received from RTÉ staff, if her Department has investigated these matters; and what were the conclusions of these investigations. [32976/23]