Parliamentary questions

Fishing Industry

Pádraig Mac Lochlainn

270. Deputy Pádraig Mac Lochlainn asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the annual budget for the Sea Fisheries Protection Authority in 2019, 2020, 2021, 2022 and 2023; the projected budget for 2024; how much of this budget annually is funded through the European Maritime Fisheries and Aquaculture Fund; how much is funded directly from the Exchequer; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [5844/24]

Fire Safety

Pádraig Mac Lochlainn

248. Deputy Pádraig Mac Lochlainn asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage to clarify the body that has responsibility to ensure that all fire hydrants are working and fit for purpose, whether Uisce Éireann or the local fire services; if he is satisfied that the responsible body is ensuring that they meet their responsibilities to keep all fire hydrants working and operational across the State; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [4998/24]

Air Services

Pádraig Mac Lochlainn

180. Deputy Pádraig Mac Lochlainn asked the Minister for Transport if he has concluded his consideration of Derry City Airport’s economic assessment and supporting materials for a Dublin to Derry air route submitted to his Department in December 2022; and the progress he has made in delivering on the air connectivity review commitment under the New Decade, New Approach agreement since taking up office in 2020. [4744/24]

Road Network

Pádraig Mac Lochlainn

197. Deputy Pádraig Mac Lochlainn asked the Minister for Transport to outline when and if the Government will sign off on the business plan for the TEN-T project in Donegal as submitted by the Donegal National Roads Office. [4066/24]

Schools Building Projects

Pádraig Mac Lochlainn

265. Deputy Pádraig Mac Lochlainn asked the Minister for Education the current status of the planned improvement works and extension to a school (details supplied) [2349/24]

Schools Building Projects

Pádraig Mac Lochlainn

316. Deputy Pádraig Mac Lochlainn asked the Minister for Education further to Parliamentary Question No. 590 of 17 January 2024, if she will urgently review the decision by her Department not to include a school (details supplied) in the school capital buildings programme. [3098/24]

Departmental Meetings

Pádraig Mac Lochlainn

481. Deputy Pádraig Mac Lochlainn asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if he will convene a meeting of the Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine, Bord Bia, BIM, the fishing producer organisations and co-ops (details supplied) at the earliest opportunity to plot a course for the urgent rejuvenation of the seafood industry in Ireland following the stark findings of the recent Bord Bia report “2023-2024 future focused” that the value of Irish seafood exports declined by 14% over the past year and how this compares with another European country and coastal states such as Norway with a similar population to the Republic of Ireland. [2751/24]

Disability Services

Pádraig Mac Lochlainn

502. Deputy Pádraig Mac Lochlainn asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth when Ireland will ratify the Optional Protocol to the United Nations Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities. [2380/24]

Defective Building Materials

Pádraig Mac Lochlainn

219. Deputy Pádraig Mac Lochlainn asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage if he will ensure that the Housing Agency is adequately resourced to service the enhanced defective concrete blocks grant scheme and to ensure that the backlog of applications is worked through as swiftly as possible. [2263/24]

Schools Building Projects

Pádraig Mac Lochlainn

590. Deputy Pádraig Mac Lochlainn asked the Minister for Education when she can confirm that provision for a new school campus (details supplied) on a new greenfield site will be included in the school capital buildings programme, with a clear timeline for delivery. [1038/24]

Defective Building Materials

Pádraig Mac Lochlainn

744. Deputy Pádraig Mac Lochlainn asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage if he will amend the enhanced defective concrete block grant scheme to allow for the testing of concrete foundations, following the findings of scientific studies undertaken on behalf of the National Standards Authority of Ireland. [56556/23]

Defective Building Materials

Pádraig Mac Lochlainn

805. Deputy Pádraig Mac Lochlainn asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage if he is aware that Donegal County Council recently tendered for the repair of a tranche of social houses damaged by defective concrete blocks and insisted on full adherence to the current building regulations, or any subsequent revision of the regulations, while grants issued to private homeowners accessing the enhanced defective blocks scheme are calculated based on 2007 regulations; and if he believes it is appropriate to ask those private homeowners to build homes to 17 year old building standards; the reason social and private houses damaged by defective concrete blocks in County Donegal are being repaired and rebuilt under different building regulations. [1175/24]

Defective Building Materials

Pádraig Mac Lochlainn

817. Deputy Pádraig Mac Lochlainn asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage when his Department will provide clarification to local authorities on how to proceed with applications under the enhanced defective concrete block grant scheme from homeowners who requested a change of circumstance, considering the ongoing review of IS 465 by the NSAI and the uncertainty and lack of confidence with IS 465. [1349/24]

Fishing Industry

Pádraig Mac Lochlainn

1278. Deputy Pádraig Mac Lochlainn asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the number of reported/recorded lost fishing pots; the number of recovered fishing pots that had been reported/recorded lost on the Irish coast and in Ireland's waters overall for 2020, 2021, 2022 and 2023; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [1723/24]

Period Poverty

Pádraig Mac Lochlainn

1501. Deputy Pádraig Mac Lochlainn asked the Minister for Health if he will provide an update on the work of the inter-departmental Period Poverty Implementation Group established two and a half years ago and chaired by his Department; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [56560/23]

Period Poverty

Pádraig Mac Lochlainn

1502. Deputy Pádraig Mac Lochlainn asked the Minister for Health the reason for the delay in progressing his commitments following Government support of the Free Provision of Period Products Bill 2021 and implementation of the recommendations of the Discussion Paper on Period Poverty jointly published by him and the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth three years ago; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [56561/23]

Period Poverty

Pádraig Mac Lochlainn

1503. Deputy Pádraig Mac Lochlainn asked the Minister for Health the dates on which the inter-departmental Period Poverty Implementation Group has met since its inaugural meeting on 8 July 2021 to date, in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [56562/23]

Period Poverty

Pádraig Mac Lochlainn

1504. Deputy Pádraig Mac Lochlainn asked the Minister for Health the annual budgetary amount allocated to the work of the inter-departmental Period Poverty Implementation Group from 2021 to date, in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [56563/23]

Hospital Procedures

Pádraig Mac Lochlainn

1570. Deputy Pádraig Mac Lochlainn asked the Minister for Health when a person (details supplied) in County Donegal will receive a diagnoses from a colonoscopy; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [56968/23]

Pharmacy Services

Pádraig Mac Lochlainn

1590. Deputy Pádraig Mac Lochlainn asked the Minister for Health the reason for the delay for pharmacies in County Donegal not receiving ipramol at the same time as other pharmacies in the South of Ireland; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [57082/23]

Hospital Transfers

Pádraig Mac Lochlainn

1793. Deputy Pádraig Mac Lochlainn asked the Minister for Health if an urgent transfer can be arranged for a person (details supplied) in County Mayo to the National Rehabilitation Hospital in Dún Laoghaire; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [1864/24]

Period Poverty

Pádraig Mac Lochlainn

1817. Deputy Pádraig Mac Lochlainn asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science the annual budgetary amount allocated to the provision of a range of free, adequate, safe and suitable period products in all educational publicly-funded settings including schools, colleges and HEIs from 2021 to date, in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [56558/23]

Period Poverty

Pádraig Mac Lochlainn

1818. Deputy Pádraig Mac Lochlainn asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science the breakdown of the €0.5 million allocated to each further and higher education institution in Budget 2024 for free period products, in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [56559/23]

Period Poverty

Pádraig Mac Lochlainn

1819. Deputy Pádraig Mac Lochlainn asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science the nine further education and training colleges that undertook the ‘Worryfree’ pilot delivering free, sustainable period products and dispensers for students in participating ETBs, in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [56595/23]

Fishing Industry

Pádraig Mac Lochlainn

5. Deputy Pádraig Mac Lochlainn asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the projected financial loss to the vessels of the Irish fishing fleet arising from the actions of the UK and Scottish Governments in blocking them from fishing in their traditional fishing grounds around Rockall for the past number of years; and to provide an update on the status of negotiations with the UK and Scottish Governments, aimed at finding a resolution. [55295/23]

Inshore Fisheries

Pádraig Mac Lochlainn

15. Deputy Pádraig Mac Lochlainn asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the immediate financial support measures he can put in place for the Irish inshore fishing sector to address the deepening crisis in the industry that is threatening the livelihoods of inshore fishermen; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [55722/23]

Public Parks

Pádraig Mac Lochlainn

237. Deputy Pádraig Mac Lochlainn asked the Minister for Public Expenditure, National Development Plan Delivery and Reform the reason the monument at An Grianán of Aileach, County Donegal has been closed to visitors for the past three weeks. [55926/23]

Hospital Transfers

Pádraig Mac Lochlainn

505. Deputy Pádraig Mac Lochlainn asked the Minister for Health when a person (details supplied) in County Donegal can expect to be transferred from Letterkenny University Hospital to Galway University Hospital; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [56127/23]

Hospital Appointments Status

Pádraig Mac Lochlainn

510. Deputy Pádraig Mac Lochlainn asked the Minister for Health when a person (details supplied) in County Galway can expect to receive an appointment from Cappagh Hospital; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [56205/23]

Driver Test

Pádraig Mac Lochlainn

223. Deputy Pádraig Mac Lochlainn asked the Minister for Transport if an Irish citizen who passed a driving test in Ireland, held an Irish driver's licence, subsequently moved to the USA and held a licence there, before returning to Ireland, can renew the Irish licence without having to re-sit the test. [55102/23]

Social Welfare Payments

Pádraig Mac Lochlainn

509. Deputy Pádraig Mac Lochlainn asked the Minister for Social Protection if a person is in receipt of carer's allowance and works part-time and is paid monthly, how her Department determines a person's weekly hours; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [55309/23]

Agriculture Supports

Pádraig Mac Lochlainn

597. Deputy Pádraig Mac Lochlainn asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the reason for the delay in the BISS payment being made to a person in County Donegal (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [54452/23]

Disability Services

Pádraig Mac Lochlainn

710. Deputy Pádraig Mac Lochlainn asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth if urgent respite can be provided for a person (details supplied) in Donegal; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [55265/23]

Defective Building Materials

Pádraig Mac Lochlainn

34. Deputy Pádraig Mac Lochlainn asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage if he will publish written confirmation from the Banking and Payments Federation that homes remediated or rebuilt under the enhanced defective concrete block grant scheme will be mortgageable or remortgageable once completed. [54172/23]

Defective Building Materials

Pádraig Mac Lochlainn

60. Deputy Pádraig Mac Lochlainn asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage to outline why defective concrete block homeowners in counties Donegal, Mayo, Clare and Limerick have been offered support through another limited grant scheme rather than an actual redress scheme similar to the pyrite remediation scheme. [54171/23]

School Transport

Pádraig Mac Lochlainn

192. Deputy Pádraig Mac Lochlainn asked the Minister for Education if her Department will increase the rate of pay for school transport escorts to a level commensurate with special needs assistants; and the reason school transport escorts continue to have to sign on for unemployment benefits when schools are on holidays. [54246/23]

Fishing Industry

Pádraig Mac Lochlainn

436. Deputy Pádraig Mac Lochlainn asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if he will publish, in tabular form, the number of registered inshore and offshore fishing vessels in the ranges under 10, 10 to 12, 12 to 15 and over 15 metres licensed to catch fish for commercial reasons in Ireland for the past ten years; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [53417/23]

Fishing Industry

Pádraig Mac Lochlainn

437. Deputy Pádraig Mac Lochlainn asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the nature of the business relationship between Fexco and Bord Iascaigh Mhara in administering funding schemes for the fisheries sector; if there are direct employees of BIM available to answer queries the applicants may have on these schemes and particularly the application and drawdown of funding process; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [53418/23]

Fishing Industry

Pádraig Mac Lochlainn

438. Deputy Pádraig Mac Lochlainn asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if he and his Department officials have considered introducing a market disruption fund for shellfish fishermen from EMFAF funding streams due to significant market disturbance in the last while; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [53419/23]

Fisheries Protection

Pádraig Mac Lochlainn

439. Deputy Pádraig Mac Lochlainn asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if he will publish the basis and rationale for any proposed cut to the total allowable catch for pollock; if there are any scientific studies behind that proposal; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [53420/23]

Departmental Data

Pádraig Mac Lochlainn

521. Deputy Pádraig Mac Lochlainn asked the Minister for Health to provide the following information in modular form the percentage of inpatients (excluding day cases) who were discharged after one day in hospital, for each Model 3 and Model 4 hospital, in each of the calendar years 2020, 2021 and 2022. [53281/23]

Departmental Data

Pádraig Mac Lochlainn

522. Deputy Pádraig Mac Lochlainn asked the Minister for Health to provide, in modular form, the average length of inpatient stay (for all inpatients) for each Model 3 and Model 4 hospital, in each of the calendar years 2020, 2021 and 2022. [53282/23]

Medicinal Products

Pádraig Mac Lochlainn

585. Deputy Pádraig Mac Lochlainn asked the Minister for Health if the drug phesgo can be administered by general practitioners; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [53579/23]

School Transport

Pádraig Mac Lochlainn

359. Deputy Pádraig Mac Lochlainn asked the Minister for Education the number of school transport escorts that are employed by schools across the State in each of the years 2016 to 2023, in tabular form. [53106/23]

School Transport

Pádraig Mac Lochlainn

360. Deputy Pádraig Mac Lochlainn asked the Minister for Education the total amount of grants provided to schools for the employment of school transport escorts in each of the years 2016 to 2023, in tabular form.; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [53107/23]

Defective Building Materials

Pádraig Mac Lochlainn

87. Deputy Pádraig Mac Lochlainn asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage further to Parliamentary Question No. 146 of 4 October 2023 and his assertion of an understanding that “once a home has been certified as being remediated under the scheme that it will be viewed by banks in the same way as other properties and therefore homes will not be required to be remediated to current building regulations”, if he has officially established from an organisation (details supplied) and other representative bodies for the banks and financial institutions in Ireland that homes remediated or rebuilt under the enhanced defective concrete block grant scheme will be mortgageable or re-mortgageable. [52666/23]

Passport Services

Pádraig Mac Lochlainn

107. Deputy Pádraig Mac Lochlainn asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs if he will assist a person (details supplied) with getting a passport approved for educational purposes; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [52511/23]

Heritage Sites

Pádraig Mac Lochlainn

228. Deputy Pádraig Mac Lochlainn asked the Minister for Public Expenditure, National Development Plan Delivery and Reform if the OPW will consider referencing the connection of Red Hugh (Hugh Roe/ Aodh Ruadh) O’ Donnell to Dublin Castle in guided tours and information points at the castle; and if the OPW will consider erecting a plaque at Dublin Castle to commemorate this great leader in Irish history, similar to the plaque erected by Valladolid City Council in Spain in his memory. [52512/23]

School Staff

Pádraig Mac Lochlainn

284. Deputy Pádraig Mac Lochlainn asked the Minister for Education if she is aware that retired teachers with a class A stamp lose the benefit of their supplementary pension if they step in to assist a local school as a substitute teacher; and if she will have this policy changed, considering that so many schools are impacted by the recruitment and retention crisis. [52381/23]

Fishing Industry

Pádraig Mac Lochlainn

259. Deputy Pádraig Mac Lochlainn asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if he will publish the Brexit pelagic fisheries support scheme application submitted by Ireland to the European Commission; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [51642/23]

Fishing Industry

Pádraig Mac Lochlainn

260. Deputy Pádraig Mac Lochlainn asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if he considers that financial losses faced by vessels in respect of pelagic stocks such as mackerel and herring will be adequately compensated for by the Brexit pelagic fisheries support scheme, given that they will be required to repay any funding received for months that their vessels were tied up as part of the Brexit temporary fleet tie-up scheme or other introduced temporary schemes through the seafood taskforce scheme; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [51643/23]

Hospital Appointments Status

Pádraig Mac Lochlainn

304. Deputy Pádraig Mac Lochlainn asked the Minister for Health if a person (details supplied) in County Donegal is on the routine or urgent waiting list for a consultation in Galway University Hospital; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [51622/23]

Hospital Appointments Status

Pádraig Mac Lochlainn

305. Deputy Pádraig Mac Lochlainn asked the Minister for Health if a person (details supplied) in County Donegal can be considered for an earlier appointment through the National Treatment Fund; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [51623/23]

Hospital Staff

Pádraig Mac Lochlainn

350. Deputy Pádraig Mac Lochlainn asked the Minister for Health the number of posts removed from profile as a result of the memorandums CEO ref. 09954 and 10166 of 2023, by grade for Letterkenny University Hospital, in tabular form; the number of headcount posts and the WTE to which these relate; the number which were new posts; the number which were replacement posts or vacant posts; and the number which were related to absence/leave cover. [51770/23]

Health Services Staff

Pádraig Mac Lochlainn

351. Deputy Pádraig Mac Lochlainn asked the Minister for Health the number of posts removed from profile as a result of the memorandums CEO ref. 09954 and 10166 of 2023, by grade for CHO1, in tabular form; the number of headcount posts and the WTE to which these relate; the number which were new posts; the number which were replacement posts or vacant posts; and the number which were related to absence/leave cover. [51771/23]

Hospital Staff

Pádraig Mac Lochlainn

352. Deputy Pádraig Mac Lochlainn asked the Minister for Health the number of job offers which have been withdrawn as a result of the memorandums CEO ref. 09954 and 10166 of 2023, by grade for Letterkenny University Hospital, in tabular form; and the number of headcount posts and the WTE to which these relate. [51772/23]

Health Services Staff

Pádraig Mac Lochlainn

353. Deputy Pádraig Mac Lochlainn asked the Minister for Health the number of job offers which have been withdrawn as a result of the memorandums CEO ref. 09954 and 10166 of 2023, by grade for CHO1, in tabular form; and the number of headcount posts and the WTE to which these relate. [51773/23]

Schools Building Projects

Pádraig Mac Lochlainn

78. Deputy Pádraig Mac Lochlainn asked the Minister for Education to provide urgent clarification on the timeline for the construction and handover of the new three-school campus at Buncrana, County Donegal, in response to recent media reports that this long-delayed and vital project will not be completed until 2030; and if she will honour the previously-made commitments to fast-track this project. [51162/23]

Fishing Industry

Pádraig Mac Lochlainn

138. Deputy Pádraig Mac Lochlainn asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if he and his Department officials will meet with several organisations (details supplied), following their withdrawal from the North West Herring Group; if he can confirm a date when such a meeting can take place; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [51408/23]

Ambulance Service

Pádraig Mac Lochlainn

518. Deputy Pádraig Mac Lochlainn asked the Minister for Health to provide an update on plans by the National Ambulance Service to develop a permanent ambulance base at Buncrana, County Donegal. [50705/23]

Patient Files

Pádraig Mac Lochlainn

584. Deputy Pádraig Mac Lochlainn asked the Minister for Health if he is aware of the release on social media of videos that show patients' medical records and files stored in unsecured premises at a hospital (details supplied); to confirm that none of the medical records that are being stored there have been stolen or removed after the recent intrusion; what security measures the hospital has deployed at the site where the records were held to protect the medical records; the procedures needed for storing patient medical records; if Letterkenny University Hospital has an inventory of all the medical records that have been stored there; and if the hospital has plans to upgrade security or plans to move the files stored there to a more secure facility. [51116/23]

Education Policy

Pádraig Mac Lochlainn

137. Deputy Pádraig Mac Lochlainn asked the Minister for Education her views on submissions that her Department has received to date from the teacher representative unions in the State about the challenge of accommodating children and students from Ukrainian refugee families; her plans to provide the necessary resources to schools and teachers for this purpose; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [50311/23]

Educational Disadvantage

Pádraig Mac Lochlainn

138. Deputy Pádraig Mac Lochlainn asked the Minister for Education to outline how she plans to reduce class sizes in DEIS schools across Donegal in response to the challenge for teachers in trying to accommodate a diverse range of needs in the large class groups, in particular practical subjects, due to the lack of physical space in rooms; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [50312/23]

School Staff

Pádraig Mac Lochlainn

139. Deputy Pádraig Mac Lochlainn asked the Minister for Education her plans to address the challenge of teacher retention and supply at schools across Donegal; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [50313/23]

National Educational Psychological Service

Pádraig Mac Lochlainn

140. Deputy Pádraig Mac Lochlainn asked the Minister for Education if she will provide the necessary resources to ensure the availability of a comprehensive National Education Psychological Service at schools across Donegal. [50314/23]

Fishing Industry

Pádraig Mac Lochlainn

200. Deputy Pádraig Mac Lochlainn asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if he and his Department are aware of the current livelihood-threatening market disturbance to the brown crab (cancer pagurus) fishery, whereby processors are now not taking any landed produce due to there being no buyers for export live or otherwise; what measures can be taken to identify new markets; what immediate supporting interventions can be made to support the industry during this current market volatility; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [50299/23]

Public Transport

Pádraig Mac Lochlainn

111. Deputy Pádraig Mac Lochlainn asked the Minister for Transport to outline the progress by the National Transport Authority on the introduction of a virtual/digital Leap card for use on smartphones; if he can provide an exact date for introduction; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [49806/23]

Fishing Industry

Pádraig Mac Lochlainn

378. Deputy Pádraig Mac Lochlainn asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if he and his Department officials will meet with representatives of the National Inshore Fishermen's Association (NIFA), the National Inshore Fisheries Forum (NIFF) and the North West Regional Inshore Fisheries Forum (RIFF) following their withdrawal from the Quota Management Advisory Committee (QMAC); if he can confirm a date when such a meeting can take place; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [49495/23]

Common Fisheries Policy

Pádraig Mac Lochlainn

387. Deputy Pádraig Mac Lochlainn asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if he will work to ensure that any future agreements between the EU and Third (non-EU) Countries about access to Irish waters under the jurisdiction of the Common Fisheries Policy include a stipulation that they face the same stringent control and conservation regime as the Irish fleet, particularly with regard to mixed species catch. [49652/23]

Gender Equality

Pádraig Mac Lochlainn

461. Deputy Pádraig Mac Lochlainn asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth if he has developed an online reporting system for the 2023 Gender Pay Gap reporting cycle which will consist of a central portal where all employer reports will be uploaded and can be accessed publicly; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [49805/23]

Defective Building Materials

Pádraig Mac Lochlainn

102. Deputy Pádraig Mac Lochlainn asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage if he is aware of the growing anger and frustration amongst affected homeowners in Donegal and other counties at the serious limitations of the enhanced defective concrete block grant scheme; and if he will immediately work on an actual redress scheme similar to the pyrite remediation scheme rather than this second limited grant scheme. [48828/23]

Public Sector Staff

Pádraig Mac Lochlainn

37. Deputy Pádraig Mac Lochlainn asked the Minister for Education if his Department will urgently review the pay and working conditions of all of the school transport bus escorts across the State, similar to the approach taken in recent times with school secretaries and caretakers, and leading to a similar outcome; and if he will correspond with the Minister for Social Protection, seeking a seamless support to the school transport bus escorts when they have to seek social welfare support, due to the 69 days they receive no pay every year. [49001/23]

Driver Test

Pádraig Mac Lochlainn

223. Deputy Pádraig Mac Lochlainn asked the Minister for Transport when a person (details supplied) in County Donegal can expect an invite for a test date for her driving test; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [47598/23]

Defective Building Materials

Pádraig Mac Lochlainn

654. Deputy Pádraig Mac Lochlainn asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage further to Parliamentary Question No. 305 of 10 October 2023, when his Department will establish an oversight committee to address the defective block crisis that meets regularly and includes all the relevant stakeholders, including homeowner representatives, local authorities, banks, financial institutions and insurance sector, engineers, chartered surveyors, the Housing Agency, etc., as agreed in principle in engagements with the Banking and Payments Federation Ireland, such committee having a broader remit than the Banking Working Group referred to in my previous question, which would only focus on the contribution that the banks can make to the remediation of homes affected by defective blocks. [48071/23]

Marine Protected Areas

Pádraig Mac Lochlainn

691. Deputy Pádraig Mac Lochlainn asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage if he will ensure that the Minister of State with responsibility for Heritage and his Department officials urgently consult with the representatives of the fishing industry in Ireland on his proposals to introduce three new proposed marine conservation areas in the Porcupine Shelf, Southern Canyons and the north west Irish Sea; if there is a consistency in policy application across Government departments when it comes to marine conservation areas and marine protected areas based on the model of the Seafood- Offshore Renewable Energy (ORE) working group. [48827/23]

Hospital Staff

Pádraig Mac Lochlainn

1141. Deputy Pádraig Mac Lochlainn asked the Minister for Health the number of agency staff that are currently employed in Letterkenny University Hospital in any capacity for more than one year combined, with the role that they are assigned to; and the additional cost involved, in tabular form. [47541/23]

Cross-Border Co-operation

Pádraig Mac Lochlainn

1142. Deputy Pádraig Mac Lochlainn asked the Minister for Health what efforts he has made to examine cross-Border co-operation between the public hospitals at Altnagelvin, Letterkenny, Enniskillen and Sligo on a range of medical procedures and operations for patients in the region to prevent long waiting lists, long distances to travel and the increasing cost of referring patients to private care options. [47577/23]

Hospital Appointments Status

Pádraig Mac Lochlainn

1172. Deputy Pádraig Mac Lochlainn asked the Minister for Health when a person (details supplied) in County Donegal can expect to receive an appointment for a consultation in Letterkenny University Hospital; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [47723/23]

Medicinal Products

Pádraig Mac Lochlainn

1276. Deputy Pádraig Mac Lochlainn asked the Minister for Health when the drug ozempic will be made available for GPs to prescribe to diabetes patients; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [48365/23]

Departmental Programmes

Pádraig Mac Lochlainn

1457. Deputy Pádraig Mac Lochlainn asked the Minister for Rural and Community Development when she will complete her review of the CLÁR programme and extend the programme to additional areas in need of support. [47846/23]

Food Safety

Pádraig Mac Lochlainn

93. Deputy Pádraig Mac Lochlainn asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if he will provide a full explanation of a recent incident (details supplied) involving European Union produce transiting through the North of Ireland for processing in the South, which subsequently led to an EU-wide food recall notice being issued; what protocol has been put in place by his Department to prevent such an incident occurring in the future; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [46991/23]

Fuel Prices

Pádraig Mac Lochlainn

113. Deputy Pádraig Mac Lochlainn asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if he will consider introducing a fuel assistance support scheme for the fishing and aquaculture industries similar to such schemes that other European Union members states have implemented, given the increasing price of fuel; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [46992/23]

Special Areas of Conservation

Pádraig Mac Lochlainn

200. Deputy Pádraig Mac Lochlainn asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage what consultation took place with the local community and with local stakeholders before the renewal of the North Inishowen Coast special area of conservation in recent months. [47164/23]

Social Welfare Benefits

Pádraig Mac Lochlainn

209. Deputy Pádraig Mac Lochlainn asked the Minister for Social Protection when the medical assessment will be finalised for an application for disability allowance in respect of a person (details supplied) in County Donegal; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [47108/23]

Hospital Services

Pádraig Mac Lochlainn

197. Deputy Pádraig Mac Lochlainn asked the Minister for Health the number of cancer patients who had their chemotherapy treatment delayed at Letterkenny University Hospital in each of the years 2018 to 2022 and to date in 2023, in tabular form. [46930/23]

Hospital Staff

Pádraig Mac Lochlainn

198. Deputy Pádraig Mac Lochlainn asked the Minister for Health to confirm if the second permanent breast surgeon for Letterkenny University Hospital has been ratified and agreed. [46931/23]

Hospital Appointments Status

Pádraig Mac Lochlainn

200. Deputy Pádraig Mac Lochlainn asked the Minister for Health when a person in County Donegal (details supplied) can expect to receive a date for an operation from Galway University Hospital; if and when a referral was made from Letterkenny University Hospital; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [46997/23]

Hospital Services

Pádraig Mac Lochlainn

547. Deputy Pádraig Mac Lochlainn asked the Minister for Health the reason a person (details supplied) cannot avail of light therapy treatment for a skin condition at Letterkenny University Hospital. [46315/23]

International Protection

Pádraig Mac Lochlainn

228. Deputy Pádraig Mac Lochlainn asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth the location of each emergency accommodation centre for international protection applicants across the State; and the number of international protection applicants at each centre, in tabular form. [45442/23]

Disability Services

Pádraig Mac Lochlainn

254. Deputy Pádraig Mac Lochlainn asked the Minister for Health if respite services (details supplied) in County Donegal are fully operational; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [45435/23]

Flood Risk Management

Pádraig Mac Lochlainn

177. Deputy Pádraig Mac Lochlainn asked the Minister for Public Expenditure, National Development Plan Delivery and Reform further to Parliamentary Question No. 151 of 10 October 2023, the reason the Minister of State for the OPW makes no commitment to meet with the elected members of the Inishowen Municipal District, Donegal County Council, as they have repeatedly requested, to examine how the flood defence works at Burnfoot, County Donegal, can be more speedily advanced, considering that the Minister of State for the OPW stated that he was open to meeting the locally elected members in two previous responses to Parliamentary Questions on the matter. [44977/23]

Defective Building Materials

Pádraig Mac Lochlainn

337. Deputy Pádraig Mac Lochlainn asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage to outline what the 2024 budget is for assisting families availing of the enhanced defective concrete blocks grant scheme; if he is satisfied that this amount will be sufficient to cover the costs of all those who wish to avail of the scheme. [45233/23]

Defective Building Materials

Pádraig Mac Lochlainn

338. Deputy Pádraig Mac Lochlainn asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage when he will provide the necessary funding to Donegal County Council to allow it to commence the process of remediating its housing stock affected by defective concrete blocks. [45234/23]

Defective Building Materials

Pádraig Mac Lochlainn

344. Deputy Pádraig Mac Lochlainn asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage when he will respond to correspondence from a person (details supplied) seeking urgent clarification in relation to assurances from Irish banks and financial institutions that homes that are remediated under the enhanced defective concrete blocks grant scheme will be mortgageable or re-mortgageable for existing homeowners or potential buyers in the future. [45363/23]

Hospital Staff

Pádraig Mac Lochlainn

554. Deputy Pádraig Mac Lochlainn asked the Minister for Health what arrangements will be in place for dermatology patients at Letterkenny University Hospital when the only dermatologist retires shortly. [44974/23]

Hospital Overcrowding

Pádraig Mac Lochlainn

555. Deputy Pádraig Mac Lochlainn asked the Minister for Health if he is aware of the letter from 78 GPs in Donegal, conveying their serious concerns about the ongoing crisis at Letterkenny University Hospital, calling for a review of services at the hospital and asking him to come to Donegal and meet with them to discuss their concerns; and if he will agree to this request. [44975/23]

Hospital Waiting Lists

Pádraig Mac Lochlainn

558. Deputy Pádraig Mac Lochlainn asked the Minister for Health the number of patients awaiting knee and hip surgeries at Letterkenny University Hospital; and the number of cancellations of appointments for knee and hip surgeries at Letterkenny University Hospital in each of the years 2021, 2022, and 2023, in tabular form. [45000/23]

Hospital Procedures

Pádraig Mac Lochlainn

559. Deputy Pádraig Mac Lochlainn asked the Minister for Health the number of day surgeries that have been cancelled at Letterkenny University Hospital in 2021, 2022, and 2023, in tabular form. [45001/23]

Hospital Facilities

Pádraig Mac Lochlainn

561. Deputy Pádraig Mac Lochlainn asked the Minister for Health if he will ask the HSE to urgently review the decision not to include a surgical hub for the north west and to consider Donegal town as one of the locations for a surgical hub, due to its location between Sligo University Hospital and Letterkenny University Hospital (with almost 40,000 inpatients combined annually) and to support the ability of surgeons and consultants to work through the long waiting lists for surgical procedures at both hospitals and to deliver equality of access to healthcare for the people of the north west. [45005/23]

Hospital Procedures

Pádraig Mac Lochlainn

563. Deputy Pádraig Mac Lochlainn asked the Minister for Health the number of primary total hip and primary total knee replacement surgeries performed at Letterkenny University Hospital during each of the calendar years 2018 to 2022, in tabular form. [45041/23]