Parliamentary questions

Health Services

Pádraig Mac Lochlainn

1491. Deputy Pádraig Mac Lochlainn asked the Minister for Health his views on whether it is acceptable for a person (details supplied) in County Donegal to wait almost two months for further cancer treatment in Letterkenny University Hospital for an aggressive, terminal cancer; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [12930/24]

Health Services Staff

Pádraig Mac Lochlainn

400. Deputy Pádraig Mac Lochlainn asked the Minister for Health if he is aware of the widespread concern in the communities of south Inishowen, County Donegal, regarding the HSE plan to relocate the public health nurse from Fahan Health Centre to Buncrana; and if he plans to reverse this decision and maintain this important service in the local community. [11380/24]

Health Services

Pádraig Mac Lochlainn

415. Deputy Pádraig Mac Lochlainn asked the Minister for Health the reason Parliamentary Question No. 619 of 27 February 2024, was responded to by the Manager of Letterkenny University Hospital rather than the HSE officials who made the decision not to allocate the ANP; the reason for ANP for adult diabetes services has not been agreed and appointed at Letterkenny University Hospital, considering the long waiting lists for diabetes patients at the hospital. [11419/24]

Social Welfare Benefits

Pádraig Mac Lochlainn

127. Deputy Pádraig Mac Lochlainn asked the Minister for Social Protection if an application for disability allowance (details supplied) will be assessed on current means only; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [11054/24]

Harbours and Piers

Pádraig Mac Lochlainn

177. Deputy Pádraig Mac Lochlainn asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine further to Parliamentary Question No. 278 of 1 June 2023, and 381 and 382 of 27 February 2024, if he will provide the latest update for development plans at Dunmore East; if a significant capital development project for Dunmore East will be announced in the near future; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [11204/24]

Harbours and Piers

Pádraig Mac Lochlainn

516. Deputy Pádraig Mac Lochlainn asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if he will designate Magheroarty Pier in County Donegal as a landing point for UK registered vessels, similar to other piers and harbours across Donegal. [10205/24]

Health Service Executive

Pádraig Mac Lochlainn

769. Deputy Pádraig Mac Lochlainn asked the Minister for Health if the HSE had provided a taxi transport service for a person in County Donegal (details supplied) to attend Sligo University Hospital for intravitreal injections, the reason this service will no longer be provided; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [10733/24]

Health Service Executive

Pádraig Mac Lochlainn

770. Deputy Pádraig Mac Lochlainn asked the Minister for Health if a person from County Donegal (details supplied) attended Sligo University Hospital for intravitreal treatment, can this person receive this treatment in Letterkenny University Hospital; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [10734/24]

Medicinal Products

Pádraig Mac Lochlainn

316. Deputy Pádraig Mac Lochlainn asked the Minister for Health if the drug phesgo can be administered by GPs; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [9856/24]

Foreign Policy

Pádraig Mac Lochlainn

68. Deputy Pádraig Mac Lochlainn asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs if he is aware that the person accused of the rape and murder of an Irish citizen (details supplied) in India in March 2017 has again been granted bail; and the engagements the Government has had with the Indian Government on the length of time this trial has taken. [9380/24]

Social Welfare Benefits

Pádraig Mac Lochlainn

303. Deputy Pádraig Mac Lochlainn asked the Minister for Social Protection if there are any State supports available to a family whose home has been seriously damaged by a lightning strike and who may lose out financially due to the gap between the insurance pay out and the actual cost of repair. [9202/24]

Harbours and Piers

Pádraig Mac Lochlainn

381. Deputy Pádraig Mac Lochlainn asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine for a progress report on the west wharf extension and return project for Dunmore East Harbour, to which €300,000 was allocated in the Fishery Harbour and Coastal Infrastructure Development Programme 2023, but which has no allocation in the 2024 Development Programme, and with, I am advised, no works having been carried out; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [8845/24]

Harbours and Piers

Pádraig Mac Lochlainn

382. Deputy Pádraig Mac Lochlainn asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if the €150,000 funding announced for a new retaining wall along cliff in the Fishery Harbour Centres and Coastal Infrastructure Development Programme 2024 is a reannouncement of funding for the same project committed to in the development programme for 2023 or if it is additional monies for further expansion; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [8846/24]

Harbours and Piers

Pádraig Mac Lochlainn

383. Deputy Pádraig Mac Lochlainn asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if he will provide a full breakdown in tabular form of all funding spent and committed to in the Fishery Harbour Centres and Coastal Infrastructure Development Programmes at the six State-owned fishery harbour centres since 2020; if he will provide details of any projects that were announced but not commenced or completed during those years; the amount of funding that was allocated to projects but then did not proceed; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [8847/24]

Hospital Services

Pádraig Mac Lochlainn

583. Deputy Pádraig Mac Lochlainn asked the Minister for Health when physiotherapy and occupational therapy services will be reinstated for patients and residents at a hospital (details supplied). [9149/24]

Departmental Data

Pádraig Mac Lochlainn

584. Deputy Pádraig Mac Lochlainn asked the Minister for Health to provide the number of patients, both long-term and short-term, who are resident in a hospital (details supplied), in tabular form. [9150/24]

Dental Services

Pádraig Mac Lochlainn

585. Deputy Pádraig Mac Lochlainn asked the Minister for Health when dental services will be reinstated for patients and residents at a hospital (details supplied). [9151/24]

Healthcare Policy

Pádraig Mac Lochlainn

586. Deputy Pádraig Mac Lochlainn asked the Minister for Health to clarify the current policy of step down and convalescent patients being transferred from a hospital (details supplied). [9152/24]

Hospital Services

Pádraig Mac Lochlainn

587. Deputy Pádraig Mac Lochlainn asked the Minister for Health when the day centre service will be reinstated to a hospital (details supplied). [9153/24]

General Practitioner Services

Pádraig Mac Lochlainn

597. Deputy Pádraig Mac Lochlainn asked the Minister for Health when the HSE will reinstate the five-days-a-week doctor-GP service at the Churchill Health Centre, County Donegal. [9203/24]

Healthcare Infrastructure Provision

Pádraig Mac Lochlainn

612. Deputy Pádraig Mac Lochlainn asked the Minister for Health if he will ask the HSE or Saolta University Health Care Group to commence the process of identifying a site in Letterkenny, County Donegal, for a two-theatre elective surgery hospital to support the team of surgeons at Letterkenny University Hospital and to reduce waiting lists for patients in Donegal. [9239/24]

Hospital Facilities

Pádraig Mac Lochlainn

618. Deputy Pádraig Mac Lochlainn asked the Minister for Health if the HSE will deliver a minor injury unit to be based at Carndonagh Community Hospital as part of the plan to reduce attendances at the crisis-laden emergency department at Letterkenny University Hospital. [9274/24]

Hospital Staff

Pádraig Mac Lochlainn

619. Deputy Pádraig Mac Lochlainn asked the Minister for Health the reason an ANP for adult diabetes services has not been agreed and appointed at Letterkenny University Hospital, considering the long waiting lists for diabetes patients at the hospital. [9275/24]

Hospital Staff

Pádraig Mac Lochlainn

620. Deputy Pádraig Mac Lochlainn asked the Minister for Health when the HSE will sanction and appoint all the requested podiatrist posts, as requested by Letterkenny University Hospital, considering the long waiting lists for diabetes patients at the hospital. [9276/24]

Hospital Facilities

Pádraig Mac Lochlainn

622. Deputy Pádraig Mac Lochlainn asked the Minister for Health his views on whether it is acceptable that ten years since the major flood at Letterkenny University Hospital, the onsite outpatient clinic has not been reinstated at the hospital; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [9279/24]

Health Services Staff

Pádraig Mac Lochlainn

628. Deputy Pádraig Mac Lochlainn asked the Minister for Health the reason the HSE has not appointed a child psychologist to work with children living with diabetes in Donegal, as would be normal practice across the State. [9306/24]

Defective Building Materials

Pádraig Mac Lochlainn

173. Deputy Pádraig Mac Lochlainn asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage if the NSAI has received research results and-or statements from the research partners engaged by the GSI to investigate the issue of defective concrete in Ireland. [8521/24]

Defective Building Materials

Pádraig Mac Lochlainn

174. Deputy Pádraig Mac Lochlainn asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage if in the interest of transparency for families impacted by the defective concrete crisis, he will ensure that all research results, whether interim or final, and all statements received by the NSAI to date from the Geological Survey Ireland and research partners are published forthwith. [8522/24]

Defective Building Materials

Pádraig Mac Lochlainn

175. Deputy Pádraig Mac Lochlainn asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage if all research results, whether interim or final, and statements from the independent research partners commissioned by Geological Survey Ireland into the issue of defective concrete are being acted upon with due diligence with immediate effect by his Department, NSAI and the Housing Agency. [8523/24]

Defective Building Materials

Pádraig Mac Lochlainn

176. Deputy Pádraig Mac Lochlainn asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage his views on his Department, the NSAI, the Housing Agency and local authorities persisting to administer the multi-billion euro defective concrete block scheme based upon a flawed desktop study, without prudently and immediately taking into account the clear scientific evidence from independent researchers that the primary cause of defective concrete in all counties is internal sulphate attack. [8524/24]

Planning Issues

Pádraig Mac Lochlainn

181. Deputy Pádraig Mac Lochlainn asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage if he will make changes to the guidelines that deny planning permission to applicants in Donegal who would have to access on to the N56. [8558/24]

State Examinations

Pádraig Mac Lochlainn

68. Deputy Pádraig Mac Lochlainn asked the Minister for Education if she will consider the abolition of the assessment a child has to do in order to get a scribe for examinations; if she agrees that this decision should be left to the principal or vice-principal of the relevant school as they will know the child's needs better than anyone. [8132/24]

Hospital Services

Pádraig Mac Lochlainn

176. Deputy Pádraig Mac Lochlainn asked the Minister for Health if a treatment plan for a medical condition at Galway University Hospital or another public hospital in this State will be put in place for a person (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [8301/24]

Special Educational Needs

Pádraig Mac Lochlainn

280. Deputy Pádraig Mac Lochlainn asked the Minister for Education if she is aware of the widespread shock and dismay amongst parents and carers, caused by the changes to the allocation of the special education teaching hours; and if she will urgently review this decision. [7622/24]

Defective Building Materials

Pádraig Mac Lochlainn

100. Deputy Pádraig Mac Lochlainn asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the reason he continues to expect engineers to sign off on remediation recommendations for the enhanced defective concrete block grant scheme, based on I.S 465, when there is clear scientific evidence that this standard is no longer fit for purpose. [6616/24]

Defective Building Materials

Pádraig Mac Lochlainn

130. Deputy Pádraig Mac Lochlainn asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage if he will commit to making changes to the enhanced defective concrete block grant scheme in response to the growing evidence that the scheme will not be accessible for most affected families, and in line with his commitment to review the scheme after six months. [6615/24]

Driver Test

Pádraig Mac Lochlainn

168. Deputy Pádraig Mac Lochlainn asked the Minister for Transport when a person in County Donegal (details supplied) can expect an invite for a driving test; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [7152/24]

Planning Issues

Pádraig Mac Lochlainn

175. Deputy Pádraig Mac Lochlainn asked the Minister for Transport following his recent meeting with members of Donegal County Council, if he will make changes to the national policy that denies planning permission to applicants in Donegal who would have to access on to the N56. [7333/24]

Special Educational Needs

Pádraig Mac Lochlainn

208. Deputy Pádraig Mac Lochlainn asked the Minister for Education if plans are in place to provide an autism spectrum disorder, ASD, room for a school (details supplied) that requires such an addition; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [7340/24]

Social Welfare Payments

Pádraig Mac Lochlainn

231. Deputy Pádraig Mac Lochlainn asked the Minister for Social Protection the policy her Department has regarding wages derived from a limited company and how they are assessed and treated in relation to means tested social welfare payments; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [6732/24]

Social Welfare Payments

Pádraig Mac Lochlainn

232. Deputy Pádraig Mac Lochlainn asked the Minister for Social Protection the policy her Department has regarding profits held in a limited company and how they are treated and assessed in relation to means tested social welfare payments; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [6733/24]

Mental Health Services

Pádraig Mac Lochlainn

319. Deputy Pádraig Mac Lochlainn asked the Minister for Health if no current or future residents of the SRU unit, Old Convent Road, Carndonagh, County Donegal will be forced to move against their and their family’s will and that day services at the unit will be reinstated; and if he will ensure that the meeting requested of HSE officials, local public representatives and affected families is facilitated at the earliest opportunity. [6895/24]

Schools Building Projects

Pádraig Mac Lochlainn

96. Deputy Pádraig Mac Lochlainn asked the Minister for Education if she is aware of the delay in the construction of the new school building at a school (details supplied); if any plans are in place to address this delay; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [6399/24]

Curaclam Scoile

Pádraig Mac Lochlainn

260. D'fhiafraigh Deputy Pádraig Mac Lochlainn den Aire Oideachais an bhfuil cinneadh déanta maidir le líon na sraithphictiúir atá le déanamh ag daltaí atá ag ullmhú don Ardteist; an bhfuair a Roinn aon chomhfhreagras ó dhaltaí ag léiriú míshástacht faoin mbrú a chuireann an 20 sraithphictiúir reatha orthu; agus cé na hiarrachtaí atá ar bun aici chun an brú i measc an chúigiú agus an séú bliain a laghdú. [6037/24]

Schools Building Projects

Pádraig Mac Lochlainn

301. Deputy Pádraig Mac Lochlainn asked the Minister for Education if she is aware of the delay in the construction of a new school building (details supplied); if any plans are in place to address this delay; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [6428/24]

Hospital Services

Pádraig Mac Lochlainn

585. Deputy Pádraig Mac Lochlainn asked the Minister for Health what services or financial supports are available from the State to patients in County Donegal who have to travel for hospital treatment outside of their county; and if he can clarify whether the transport for patients to Sligo Hospital Eye Clinic has now been curtailed or cancelled. [6318/24]

Oideachas trí Ghaeilge

Pádraig Mac Lochlainn

203. D'fhiafraigh Deputy Pádraig Mac Lochlainn den Aire Oideachais an bhfuil cinneadh déanta maidir le líon na sraithphictiúir atá le déanamh ag daltaí atá ag ullmhú don Ardteist; an bhfuair a Roinn aon chomhfhreagras ó dhaltaí ag léiriú míshástacht faoin mbrú a chuireann an 20 sraithphictiúir reatha orthu; agus cén iarrachtaí atá ar bun aici chun an brú i measc an chúigiú agus an séú bliain a laghdú [5817/24]

Aquaculture Industry

Pádraig Mac Lochlainn

267. Deputy Pádraig Mac Lochlainn asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the support he is providing under the EMFAF (details supplied) to support the marketing of fishery and aquaculture products to allow for the creation of producer organisations, the implementation of production and marketing plans, the promotion of new market outlets and the development and dissemination of market intelligence; if he has engaged with the Minister for Public Expenditure, National Development Plan Delivery and Reform on this matter to explore flexible funding options; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [5841/24]

Fishing Industry

Pádraig Mac Lochlainn

268. Deputy Pádraig Mac Lochlainn asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if he is satisfied that the decision making process that has led to the closure of the pollock fishery for bycatch only in ICES areas and 7 is as accurate as possible, given a new assessment approach was used as opposed to landings data which had been used in previous years; if other measures for catch have been considered like minimum size or a seasonal fishery had been considered rather than an outright ban; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [5842/24]

Fishing Industry

Pádraig Mac Lochlainn

269. Deputy Pádraig Mac Lochlainn asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if he is considering any changes to the approach when allocating a quota for the annual mackerel hook and line fishery in 2024; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [5843/24]