Parliamentary questions

Hospital Waiting Lists

Colm Keaveney

424. Deputy Colm Keaveney asked the Minister for Health the number of persons on the waiting list for orthopaedic surgery to treat scoliosis curves and the number of such surgeries carried out in Galway University Hospital, by month, from January 2011 to 2015 to date; the number of such surgeries it is planned to carry out in the hospital, by month, from December 2015 to June 2016; and if he will make a statement on the matter [42623/15]

Hospital Waiting Lists

Colm Keaveney

425. Deputy Colm Keaveney asked the Minister for Health while fully cognisant of section 6 of the Health Service Executive (Governance) Act 2013 and clarifying that this is not a request for him to intervene in the case of a person (details supplied), if he will clarify, as a matter of policy, his views on whether it is acceptable that a 14 year old patient would be left for over two years with an 80+ degree scoliosis curve, suffering significant deterioration of quality of life, general health and mental health, especially given that the delay in treatment may reduce the effectiveness of the corrective surgery; if he will identify any policy decision or funding decision he can take that will resolve the delay in cases like this, and having so identified the solution if he will implement it and if not, the reason; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [42628/15]

Services for People with Disabilities

Colm Keaveney

481. Deputy Colm Keaveney asked the Minister for Health the progress that has been made in implementing each of the 31 recommendations in the 2011 Health Service Executive report, Time to Move on from Congregated Settings; the time frame for full implementation of these recommendations; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [42333/15]

School Accommodation Provision

Colm Keaveney

531. Deputy Colm Keaveney asked the Minister for Education and Skills if she will provide funding for the provision of temporary accommodation in the Presentation College, Athenry, County Galway, in order that the school can accept the enrolment of children who have been refused due to the significant excess of demand for places over capacity; if she will intervene with the Industrial Development Agency Ireland to negotiate a withdrawal of its opposition to enable the new school to be constructed on the site the school purchased for that purpose; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [42807/15]

Broadband Service Provision

Colm Keaveney

598. Deputy Colm Keaveney asked the Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources if he has plans to invest in improvements to the fixed line broadband network in east County Galway, specifically in the Raheen and Catherlistrane areas; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [42393/15]

Flood Prevention Measures

Colm Keaveney

89. Deputy Colm Keaveney asked the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform the reason funding, an application for which was made in August 2015 but was rejected, will not be made available by the Office of Public Works for the drainage of swallow holes and the cleaning of the channel from Grannagh to Blackrock in Peterswell, County Galway, when the lack of funding and action in this area has led to excessive flooding, causing extreme inconvenience and discomfort to the local residents, involving houses and lands being flooded and lengthy detours around flooded areas to access services; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [42055/15]

Health Services Staff

Colm Keaveney

160. Deputy Colm Keaveney asked the Minister for Health subsequent to the closure of the acute inpatient unit in St. Brigid’s Hospital, Ballinasloe, County Galway, and as a consequence of the redeployment of staff from the unit, the cost since the closure of travel and subsistence for such staff; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [42125/15]

Health Services Staff Data

Colm Keaveney

161. Deputy Colm Keaveney asked the Minister for Health the number of medical or non-medical positions, including in catering, that are currently unfilled in Toghermore House, Tuam, County Galway; the amount spent in this facility on medical and non-medical agency staff, including catering staff in each month from January 2014 to date in 2015; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [42126/15]

Social Welfare Schemes

Colm Keaveney

44. Deputy Colm Keaveney asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Social Protection for a list of the social protection payments that exclude persons with disabilities of working age from participating in the MOMENTUM programme and the Youth Guarantee, as they are not considered to be jobseekers; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [41888/15]

Disability Allowance Data

Colm Keaveney

45. Deputy Colm Keaveney asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Social Protection the number of persons of working age in receipt of disability allowance; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [41889/15]

Disability Allowance Data

Colm Keaveney

46. Deputy Colm Keaveney asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Social Protection the number of persons between 18 and 24 years of age who are in receipt of disability allowance; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [41890/15]

Employment Rights

Colm Keaveney

148. Deputy Colm Keaveney asked the Minister for Justice and Equality the legal advice given regarding Article 27 of the United Nations Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities that necessitates a reservation, as signalled in her Department's roadmap to ratification of the convention; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [42003/15]

Office of Public Works Expenditure

Colm Keaveney

176. Deputy Colm Keaveney asked the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform further to Question No. 347 of 3 November 2015, the reason for the delay in providing a full and comprehensive response; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [41513/15]

Services for People with Disabilities

Colm Keaveney

421. Deputy Colm Keaveney asked the Minister for Health the whole-time equivalents working in the intellectual disability sector, the number employed by the Health Service Executive, and the number employed by agencies, by grade, in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [41657/15]

School Patronage

Colm Keaveney

505. Deputy Colm Keaveney asked the Minister for Education and Skills the number of schools under the patronage of the Catholic Church, including schools under the patronage of dioceses, religious orders or other bodies within the church that have been vacated and offered for divestment to her Department, but have yet to be handed over to other patron bodies; the location of each of these schools and the date from which her Department was made aware that these schools would be available for divestment; the reason for any delay by her Department in completing the divestment process in relation to these schools; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [41598/15]

Turbary Rights

Colm Keaveney

591. Deputy Colm Keaveney asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport when Transport Infrastructure Ireland will compensate persons for their loss of turbary rights at a location (details supplied) in County Galway; the reason for the delay; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [41702/15]

Invalidity Pension Appeals

Colm Keaveney

168. Deputy Colm Keaveney asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Social Protection why a person (details supplied) in County Galway should be forced to await the processing of an appeal on an invalidity pension application since April 2015, and based on a conversation with the appeals section it is quite feasible that this delay will extend to April 2016 which will leave the applicant in a state of uncertainly for a 12 month period; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [40569/15]

Hospital Staff Data

Colm Keaveney

360. Deputy Colm Keaveney asked the Minister for Health the number of full-time consultant gynaecologists who are assigned to Galway University Hospital and to the entire Health Service Executive west administrative area; the details of their deployment; the facilities within this area; the waiting times for appointments and procedures, other than those directly related to routine pregnancy and childbirth; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [39994/15]

Hospital Appointments Status

Colm Keaveney

152. Deputy Colm Keaveney asked the Minister for Health the reason a person (details supplied) in County Galway had four appointments for the fitting of a pubic catheter cancelled at the last minute; at a policy level, the measures he has directed to be taken to ensure that the health service provides proper respect and regard to a person's time, particularly in regard to the distress and inconvenience caused by cancellations where arrangements with carers, etc. are involved; when the person will receive a new appointment; if that appointment will be honoured, or if the person will, for the fifth time, be subjected to the distress of a last minute cancellation; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [39813/15]

Counselling Services Provision

Colm Keaveney

163. Deputy Colm Keaveney asked the Minister for Health the status of the counselling service in the primary care service, including the numbers referred to, seen by and on waiting lists for community health care organisations in 2015 to date; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [39893/15]

Flood Relief Schemes Applications

Colm Keaveney

66. Deputy Colm Keaveney asked the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform when urgently needed funding will be made available by the Office of Public Works for the drainage of swallow holes and the cleaning of the channel from Grannagh to Blackrock in Peterswell in County Galway, funds which were applied for in August 2015 for critically necessary works which aim at alleviating and resolving the severe inconveniences and seasonal flooding being experienced locally; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [39773/15]

Hospital Acquired Infections

Colm Keaveney

132. Deputy Colm Keaveney asked the Minister for Health for a report on the outbreak of clostridium difficile at Portiuncula Hospital in County Galway; and the action being taken to deal with it. [39771/15]

Residential Institutions Statutory Fund Board

Colm Keaveney

149. Deputy Colm Keaveney asked the Minister for Education and Skills if she is aware of the case of a person (details supplied) in County Galway who despite being deemed eligible to apply for a grant for the support of survivors of institutional abuse by Caranua on 11 March 2014, and to whom Caranua confirmed in writing on 10 April 2014 that all documents had been received to process this grant; that despite this Caranua has made no attempt to finalise this payment, or contact this person, despite several telephone calls and letters from both the person and this Deputy's office regarding this matter; her views that it is unacceptable that former victims of institutional abuse should become victims of institutional neglect in this manner; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [39770/15]

Hospital Appointments Status

Colm Keaveney

429. Deputy Colm Keaveney asked the Minister for Health when a person (details supplied) in County Galway, who is in considerable continuous pain and who was referred several weeks ago, will be scheduled for an appointment to see a consultant orthopaedic surgeon at Merlin Park hospital in County Galway; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [39393/15]

Disability Services Provision

Colm Keaveney

15. Deputy Colm Keaveney asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government the resources his Department will provide in 2016 to move persons out of congregated settings; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [38222/15]

Disability Services Provision

Colm Keaveney

21. Deputy Colm Keaveney asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government his views on housing records released by his Department under the Freedom of Information Act, which show that just 90 persons out of a target of 300 persons have been transferred from congregated settings over the past two years; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [38221/15]

Wage Subsidy Scheme

Colm Keaveney

64. Deputy Colm Keaveney asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Social Protection the estimated full-year cost to the Exchequer in 2016 of extending the wage subsidy scheme to those in receipt of partial capacity benefit; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [38705/15]

Commencement of Legislation

Colm Keaveney

148. Deputy Colm Keaveney asked the Minister for Justice and Equality the number of sections of the Disability Act 2005 that still have to be commenced; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [38856/15]

Action Plan for Jobs

Colm Keaveney

22. Deputy Colm Keaveney asked the Minister for Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation when the 2016 Action Plan for Jobs will be published; if it will contain measures to help persons with a disability; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [37945/15]

Hospital Waiting Lists

Colm Keaveney

140. Deputy Colm Keaveney asked the Minister for Health further to Parliamentary Questions Nos. 146 and 156 of 8 October 2015 regarding average orthopaedic procedure waiting times in University Hospital Galway, and the case of a person (details supplied) in County Galway, the way he can reconcile the two supplied replies, one of which states the average waiting times were 118 days in 2014 and 109 days in 2015, although the person waited 310 days in 2014 and a further 301 days in 2015 to date, resulting in a total wait of 611 days so far with no expectation of an appointment for a procedure, apart from a nebulous estimate that the person would be contacted in 2016; his conclusion on the disparity between the two replies; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [38456/15]

Community Employment Schemes Eligibility

Colm Keaveney

229. Deputy Colm Keaveney asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Social Protection if she will consider a change to local community employment schemes to permit persons to continue participating in the schemes beyond 60 years of age, until they reach retirement age; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [37976/15]

Social Welfare Rates

Colm Keaveney

238. Deputy Colm Keaveney asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Social Protection the estimated full-year cost in 2016 of increasing the disability allowance; the blind pension; the invalidity pension; and the carer's allowance, by €5, €10 and €15 per week. [38061/15]

Office of Public Works Expenditure

Colm Keaveney

347. Deputy Colm Keaveney asked the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform the cost to the Office of Public Works of private security, pest control, and other services relating to the securing or maintenance of the 139 Garda stations that have been closed since 2011; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [37957/15]

Garda Station Closures

Colm Keaveney

582. Deputy Colm Keaveney asked the Minister for Justice and Equality the savings to date generated by the closure of 139 Garda Síochána stations since 2011; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [37958/15]

Hospital Appointments Status

Colm Keaveney

645. Deputy Colm Keaveney asked the Minister for Health when a person (details supplied) in County Galway will receive an appointment for an urgently required orthopaedic procedure at Merlin Park University Hospital in County Galway; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [37169/15]

Hospital Appointments Delays

Colm Keaveney

726. Deputy Colm Keaveney asked the Minister for Health the position regarding an appointment for a medical procedure for a person (details supplied) in County Galway; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [37704/15]

Hospital Appointments Status

Colm Keaveney

736. Deputy Colm Keaveney asked the Minister for Health when a child (details supplied) in County Galway will receive an appointment for critical orthopaedic surgery to treat an 80o+ scoliosis curve; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [37750/15]

Orthodontic Services Waiting Lists

Colm Keaveney

763. Deputy Colm Keaveney asked the Minister for Health further to Parliamentary Question No. 60 of 14 October 2015, his views on a response issued by University Hospital Galway on 22 October 2015 stating the orthodontic treatment waiting list is currently running at approximately three years, and that, therefore, it is anticipated that a person (details supplied) should be seen in July 2017; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [37951/15]

Education and Training Provision

Colm Keaveney

1007. Deputy Colm Keaveney asked the Minister for Education and Skills the estimated cost to the Exchequer in 2016 of extending the MOMENTUM programme to persons in receipt of disability payments and illness payments, who are currently excluded from participating in this programme; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [38366/15]

Local Authority Funding

Colm Keaveney

1080. Deputy Colm Keaveney asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government if he will support an application from Galway County Council for funding from his Department for the refurbishment of local authority housing on Gilmartin Road in Tuam and in Tirboy, Tuam in County Galway; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [37971/15]

Mental Health Services Funding

Colm Keaveney

4. Deputy Colm Keaveney asked the Minister for Health the reason there was no specific 2016 funding commitment of €35 million for mental health in budget 2016 in line with the programme for Government and previous budget announcements; if the €15 million not provided in budget 2014 will also be provided in 2016; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [36797/15]

Mental Health Services Funding

Colm Keaveney

60. Deputy Colm Keaveney asked the Minister for Health the reason there was no specific 2016 funding commitment of €35 million for mental health on budget day, in line with the programme for Government and with previous budget day announcements; if the €15 million not provided in budget 2014 will now be provided in 2016; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [36578/15]

Disability Services Provision

Colm Keaveney

65. Deputy Colm Keaveney asked the Minister for Health his plans to increase the number of personal assistant hours for persons with disabilities in 2016; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [36577/15]

Crime Data

Colm Keaveney

211. Deputy Colm Keaveney asked the Minister for Justice and Equality the recorded annualised crime statistics (details supplied) for the Galway Garda Síochána districts for the second quarter of 2015 and the second quarter of 2014, in tabular form. [37038/15]

Hospital Appointments Status

Colm Keaveney

133. Deputy Colm Keaveney asked the Minister for Health when a person (details supplied) in County Galway will receive an appointment for eye cataract surgery; the reason the person has so far had three appointments scheduled, cancelled and re-scheduled; the guarantee that will be provided that the latest appointment, re-scheduled for 2016, will not be cancelled yet again; the reason this person has been forced to suffer the indignity of having been offered this procedure three times in the private sector with immediate scheduling by the same consultant whose appointments have been cancelled in the public sector three times, at a cost in excess of €3000, which sum this person has no access to; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [36807/15]

Workplace Equipment Adaptation Grant

Colm Keaveney

166. Deputy Colm Keaveney asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government if grants are available to employers to upgrade their buildings to make them accessible to persons with mobility issues; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [36811/15]

Services for People with Disabilities

Colm Keaveney

147. Deputy Colm Keaveney asked the Minister for Justice and Equality the key measures under the new comprehensive employment strategy for people with disabilities; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [35284/15]

Services for People with Disabilities

Colm Keaveney

148. Deputy Colm Keaveney asked the Minister for Justice and Equality her views on concerns that the new comprehensive employment strategy for people with disabilities is arriving four years too late for this Government to deliver on the strong commitments made by An Taoiseach and Ministers at the strategy's launch; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [35285/15]

Wage Subsidy Scheme

Colm Keaveney

189. Deputy Colm Keaveney asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Social Protection the cost in 2015 of the wage subsidy scheme; the financial implications to the Exchequer of reducing the minimum hours threshold from 21 hours to 18 hours per week; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [36449/15]

Dublin Bus Services

Colm Keaveney

704. Deputy Colm Keaveney asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport the percentage of the Dublin Bus fleet that is wheelchair accessible in 2015; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [36416/15]