Parliamentary questions

Mental Health Services Provision

Róisín Shortall

222. Deputy Róisín Shortall asked the Minister for Health the current waiting lists and waiting times for CAMHS in the Cork area; the consultant complement for this area; if staff are currently on extended leave; and the steps that will be taken to provide a timely service. [14485/17]

Laboratory Facilities

Róisín Shortall

250. Deputy Róisín Shortall asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine his plans to close regional veterinary laboratories; the basis on which decisions have been taken and the laboratories selected for closure; and the impact assessment that has been carried out. [14497/17]

Postal Services

Róisín Shortall

256. Deputy Róisín Shortall asked the Minister for Communications, Climate Action and Environment the steps he intends to take to ensure that rural post offices remain open and functioning, in view of the difficult financial position of An Post. [14398/17]

Bus Éireann Services

Róisín Shortall

264. Deputy Róisín Shortall asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport the steps he intends to take to ensure all rural bus services operated by Bus Éireann are maintained in view of the current difficult financial position of Bus Éireann. [14397/17]

Road Safety

Róisín Shortall

270. Deputy Róisín Shortall asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport if plans exist for the installation of a pedestrian bridge at a location (details supplied), in view of the ongoing danger to pedestrians; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [14504/17]

Workplace Relations Commission

Róisín Shortall

292. Deputy Róisín Shortall asked the Minister for Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation further to Parliamentary Question No. 308 of 8 March 2017, the number of workplace inspections and total amount of wages recovered in 2016 for the child care sector alone; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [14395/17]

Courts Service

Róisín Shortall

145. Deputy Róisín Shortall asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Justice and Equality her role in setting down the claim limit that applies to the Small Claims Court; and her plans to increase this limit. [13701/17]

Garda Remuneration

Róisín Shortall

161. Deputy Róisín Shortall asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Justice and Equality if her attention has been drawn to an issue regarding incremental pay increases within An Garda Síochána (details supplied); if she will ensure that this irregularity is rectified; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [14049/17]

Mortgage Book Sales

Róisín Shortall

181. Deputy Róisín Shortall asked the Minister for Finance the rights of mortgage holders in respect of the ownership or changed ownership of their mortgage; and the way in which a person may seek this information. [13090/17]

Tax Credits

Róisín Shortall

182. Deputy Róisín Shortall asked the Minister for Finance the uptake levels of the incapacitated child tax credit; his views on the need for a public awareness campaign to improve the uptake of this tax credit; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [13092/17]

Schools Review

Róisín Shortall

266. Deputy Róisín Shortall asked the Minister for Education and Skills further to Parliamentary Question No. 311 of 28 February 2017, when the review in question will take place; and when the decisions based on this review will be made public. [13087/17]

Mortgage Arrears Proposals

Róisín Shortall

498. Deputy Róisín Shortall asked the Minister for Social Protection the number and percentage of bank refusals of proposals put forward by mortgage advisers within the Abhaile, PIPs and ISI schemes. [13091/17]

Legislative Measures

Róisín Shortall

499. Deputy Róisín Shortall asked the Minister for Social Protection if forthcoming legislation on ending the compulsory retirement age will extend to those taking part in community employment schemes. [13093/17]

HSE Governance

Róisín Shortall

793. Deputy Róisín Shortall asked the Minister for Health the number of monthly meetings of the HSE's national performance oversight group which have taken place to date and the dates of such meetings. [13088/17]

Hospital Staff

Róisín Shortall

794. Deputy Róisín Shortall asked the Minister for Health the number of occasions on which any senior manager or CEO of any hospital or hospital group has been brought before the HSE's national performance oversight group for underperformance. [13089/17]

Vaccination Programme

Róisín Shortall

926. Deputy Róisín Shortall asked the Minister for Health further to Parliamentary Question No. 446 of 13 December 2016, if he will ensure that a final reply is issued as soon as possible in view of the fact no response has been issued from the Health Service Executive despite several requests to his office. [13670/17]

Sports Capital Programme Administration

Róisín Shortall

1227. Deputy Róisín Shortall asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport further to Parliamentary Question No. 711 of 31 January 2017, if he will publish the finalised scoring and weighting system for the allocation of funding under the 2017 sports capital programme with the precise details of the level of each weighting under each criteria heading. [13771/17]

Rail Services Provision

Róisín Shortall

1233. Deputy Róisín Shortall asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport further to the contents of the NTA's Transport Strategy for the Greater Dublin Area 2016-2035, if he will provide a timeframe for the extension of the Luas from Broombridge to Finglas; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [14048/17]

Workplace Relations Commission

Róisín Shortall

1283. Deputy Róisín Shortall asked the Minister for Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation further to Parliamentary Question No. 308 of 8 March 2017, the number of workplace inspections and total amount of wages recovered in 2016 for the child care sector alone; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [14065/17]

VAT Yield

Róisín Shortall

89. Deputy Róisín Shortall asked the Minister for Finance if he will provide, in respect of VAT paid for January and February 2017, an in-depth analysis of the total figure paid (details supplied). [12645/17]

Private Rented Accommodation Evictions

Róisín Shortall

140. Deputy Róisín Shortall asked the Minister for Housing, Planning, Community and Local Government if he has considered legislating to provide for greater regulation of buy-to-let mortgage receivers and buy-to-let mortgage receiverships; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [12643/17]

Medicinal Products Availability

Róisín Shortall

243. Deputy Róisín Shortall asked the Minister for Health the precise criteria which must be met in order for cannabis-based medicine to be prescribed under the present regulatory framework. [12641/17]

Medicinal Products Availability

Róisín Shortall

244. Deputy Róisín Shortall asked the Minister for Health his plans to give effect to the report of the Health Products Regulatory Authority in respect of establishing a compassionate access programme for cannabis-based treatments; and the timeframe proposed. [12642/17]

Company Law

Róisín Shortall

357. Deputy Róisín Shortall asked the Minister for Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation the status of the work of the Company Law Review Group; if it has considered greater regulation of buy-to-let mortgage receiverships; her views on the need for stronger regulation; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [12644/17]

Legal Proceedings

Róisín Shortall

294. Deputy Róisín Shortall asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport the status of an issue (details supplied); if he will clarify his Department's responsibility to ensure adequate legal representation of the former State employees involved in this dispute; if he has satisfied himself that the supports being lent to this group by his Department as former State employees are sufficient; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [12314/17]

Workplace Relations Commission

Róisín Shortall

308. Deputy Róisín Shortall asked the Minister for Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation the number of workplace inspections in 2016 by sector and region; the total amount of wages recovered in these periods by sector and region; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [12404/17]

English Language Training Organisations

Róisín Shortall

127. Deputy Róisín Shortall asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Justice and Equality if there is a secure measure for advanced payments in relation to the operation of English language schools and the difficulties associated with these in the past; the number of schools operating at present; the accreditation system in place to ensure financial protection for students and to ensure quality standards; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [11926/17]

English Language Training Organisations

Róisín Shortall

128. Deputy Róisín Shortall asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Justice and Equality the number of English language schools which were inspected under the interim list of eligible programs in each of the past three years; the number of these inspections which found irregularities; the action taken if irregularities were found; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [11927/17]

English Language Training Organisations

Róisín Shortall

237. Deputy Róisín Shortall asked the Minister for Education and Skills if there is a secure measure for advanced payments in relation to the operation of English language schools and the difficulties associated with these in the past; the number of schools operating at present; the accreditation system in place to ensure financial protection for students and ensure quality standards; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [11925/17]

National Maternity Hospital

Róisín Shortall

589. Deputy Róisín Shortall asked the Minister for Health the details of the ownership of the National Maternity Hospital building and site; the plans for the use of the existing building once the hospital moves to the proposed new location; if it is to be sold, the areas that the proceeds of such a sale would go to; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [11731/17]

Vaccination Programme Data

Róisín Shortall

590. Deputy Róisín Shortall asked the Minister for Health if he will report on the uptake rates for the infant vaccination and screening programmes by health office. [11732/17]

Community Services Programme

Róisín Shortall

832. Deputy Róisín Shortall asked the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs the areas in which the community mothers programme is still in operation; the number of staff allocated to this programme; and her plans for the restoration of this programme in view of its effectiveness in the past. [11979/17]

School Services Staff

Róisín Shortall

93. Deputy Róisín Shortall asked the Minister for Education and Skills the current salary scale for primary school caretakers. [11084/17]

English Language Training Organisations

Róisín Shortall

96. Deputy Róisín Shortall asked the Minister for Education and Skills if his attention has been drawn to the lack of regulation covering pay and conditions for teachers in the English language college sector; and his plans to properly regulate the sector. [11126/17]

Schools Building Projects

Róisín Shortall

122. Deputy Róisín Shortall asked the Minister for Education and Skills the reason his Department's map relates to Finglas and Scribblestown but not Pelletstown in respect of the proposed new school for Pelletstown, Dublin 7; the reason a new school would be located in Pelletstown, when there is already a new school there and that location would not be accessible to children in the Finglas north and south areas; the origins of this proposal in view of the fact that schools in these areas have spare capacity; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [10601/17]

Third Level Staff

Róisín Shortall

184. Deputy Róisín Shortall asked the Minister for Education and Skills his views on the fact that the board of Trinity College Dublin has decided that the majority of members of the college staff will no longer be eligible for natural promotion; his further views on the fact that permanent contracts are no longer to be offered to members of the college support and administrative staff and that the non-replacement of staff is leading to an onerous increase in workload for many staff members; his plans to rectify the situation; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [10757/17]

Social and Affordable Housing

Róisín Shortall

200. Deputy Róisín Shortall asked the Minister for Housing, Planning, Community and Local Government further to Parliamentary Questions Nos. 137 of 29 September 2016, 135 of 6 October 2016 and 277 and 292 of 18 October 2016, the exact data on which the awarding of tenders for a project will be made (details supplied) and if he will make a statement on the matter. [10756/17]

Social Welfare Benefits Reviews

Róisín Shortall

221. Deputy Róisín Shortall asked the Minister for Social Protection if there has been a review of the impact of the reductions applied to welfare benefits for persons under 26 years of age in terms of homelessness, destitution and suicide; and if not, his plans to conduct such a review. [10671/17]

Hospital Charges

Róisín Shortall

280. Deputy Róisín Shortall asked the Minister for Health further to Parliamentary Question No. 204 of 22 February 2017, if he will provide an age profile for the outstanding insurance fees, by hospital; and the details of the business plan for the early collection of these moneys. [10730/17]

School Catchment Areas

Róisín Shortall

311. Deputy Róisín Shortall asked the Minister for Education and Skills if provision will be made for a new primary school at a location (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [9977/17]

Social and Affordable Housing Provision

Róisín Shortall

397. Deputy Róisín Shortall asked the Minister for Housing, Planning, Community and Local Government the details of the proposed affordable rental scheme that has been mentioned in the context of the development of several Dublin City Council developments, including Oscar Traynor Road and O'Devaney Gardens, in view of the fact Dublin City Council has indicated it has no details of an affordable rental scheme; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [10275/17]

State Pension (Contributory)

Róisín Shortall

408. Deputy Róisín Shortall asked the Minister for Social Protection the cost to the Exchequer in a full year of reversing the 2012 changes to the banding system of the State pension (contributory). [9615/17]

Child and Family Agency Services

Róisín Shortall

639. Deputy Róisín Shortall asked the Minister for Health the areas in which the community mothers programme is still in operation; the number of staff allocated to this programme; and his plans for the restoration of this programme in view of its effectiveness in the past. [10301/17]

HSE Staff Data

Róisín Shortall

640. Deputy Róisín Shortall asked the Minister for Health the number of public health nurses per health area with a breakdown in respect of those providing older persons services and those providing children's services. [10302/17]

Health Services Data

Róisín Shortall

644. Deputy Róisín Shortall asked the Minister for Health the current policy in respect of developmental checks on newborn babies following their arrival home; the age at which these are carried out; the current coverage of this service; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [10358/17]

Cycling Facilities Funding

Róisín Shortall

777. Deputy Róisín Shortall asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport the percentage of the 2017 transport budget that is allocated to cycling; and if he will provide a detailed breakdown of this allocation. [10279/17]

Hospital Waiting Lists

Róisín Shortall

352. Deputy Róisín Shortall asked the Minister for Health if his attention has been drawn to media reports (details supplied); if the Health Service Executive, HSE, has considered the suitability of this system to assist in the reduction of waiting lists here as has been achieved in Macedonia; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [9506/17]

Tax Reliefs Costs

Róisín Shortall

99. Deputy Róisín Shortall asked the Minister for Finance the total cost, and the categories of expenses in each case, of income tax relief for medical expenses over each of the past five years. [9079/17]

Social and Affordable Housing

Róisín Shortall

118. Deputy Róisín Shortall asked the Minister for Housing, Planning, Community and Local Government his Department's current guidelines with respect to (details supplied); his plans to make any changes to these; if so, the rationale for same; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [8977/17]

Health Insurance Claims

Róisín Shortall

204. Deputy Róisín Shortall asked the Minister for Health the status of current private insurance fees owed to hospitals broken down by hospital group. [9077/17]

Departmental Schemes

Róisín Shortall

228. Deputy Róisín Shortall asked the Minister for Communications, Climate Action and Environment further to Parliamentary Question No. 581 of 24 January 2017, if he will provide details of the basis on which decisions on funding allocations were made for the first instalment of the digital skills for citizens scheme for 2017; and the criteria which applied. [9078/17]

Adoption Legislation

Róisín Shortall

255. Deputy Róisín Shortall asked the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs if she will grant adopted persons unfettered access to their birth certificates and adoption records. [9260/17]

Adoption Legislation

Róisín Shortall

256. Deputy Róisín Shortall asked the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs if she will remove the proposed undertaking in section 41 of the Adoption (Information and Tracing) Bill 2016. [9261/17]

Adoption Legislation

Róisín Shortall

257. Deputy Róisín Shortall asked the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs the reason the compelling reasons ground for refusing the release of information in the Adoption (Information and Tracing) Bill 2016 only applies when adopted persons are seeking information. [9262/17]

Adoption Legislation

Róisín Shortall

258. Deputy Róisín Shortall asked the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs the reason for the claim that the release of information to an adopted person may endanger the life of a person. [9263/17]

Adoption Legislation

Róisín Shortall

259. Deputy Róisín Shortall asked the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs if she will ensure that the national adoption contact preference register is put on a statutory footing in the Adoption (Information and Tracing) Bill 2016. [9264/17]

Adoption Records Provision

Róisín Shortall

260. Deputy Róisín Shortall asked the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs if she will ensure that information sources holding records pertaining to illegal adoptions, particularly instances where no adoption order exists, will be compelled under the Adoption (Information and Tracing) Bill 2016 to transfer their records to the Adoption Authority of Ireland. [9265/17]

Adoption Services Provision

Róisín Shortall

261. Deputy Róisín Shortall asked the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs the plans in place to reach out to the 2,000 plus people who were sent from Ireland to America for adoption from the 1940s to the 1970s. [9266/17]

Adoption Authority of Ireland

Róisín Shortall

262. Deputy Róisín Shortall asked the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs if she will reinstate the stakeholder adoption advisory groups established by her predecessor (details supplied). [9267/17]

Child and Family Agency Data

Róisín Shortall

292. Deputy Róisín Shortall asked the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs the person or body she consulted prior to the files on persons (details supplied) held by Tusla being deleted; if the metadata were copied before the deletion of the files; if her attention has been drawn to the identity of the person who created the files and accessed them subsequently; if she consulted Tusla's data protection officer prior to the deletion of these files; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [9076/17]

Parental Leave

Róisín Shortall

114. Deputy Róisín Shortall asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Justice and Equality if her Department has any means of monitoring the uptake of parental leave across all employment sectors; if so, the details of the uptake rates across sectors; and if she will provide the rates in relation to gender, socioeconomic profile and any other categories. [8733/17]

Land Issues

Róisín Shortall

265. Deputy Róisín Shortall asked the Minister for Housing, Planning, Community and Local Government the way in which land costs for residential developments are measured and tracked by his Department or any agency under the remit of his Department; and the latest publication his Department is relying on to inform trends in this area. [8473/17]

Private Rented Accommodation Standards

Róisín Shortall

275. Deputy Róisín Shortall asked the Minister for Housing, Planning, Community and Local Government the action he will take to ensure an improvement in the standard of one bedroom rental accommodation; if he is satisfied with the current level of inspections on such properties being carried out by local authorities; the steps that can be taken by local authorities to compel landlords to improve the standards of their lettings; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [8559/17]

Middle East Issues

Róisín Shortall

331. Deputy Róisín Shortall asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade further to Parliamentary Question No. 308 of 14 February 2017, and recent media reports (details supplied), if he will outline the Government's plans with regard to the recognition of Palestinian statehood; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [8606/17]

Cultural Policy

Róisín Shortall

375. Deputy Róisín Shortall asked the Minister for Arts, Heritage, Regional, Rural and Gaeltacht Affairs the details of the administration and management structures in Creative Ireland; the way in which the Creative Ireland advisory committees will be structured and their membership; her plans to maintain the so-called arm's length approach to Creative Ireland; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [8617/17]

Nursing Staff Recruitment

Róisín Shortall

472. Deputy Róisín Shortall asked the Minister for Health if consideration will be given to ending the mandatory retirement age for those persons involved in nursing in the public sector in order to help improve staffing levels in view of the current shortage of nurses within the health service and the difficulties in recruiting; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [8554/17]

Animal Welfare

Róisín Shortall

540. Deputy Róisín Shortall asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the legislation governing the sale, importation and welfare of exotic animals; his plans to update this legislation; if a record exists of such animal imports; and if so, the location that such records are published. [8260/17]

Illness Benefit Payments

Róisín Shortall

179. Deputy Róisín Shortall asked the Minister for Social Protection the reason for the delay in granting an illness benefit claim for a person (details supplied) who has been on sick leave since 28 November 2016; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [8008/17]

Home Care Packages

Róisín Shortall

219. Deputy Róisín Shortall asked the Minister for Health further to Parliamentary Question No. 194 of 9 February 2017, the target date or dates for the introduction of new legislation. [7841/17]

Drug Treatment Programmes Funding

Róisín Shortall

247. Deputy Róisín Shortall asked the Minister for Health the details of any new funding provided for drug services in 2017; the proportion of this that will be allocated to the proposed injecting facility and the proportion that will be provided for other services as identified by local drugs task forces; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [8009/17]

Hospital Waiting Lists

Róisín Shortall

250. Deputy Róisín Shortall asked the Minister for Health the steps he is taking to reduce the waiting time for children with scoliosis to undergo critical surgery; the expected waiting times for urgent cases when the new unit opens in Our Lady's Hospital for Sick Children, Crumlin; when he expects to clear the waiting list for this surgery; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [8016/17]

HSE Funding

Róisín Shortall

251. Deputy Róisín Shortall asked the Minister for Health if he will ensure that funding for the provision of a specialist clinic (details supplied) is ring-fenced; if he will direct the HSE to provide an explanation for the reason provision for this clinic was not made in its 2017 service plan; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [8017/17]

Child and Family Agency

Róisín Shortall

316. Deputy Róisín Shortall asked the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs when her attention was first drawn to the existence of the Tusla files in respect of a person (details supplied); the action she took on learning of the existence of these files; if she alerted any of her Cabinet colleagues at the time; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [8013/17]

Child and Family Agency

Róisín Shortall

317. Deputy Róisín Shortall asked the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs the name of the data protection officer in Tusla; the actions he or she undertook to ensure the security of personal data and the storing of such to prevent their entry into the public domain in respect of a person (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [8014/17]

School Patronage

Róisín Shortall

140. Deputy Róisín Shortall asked the Minister for Education and Skills to outline the status of the process to determine patronage of a new primary school to serve an area (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [7549/17]

Office of Public Works Projects

Róisín Shortall

181. Deputy Róisín Shortall asked the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform the status of legal proceedings taken by the Office of Public Works (details supplied). [7688/17]

Student Accommodation

Róisín Shortall

204. Deputy Róisín Shortall asked the Minister for Education and Skills the number of meetings he has had with relevant parties in developing the national student accommodation strategy, which was assigned to his Department under the rebuilding Ireland housing plan, action 4.7, to be delivered in quarter 2 2017; the name of each person he has met in developing the strategy; the organisation each represented; and the date the meeting took place. [7129/17]

Middle East Issues

Róisín Shortall

308. Deputy Róisín Shortall asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade his Department's position on the recent approval by the Israeli Government of the construction of over 500 settlement units in occupied east Jerusalem and 5,500 settlement units in the occupied West Bank; the steps he has taken both bilaterally and through the EU to assert Ireland's position on this issue; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [7231/17]

Child Poverty

Róisín Shortall

675. Deputy Róisín Shortall asked the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs if she will establish a cross-departmental task force to address a crisis (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [7230/17]

Tax Reliefs Costs

Róisín Shortall

73. Deputy Róisín Shortall asked the Minister for Finance the total cost to the State of tax incentives for nursing homes in each of the past five years. [6504/17]

Residential Institutions Redress Scheme Data

Róisín Shortall

111. Deputy Róisín Shortall asked the Minister for Education and Skills if he will provide details of all outstanding debts owed by religious orders in respect of the residential institutions redress scheme, with a full breakdown of all properties not yet transferred and all cash amounts owed; and the timeframe to have these outstanding debts cleared. [6571/17]

Housing Adaptation Grant Data

Róisín Shortall

117. Deputy Róisín Shortall asked the Minister for Housing, Planning, Community and Local Government the budget provided to each local authority in each of the past ten years, including 2017, under schemes (details supplied). [6501/17]

Home Help Service

Róisín Shortall

185. Deputy Róisín Shortall asked the Minister for Health the number of persons waiting to be assessed for the home help waiting list. [6492/17]

Home Help Service

Róisín Shortall

186. Deputy Róisín Shortall asked the Minister for Health the number of persons waiting to be assessed for the home care package waiting list. [6493/17]

Home Help Service

Róisín Shortall

187. Deputy Róisín Shortall asked the Minister for Health the number of persons on a waiting list for home help with a breakdown by community healthcare organisation, CHO; and his estimate of the funding required to eradicate that list. [6494/17]

Home Help Service

Róisín Shortall

188. Deputy Róisín Shortall asked the Minister for Health the number of persons on a waiting list for a home care package with a breakdown by community healthcare organisation, CHO; and his estimate of the funding required to eradicate that list. [6495/17]

Home Help Service

Róisín Shortall

189. Deputy Róisín Shortall asked the Minister for Health the average number of hours per home care package and the value at every quartile. [6496/17]

Home Help Service

Róisín Shortall

190. Deputy Róisín Shortall asked the Minister for Health the cost of a home care package at every quartile in the range. [6497/17]

Home Help Service

Róisín Shortall

191. Deputy Róisín Shortall asked the Minister for Health the number of persons that require extra hours under their existing home care package but in locations in which that need is not currently met; the accumulative number of hours that are unmet; his estimate of the cost of meeting that unmet need; and the way in which he has determined this figure. [6498/17]

Home Help Service

Róisín Shortall

192. Deputy Róisín Shortall asked the Minister for Health the number of persons that require extra hours under their existing home help arrangement but in locations in which that need is not currently met; the accumulative number of hours that are unmet; his estimate of the cost of meeting that unmet need; and the way in which he has determined this figure. [6499/17]

Home Help Service

Róisín Shortall

193. Deputy Róisín Shortall asked the Minister for Health his projected estimate of extra level of activity required and funding required to meet demographic pressures in the areas of home help and home care in each of the next 10 years. [6500/17]

Care of the Elderly

Róisín Shortall

194. Deputy Róisín Shortall asked the Minister for Health the timetable and milestones for the policy development and public consultation process on home care as set out by the Minister of State in her contribution on Second Stage of the Nursing Home Support Scheme (Amendment) Bill 2016; and the target date or dates for the introduction of new legislation. [6502/17]

Nursing Homes Support Scheme Expenditure

Róisín Shortall

195. Deputy Róisín Shortall asked the Minister for Health the total net cost to the State of the fair deal scheme in each of the past five years. [6503/17]

Nursing Homes Support Scheme Expenditure

Róisín Shortall

196. Deputy Róisín Shortall asked the Minister for Health the total cost to the State of nursing home care in each of the past five years. [6505/17]

Hospital Waiting Lists

Róisín Shortall

208. Deputy Róisín Shortall asked the Minister for Health if details of all hospital consultants outpatient waiting lists will be made publicly available on the grounds of transparency and to ensure the public have a choice in respect to the shortest waiting lists. [6581/17]

Medicinal Products Prices

Róisín Shortall

209. Deputy Róisín Shortall asked the Minister for Health if his attention has been drawn to a recent article (details supplied); the rationale behind the 30% clause within the drug pricing agreement; the way this clause was negotiated; his views on concerns raised by the healthcare enterprise alliance in June 2016; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [6595/17]

Medicinal Products Prices

Róisín Shortall

210. Deputy Róisín Shortall asked the Minister for Health the steps he is taking to encourage prescription of generic and biosimilars when there are equivalent drugs on the market at less than 30% lower cost; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [6596/17]

Early Childhood Care and Education

Róisín Shortall

276. Deputy Róisín Shortall asked the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs if she will address a serious loophole in the operation of the ECCE scheme (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [6606/17]

Hospital Waiting Lists

Róisín Shortall

218. Deputy Róisín Shortall asked the Minister for Health the details of waiting lists for orthopaedic surgery in each hospital group area for outpatient appointments, inpatient procedures and other lists, that have been waiting for six months, 12 months, one year, two years and more than two years, by specialty and hospital, in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [6261/17]

Community Care Provision

Róisín Shortall

222. Deputy Róisín Shortall asked the Minister for Health the population of each community health care organisation with a breakdown by age categories (details supplied). [6275/17]