Parliamentary questions

Primary Care Centres Provision

Róisín Shortall

1442. Deputy Róisín Shortall asked the Minister for Health the status of the proposed Primary Care Centre for Finglas; if the HSE has identified sites and begun to draw up plans for this centre; if the provision of this facility remains a priority for the HSE; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [26174/16]

Medical Aids and Appliances Applications Data

Róisín Shortall

1475. Deputy Róisín Shortall asked the Minister for Health the number of children on a waiting list for a wheelchair; the waiting times for children to receive wheelchairs; the funding provided annually since 2010 for the provision of wheelchairs for children on a county-by-county basis in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [26329/16]

Departmental Functions

Róisín Shortall

1476. Deputy Róisín Shortall asked the Minister for Health the Department which is responsible for the provision of nursing hours to enable disabled children to attend primary school; and the age at which a child with disabilities is entitled to attend school under the Constitution. [26330/16]

Fish Farming

Róisín Shortall

1677. Deputy Róisín Shortall asked the Minister for Communications, Climate Action and Environment if he will liaise with Inland Fisheries Ireland to prevent the closure of the commercial trout farms examined in the 2015 expert analysis to support optimised production of freshwater trout report by Canadian Aquaculture Systems; his Department's position in relation to these purposed closures; his views on the impact that these closures will have on recreational angling; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [25183/16]

Building Energy Rating Compliance

Róisín Shortall

1707. Deputy Róisín Shortall asked the Minister for Communications, Climate Action and Environment if he will publish the analysis of the consultation on minimum thermal efficiency standards in rental properties; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [26338/16]

Public Transport Initiatives

Róisín Shortall

1776. Deputy Róisín Shortall asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport further to Parliamentary Question No. 812 of 21 July 2016, the status of the delivery of a bus rapid transit, BRT, service along the Swords/Dublin Airport route; if the planned BRT service for this route will only be developed in the context of the delivery of Metro North; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [25184/16]

Psychological Services

Róisín Shortall

1931. Deputy Róisín Shortall asked the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs her views on the role of child art psychotherapy in child welfare and protection services; the psychotherapeutic services available to children who are involved with Tusla; the nature of these services; their availability by region; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [25479/16]

Social Workers Recruitment

Róisín Shortall

5. Deputy Róisín Shortall asked the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs the steps she intends to take to meet general staffing shortages in the social work service to ensure all children in care have an allocated social worker, and to address information technology deficiencies in the service; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [23371/16]

Pension Provisions

Róisín Shortall

586. Deputy Róisín Shortall asked the Minister for Health the status of the proposed transfer of Central Remedial Clinic, CRC, pensioners to the single public service pension scheme. [23810/16]

Pension Provisions

Róisín Shortall

814. Deputy Róisín Shortall asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport the way he proposes to support the IASS pensioners in view of the significant loss incurred by such pensioners through recent State dealings and inaction. [23809/16]

State Pathology Service

Róisín Shortall

120. Deputy Róisín Shortall asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Justice and Equality if, with regard to an infrastructural development being carried out with the support of her Department (details supplied), she will outline the staffing arrangements for this facility; if any recruitment will take place in this regard; if this recruitment process will be open to members of the public to apply; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [22197/16]

Carer's Allowance Eligibility

Róisín Shortall

416. Deputy Róisín Shortall asked the Minister for Social Protection if he will intervene in a case to ensure that a person (details supplied) is not required to make a new carer's allowance application for a relation. [22209/16]

Middle East Peace Process

Róisín Shortall

494. Deputy Róisín Shortall asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade to outline his views on correspondence from a group (details supplied) that made a recent submission to his Department; the actions he will take to address the issues raised; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [22757/16]

EU Directives

Róisín Shortall

541. Deputy Róisín Shortall asked the Minister for Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht further to Parliamentary Questions Nos. 148 of 30 June 2016, 1681 of 22 September 2015 and 87 of 24 March 2015, and the Wildlife Acts 1976 to 2012 and the European Communities Birds Directive, her plans to actively engage with Dublin City Council to curtail this issue, including the issue of permits as outlined in previous replies; if her attention has been drawn to an issue (details supplied); the steps she will take to end the disruption and nuisance caused by these birds during the breeding season; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [22685/16]

Departmental Strategies

Róisín Shortall

663. Deputy Róisín Shortall asked the Minister for Health the status of the drafting of a new national cancer strategy for the period 2016 to 2025; if there is a proposed publication date for the strategy; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [22600/16]

Labour Court

Róisín Shortall

889. Deputy Róisín Shortall asked the Minister for Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation further to Parliamentary Question Nos. 548 and 549 of 28 June 2016, if she is satisfied that the reply provided by the court does not violate Article 3 of Regulation No. 1182/71 of the EU Council (1971) which determines the rules applicable to periods, dates and time limits, by which EU member states are legally bound (details supplied); if she will instruct the Labour Court to account for its current practice which seems to run counter to this regulation; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [22606/16]

Labour Court

Róisín Shortall

890. Deputy Róisín Shortall asked the Minister for Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation the number of appeals submitted to the Labour Court each year for the past five years; the number of appeals each year for the past five years that were not heard by the Labour Court because they were considered to be one day out of time; and the number of employee appeals each year for the past five years that were not heard by the Labour Court. [22607/16]

Insurance Industry Regulation

Róisín Shortall

66. Deputy Róisín Shortall asked the Minister for Finance further to his speech to Dáil Éireann on 20 April 2016, the progress of the review of policy in the insurance sector that is ongoing in his Department; if there is any existing regulation that can protect consumers from unjustifiable car insurance premium increases; his plans to introduce a regulatory framework beyond the Financial Services Ombudsman to protect consumers in this sector; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [21695/16]

Waste Disposal Charges

Róisín Shortall

104. Deputy Róisín Shortall asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government further to Parliamentary Question No. 129 of 7 July 2016, if the customers of a company (details supplied) can retain their current arrangements without having to notify the company. [21897/16]

Pharmaceutical Sector

Róisín Shortall

193. Deputy Róisín Shortall asked the Minister for Health his views on recent media reports of pharmaceutical companies funding training programmes and conference attendances for doctors; if this constitutes a conflict of interest; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [21812/16]

Pharmaceutical Sector

Róisín Shortall

219. Deputy Róisín Shortall asked the Minister for Health his views regarding the concerns raised in correspondence dated 30 June 2016 from the Healthcare Enterprise Alliance on the ineffectiveness of the proposed medicines pricing agreement. [21896/16]

Departmental Agencies Staff Data

Róisín Shortall

138. Deputy Róisín Shortall asked the Minister for Social Protection the number of personal advisers recruited by contractors and currently in operation under the JobPath scheme; the basis on which he deems the qualifications and experience of such personal advisers adequate; the procedures in place to ensure that these qualifications and experience, as required by the tendering process, continue to meet the standards set down during the tendering process; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [21433/16]

Medicinal Products Expenditure

Róisín Shortall

33. Deputy Róisín Shortall asked the Minister for Health the way he proposes to cut the costs of medication to the State and to the general public. [20949/16]

Health Services Staff Data

Róisín Shortall

86. Deputy Róisín Shortall asked the Minister for Health the work he has contemplated or plans to determine the areas of greatest need for primary care staff; the extent of unmet demand in each area; the cost of meeting this demand; the staffing requirement in each area; and to develop a system of transparent allocation of such staffing resources. [20948/16]

Patent Applications

Róisín Shortall

427. Deputy Róisín Shortall asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade his plans to reinstate the entitlement to free passports for senior citizens that was withdrawn in 2011; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [21133/16]

Occupational Therapy

Róisín Shortall

519. Deputy Róisín Shortall asked the Minister for Health if he will intervene to ensure that children who require access to this essential service will not be left waiting beyond the current waiting times in respect to an early intervention team (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [20781/16]

Waste Disposal Charges

Róisín Shortall

129. Deputy Róisín Shortall asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government if he is aware of the actions of a waste company (details supplied) and his proposed actions to ensure that the company is honouring the agreement reached between his Department and waste companies with regard to charges; the steps he will take to ensure that this company honours the agreement that was reached; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [20285/16]

Nursing Homes Support Scheme

Róisín Shortall

218. Deputy Róisín Shortall asked the Minister for Health if he is aware of a situation where persons who are in nursing homes under the nursing homes support scheme, fair deal, are being charged additional flat social charges beyond the agreed contribution, regardless of their means as assessed as part of the contribution; his views on the impact that this has on families and persons with already limited means; if he will act to ensure that persons are not charged unfairly beyond the contribution they are already making as part of the scheme; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [20418/16]

Public Sector Pay

Róisín Shortall

25. Deputy Róisín Shortall asked the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform his target date for the complete unwinding of the financial emergency measures in the public interest measures; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [19801/16]

Public Sector Staff Recruitment

Róisín Shortall

383. Deputy Róisín Shortall asked the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform if recruitment to the Office of the Ombudsman is done on an open basis or is restricted to existing civil servants. [19401/16]

Ombudsman's Remit

Róisín Shortall

384. Deputy Róisín Shortall asked the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform the consequences or penalties that apply, if any, for senior officials following an adverse finding of the Office of the Ombudsman. [19402/16]

JobPath Implementation

Róisín Shortall

5. Deputy Róisín Shortall asked the Minister for Social Protection his views on the role of JobPath, with particular reference to the need to ensure a strong focus on upskilling the long-term unemployed. [19049/16]

Anti-Poverty Strategy

Róisín Shortall

8. Deputy Róisín Shortall asked the Minister for Social Protection his plans to draw up a new national anti-poverty strategy; the timeframe for the completion and publication of the strategy; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [18816/16]

Insurance Industry

Róisín Shortall

74. Deputy Róisín Shortall asked the Minister for Finance further to the ongoing review of insurance policy in his Department if he will set out the consideration he is affording to the massive premia hikes faced by the small and medium-sized enterprise sector; the actions he is taking to urgently address this problem; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [18917/16]

Prescriptions Charges

Róisín Shortall

204. Deputy Róisín Shortall asked the Minister for Health further to Parliamentary Question Nos. 412 of 27 January 2015, 120 of 2 December 2015 and 334 of 2 February 2016, the status of the response by the Health Service Executive to this issue; to request an update from pharmacy interface project; and his plans with regard to resolving this anomaly. [18945/16]

Insurance Costs

Róisín Shortall

264. Deputy Róisín Shortall asked the Minister for Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation the action she is taking to address the escalation in the cost base of small and medium-sized enterprises associated with soaring insurance costs; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [18918/16]

Hospital Beds Data

Róisín Shortall

171. Deputy Róisín Shortall asked the Minister for Health further to Parliamentary Question No. 326 of 20 April 2016, the number of hospital beds required by the number of patients undergoing full and partial lower limb amputation procedures in 2014 and 2015 by county, in tabular form. [18683/16]

Anti-Social Behaviour

Róisín Shortall

60. Deputy Róisín Shortall asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Justice and Equality if she is aware of the difficulties for An Garda Síochána in policing anti-social activity associated with public drinking in view of the fact that this is not currently an offence and by-laws vary in this regard depending on the local authority, harbour authority, transport authority, and so on; and the steps she will take to address this escalating problem. [18271/16]

Services for People with Disabilities

Róisín Shortall

203. Deputy Róisín Shortall asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government the obligations on the part of public houses that also serve food to provide wheelchair-accessible toilet facilities for customers; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [18270/16]

Hospital Mortality Rates

Róisín Shortall

399. Deputy Róisín Shortall asked the Minister for Health the action he is taking on foot of the findings in his Department's report, National Healthcare Quality Reporting System, in respect of those hospitals that have higher-than-expected death rates; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [18116/16]

National Children's Hospital Location

Róisín Shortall

428. Deputy Róisín Shortall asked the Minister for Health if he is aware of an article (details supplied) written by a doctor in St. James's Hospital in Dublin 8 outlining serious concerns over the proposed locating of the National Children's Hospital at the St. James's campus; and if he will address these concerns. [18318/16]

Labour Court

Róisín Shortall

548. Deputy Róisín Shortall asked the Minister for Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation if she is aware of an anomalous situation in the operation of the Labour Court (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [18187/16]

Labour Court

Róisín Shortall

549. Deputy Róisín Shortall asked the Minister for Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation the number of appeals the Labour Court rejected as a result of late submission, in tabular form; and if she will instruct its appeals office to supply the date for the last day of appeal on decisions in addition to the number of days before the appeal deadline. [18188/16]

School Admissions

Róisín Shortall

118. Deputy Róisín Shortall asked the Minister for Education and Skills further to Parliamentary Question No. 120 of 16 June 2016, to address the question in respect of publishing or otherwise setting out the legal advice available to his Department in respect of repealing section 7(3)(c) of the Equal Status Act 2000. [17704/16]

Graduate Medicine Programme Fees

Róisín Shortall

119. Deputy Róisín Shortall asked the Minister for Education and Skills if his attention has been drawn to the situation whereby banks are refusing to make student finance available to those wishing to study graduate entry medicine, as the remuneration newly qualified doctors are in receipt of is insufficient to cover the cost of the repayment of this debt; if he will consider introducing a student loan scheme for graduate medical students to improve participation rates for those from lower income households; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [17705/16]

Medical Qualifications

Róisín Shortall

228. Deputy Róisín Shortall asked the Minister for Health if his attention has been drawn to the situation whereby the student debt burden on those qualifying from graduate entry medicine is so great that many are being forced to emigrate to secure remuneration that will allow them to make repayments, and that many of these newly qualified doctors cannot afford the Irish Medical Organisation registration fee; if he has considered incentives to retain these graduates here; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [17706/16]

Health Services Provision

Róisín Shortall

212. Deputy Róisín Shortall asked the Minister for Health further to Parliamentary Question No. 365 of 22 March 2016, if he will provide an update on the status of the development of specific services for persons suffering from Huntington's disease; his plans to develop a specified care pathway for persons suffering from this illness; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [17353/16]

Student Universal Support Ireland

Róisín Shortall

208. Deputy Róisín Shortall asked the Minister for Education and Skills if he is aware of an anomalous situation whereby a SUSI maintenance grant is not payable to a person (details supplied) who is on a work placement and remains registered a student; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [17224/16]

Waste Disposal Charges

Róisín Shortall

268. Deputy Róisín Shortall asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government the action he will take to ensure that families who rely on adult nappies in the care of a dependent with a disability or older children who are not toilet ready due to a disability, are not seriously disadvantaged by the change to a pay-by-weight waste charge system as currently is the case. [17310/16]

HSE Reports

Róisín Shortall

368. Deputy Róisín Shortall asked the Minister for Health why there has been a delay in publishing the report on the ophthalmic clinical development programme; his plans for same and his views in respect of this programme. [16795/16]

Olympic Games Qualification

Róisín Shortall

546. Deputy Róisín Shortall asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport if he is aware of the case of a person (details supplied) who has been excluded from the Irish Olympic team; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [17180/16]

Residency Permits

Róisín Shortall

50. Deputy Róisín Shortall asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Justice and Equality when she will normalise the residency status of a person (details supplied); and if she will put temporary arrangements in place to facilitate the person in resuming employment while she is processing the application. [16448/16]

Visa Applications

Róisín Shortall

54. Deputy Róisín Shortall asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Justice and Equality to review decisions made under the Syrian humanitarian admission programme to refuse family reunification visas (details supplied); the number of such visas she has issued since the programme began; and if she is satisfied that the guidelines are being applied consistently. [16495/16]

School Admissions

Róisín Shortall

120. Deputy Róisín Shortall asked the Minister for Education and Skills if he will publish or otherwise set out his understanding of the legal advice available to his Department in respect of repealing section 7(3)(c) of the Equal Status Act 2000, further to a contribution by a former Minister for State (details supplied) in the debate on the Equality (Miscellaneous Provisions) Bill 2013 in Dáil Éireann on 2 December 2015. [16486/16]

School Admissions

Róisín Shortall

121. Deputy Róisín Shortall asked the Minister for Education and Skills his policy in relation to the repeal of section 7(3)(c) of the Equal Status Act 2000 or the addition of an amendment to this subsection so that it does not apply to schools in receipt of State funding or public money. [16487/16]

Seanad Reform

Róisín Shortall

130. Deputy Róisín Shortall asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government her plans to give legislative effect to the constitutional change in 1979, facilitating the extension of voting rights to Seanad Éireann; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [16494/16]

Waste Disposal

Róisín Shortall

134. Deputy Róisín Shortall asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government to introduce amendments to Statutory Instrument No. 24 of 2016 to prevent excessive service charges being applied by domestic waste collection companies and to ensure the polluter-pays-principle as required by the same instrument is observed. [16484/16]

Waste Disposal

Róisín Shortall

135. Deputy Róisín Shortall asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government if he is aware of the case of a waste management company (details supplied) which is changing its charging regime to allow for far higher service charges for many customers, especially older persons, resulting in much higher bills for those concerned before any use of the same bins; and if he will review Statutory Instrument No. 24 of 2016 in view of this practice which means those with the lowest use of waste collection services will see the biggest increase in bills. [16485/16]

Defined Benefit Pension Schemes

Róisín Shortall

208. Deputy Róisín Shortall asked the Minister for Health further to a recent parliamentary question, if he has received an alternative proposal from the Central Remedial Clinic on a pension scheme involving 47 employees and his response. [16449/16]

Patient Safety

Róisín Shortall

210. Deputy Róisín Shortall asked the Minister for Health the legislation on the disclosure of medical mistakes in the Health Service Executive and his plans to update it or to publish new legislation. [16454/16]

Job Initiatives

Róisín Shortall

321. Deputy Róisín Shortall asked the Minister for Social Protection the number of persons who have been selected for participation in the JobPath scheme in each geographical area where it is in operation; the criteria used for the selection of this group; the length of time current and past participants have spent unemployed by bands of three months; the time participants spent working with JobPath providers broken down by week before employment was secured; the number of those participants who have maintained this employment broken down by bands of one month; if he will supply details of his payments to JobPath providers for assisting in securing and sustaining employment for participants who have found work on the basis of the four 13-week payments per calendar year; the number of persons he sanctioned for failing to engage with these companies for each geographical area in tabular form, in each instance; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [14686/16]

Gaelscoil Issues

Róisín Shortall

167. Deputy Róisín Shortall asked the Minister for Education and Skills how he will accommodate the demonstrated significant demand for a Gaelscoil in an area following a recent decision by his Department (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [14056/16]

Teaching Council of Ireland

Róisín Shortall

176. Deputy Róisín Shortall asked the Minister for Education and Skills his views on and rationale in relation to a proposal (details supplied) including its adverse impact on special needs children; the implications for the 1,300 teachers registered under the regulation and for teachers who trained outside Ireland and who wish to secure employment here; if he will reopen the consultation process for this proposal; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [14160/16]

National Drugs Strategy

Róisín Shortall

238. Deputy Róisín Shortall asked the Minister for Health if the issue of alcohol misuse will form a comprehensive part of any successor to the National Drugs Strategy 2009 to 2016. [14053/16]

Home Renovation Incentive Scheme

Róisín Shortall

238. Deputy Róisín Shortall asked the Minister for Finance the funding or tax reliefs available to a person to deal with the continuous blockage and overflow of sewerage pipes in a private garden. [12548/16]

Approved Housing Bodies

Róisín Shortall

376. Deputy Róisín Shortall asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government the role of his Department in regard to a proposal (details supplied); if contracts have been signed; his proposals to consult with the local community; the guidelines his Department is now working to regarding social mix in new developments; if these guidelines vary according to the size of the development; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [12941/16]

Arts Funding

Róisín Shortall

598. Deputy Róisín Shortall asked the Minister for Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht if she will comment on the fact that according to Council of Europe data from 2012, Ireland spent just 0.11% of GDP on culture and the arts compared to a European average of 0.6% of GDP; the steps she will take to address this under investment; her plans to publish the Culture 2025 strategy document; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [12940/16]

Tobacco Control Measures

Róisín Shortall

711. Deputy Róisín Shortall asked the Minister for Health if, with respect to the plans in the programme for Government to make Ireland tobacco free by 2025 and the December 2015 ECJ ruling dismissing challenges to the legislation, he will provide an update on the plans to introduce plain tobacco packaging; if he will commit to not extending the wash-out period for branded tobacco beyond 20 May 2017; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [13225/16]

Nursing Home Services

Róisín Shortall

185. Deputy Róisín Shortall asked the Minister for Health to set down in tabular form the number of nursing home places by community health care organisation. [12299/16]

Nursing Homes Support Scheme Data

Róisín Shortall

186. Deputy Róisín Shortall asked the Minister for Health the number of fair deal cases, by community health care organisation, in tabular form. [12300/16]

Hospital Services

Róisín Shortall

216. Deputy Róisín Shortall asked the Minister for Health the waiting times for respiratory specialists in a hospital in Dublin 1 (details supplied) and the cover provided when staff are on extended or maternity leave, in tabular form; the options open to the parents of a person who has been waiting for an appointment with no indication of when they might receive one. [12482/16]

VAT Exemptions

Róisín Shortall

83. Deputy Róisín Shortall asked the Minister for Finance further to Parliamentary Question No. 156 of 6 April 2016, and the commitment in the programme for Government to seek a reduction of the VAT applied to defibrillators, if he will undertake to seek a reduction of the rate of VAT applying to motorcycling helmets and other compulsory safety equipment. [11924/16]

Hospitals Funding

Róisín Shortall

256. Deputy Róisín Shortall asked the Minister for Health the legislative basis for a public hospital (details supplied) to outsource debt collection to a private company; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [12000/16]

Departmental Administrative Arrangements

Róisín Shortall

62. Deputy Róisín Shortall asked the Taoiseach to re-orient the focus of the newly established Departments in order# to bring environmental, climate change and natural heritage functions under the remit of a single Department; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [11717/16]

Legislative Programme

Róisín Shortall

78. Deputy Róisín Shortall asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Justice and Equality her plans to draft and implement hate crime legislation, given the recent recommendations contained in Ireland's United Nations' universal periodic review, and recognising that Ireland is among a small number of member states of the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development without it; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [11449/16]

Tax Code

Róisín Shortall

106. Deputy Róisín Shortall asked the Minister for Finance his proposals to reduce the tax burden on so-called accidental landlords; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [11442/16]

Ireland Strategic Investment Fund Investments

Róisín Shortall

107. Deputy Róisín Shortall asked the Minister for Finance to introduce legislation to direct Ireland's strategic investment fund to invest only in carbon neutral and carbon negative energy funds and to ban its future investment in fossil fuel extraction or burning; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [11447/16]

Student Grant Scheme Eligibility

Róisín Shortall

163. Deputy Róisín Shortall asked the Minister for Education and Skills his plans in respect of grant assistance (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [11446/16]

Teachers' Remuneration

Róisín Shortall

164. Deputy Róisín Shortall asked the Minister for Education and Skills his plans to end pay discrimination against newly qualified teachers; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [11448/16]

Student Grant Scheme Eligibility

Róisín Shortall

168. Deputy Róisín Shortall asked the Minister for Education and Skills to meet with a group (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [11486/16]

Health Services Staff Recruitment

Róisín Shortall

399. Deputy Róisín Shortall asked the Minister for Health when a sanctioned health care professional (details supplied) will commence a posting in Dublin North West. [11213/16]

Disability Support Services

Róisín Shortall

454. Deputy Róisín Shortall asked the Minister for Health his plans to reduce the unacceptable waiting list for children to access a service (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [11444/16]

Hospital Waiting Lists

Róisín Shortall

457. Deputy Róisín Shortall asked the Minister for Health the current waiting times for a for a procedure (details supplied) in a hospital in Dublin 1; the steps are being taken to reduce the waiting times; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [11471/16]

Irish Airlines Superannuation Scheme

Róisín Shortall

588. Deputy Róisín Shortall asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport to outline his proposals to compensate the Irish Airlines (General Employees) Superannuation Scheme pensioners for the extraordinary losses they suffered from the decisions of previous Ministers. [11443/16]

Employment Rights

Róisín Shortall

615. Deputy Róisín Shortall asked the Minister for Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation her plans to update employment laws to properly regulate the employment of au pairs in line with best international practice; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [11445/16]

Garda Reports

Róisín Shortall

34. Deputy Róisín Shortall asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Justice and Equality the reason for the delay in publishing the O'Higgins report; her views that the report was obviously leaked in advance of publication; the actions she proposes to take to establish how this important report was leaked; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [11059/16]

Ireland Strategic Investment Fund Investments

Róisín Shortall

172. Deputy Róisín Shortall asked the Minister for Finance to mandate the Ireland Strategic Investment Fund to divest itself of fossil fuel investments; if maintaining these investments is counter to the Government's recent commitment to the Conference of the Parties 21 Agreement; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [9397/16]

Ireland Strategic Investment Fund Investments

Róisín Shortall

173. Deputy Róisín Shortall asked the Minister for Finance the companies that the Ireland Strategic Investment Fund has invested in which are involved in fossil fuel extraction or burning; the amount the fund has invested; and the return on this investment by year. [9398/16]

Disability Support Services

Róisín Shortall

498. Deputy Róisín Shortall asked the Minister for Social Protection why he ceased funding to an organisation (details supplied) in County Louth; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [9375/16]

Defence Forces Contracts

Róisín Shortall

1213. Deputy Róisín Shortall asked the Taoiseach and Minister for Defence the options open to persons (details supplied) who wish to leave the Defence Forces to pursue an alternative career. [9475/16]

Fuel Allowance Payments

Róisín Shortall

37. Deputy Róisín Shortall asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Social Protection to restore the winter fuel allowance for a period to acknowledge the reality that many older persons are finding it difficult to heat their homes during the recent cold spell; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [9113/16]

Commissions of Inquiry

Róisín Shortall

111. Deputy Róisín Shortall asked the Minister for Justice and Equality to accede to a request by persons for a commission of inquiry into the disappearance of a person (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [8854/16]

Hospitals Funding

Róisín Shortall

116. Deputy Róisín Shortall asked the Minister for Health his progress in disentangling St. Vincent's University Hospital, a publicly funded hospital, from the St. Vincent's Healthcare Group; if the Health Service Executive proceeded with its proposal to employ forensic accountants for this purpose; the outcome of this exercise; and the steps he is taking to ensure full transparency and accountability in the operation and governance of this public hospital. [8753/16]

National Maternity Hospital

Róisín Shortall

117. Deputy Róisín Shortall asked the Minister for Health the main elements of the 2012 agreement reached with St. Vincent's Healthcare Group in respect of relocating the National Maternity Hospital to the Elm Park campus in County Dublin; if he will provide a clear undertaking on behalf of the taxpayer that the publicly funded National Maternity Hospital will retain its independent governance structure in its new location; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [8754/16]

Mental Health Services Staff

Róisín Shortall

51. Deputy Róisín Shortall asked the Minister for Health the rationale for allocating time -related savings on the recruitment of mental health staff to other services and the reason these cannot be retained for other mental health services of investment; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [8592/16]

Property Registration

Róisín Shortall

182. Deputy Róisín Shortall asked the Minister for Justice and Equality the ownership of a plot of land (details supplied) in Dublin 9, given the ongoing issue regarding right of way on the land. [8052/16]

International Agreements

Róisín Shortall

218. Deputy Róisín Shortall asked the Minister for Justice and Equality if, with regard to the recent European Union-Turkish migration agreement, she considers Turkey a safe third country for migrants to seek refuge in, given Turkey's human rights record, the recent condemnation of the agreement by the Council of Europe and the backlog of 200,000 asylum applications that the Turkish Government is currently processing; to state her views on the guarantees given to the European Commission by the Turkish Government that migrants' rights will be respected; to state whether the three migration experts seconded from her Department have arrived in Turkey; to state whether she will provide an update on the request for Ireland to contribute personnel to Frontex as part of the agreement; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [8319/16]

Nursing Homes Support Scheme Administration

Róisín Shortall

307. Deputy Róisín Shortall asked the Minister for Health the specific legislative basis that allows the Health Service Executive to request payment from the estate of a deceased person, in circumstances where an overpayment was assessed after the death of a person in respect of the level of support awarded to the deceased person under the nursing home support service scheme; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [8286/16]

Parental Leave

Róisín Shortall

81. Deputy Róisín Shortall asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Social Protection how she allows for force majeure in circumstances, other than late claims, where the claimant was unable to fulfil all of the qualifying criteria for a genuine force majeure reason. [7679/16]

Maternity Leave

Róisín Shortall

82. Deputy Róisín Shortall asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Social Protection if she will review and address the anomalous position relating to the qualifying criteria for maternity benefit where current rules can mean that a mother who has to end their employment very early in their pregnancy due to a pregnancy related illness is denied entitlement to maternity benefit, as the rules do not make any allowance for such an illness when calculating if she satisfies the criteria for the minimum number of weeks since employment; if this matter has been raised with her Department previously; and if so, the rationale for not allowing force majeure allowances in such circumstances or providing specific amendments to legislation to deal with this scenario. [7692/16]