Parliamentary questions

Drugs Crime

Fergus O'Dowd

526. Deputy Fergus O'Dowd asked the Minister for Justice and Equality if an application for funding a Mulvey type report will be supported to assess and plan appropriately to manage the drugs crisis in Drogheda, County Louth, in view of the ongoing drug related criminality in the area and the murder that took place on 27 August 2019; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [36159/19]

Courts Service Data

Fergus O'Dowd

566. Deputy Fergus O'Dowd asked the Minister for Justice and Equality if information (details supplied) will be provided for each of the years 2015 to 2018 in the interests of planning to safeguard vulnerable adults. [35009/19]

Legislative Programme

Fergus O'Dowd

567. Deputy Fergus O'Dowd asked the Minister for Justice and Equality when section 39 of the Domestic Violence Act 2018 will be amended to take account of the issue of coercive control which is not limited to persons in intimate relationships; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [35010/19]

Services for People with Disabilities

Fergus O'Dowd

568. Deputy Fergus O'Dowd asked the Minister for Justice and Equality the arrangements put in place under the Criminal Justice (Victims of Crime) Act 2017 to arrange for interviews of victims of crime that have a disability to be carried out as soon as practicable after a complaint is made under sections 14 and 15 of the Act; and the number of persons who received specialist training for the purpose of carrying out such interviews under section 17 of the Act. [35011/19]

Home Care Packages Data

Fergus O'Dowd

826. Deputy Fergus O'Dowd asked the Minister for Health the percentage of home care provision being provided to persons under 65 years of age, aged 65 and over and 75 years of age and over; the smallest and largest number, respectively; the most commonly provided number of hours of service for persons aged 65 years of age and over in CHO 8; the number of persons in acute hospitals whose discharge is delayed while they await provision of a home care package; when the pilot for the single assessment tool information system commenced; and when it will be fully operational. [34875/19]

Speech and Language Therapy Data

Fergus O'Dowd

1146. Deputy Fergus O'Dowd asked the Minister for Health the caseload per speech and language therapist for counties Louth and Meath in 2018 and to date in 2019, in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [35977/19]

Hospitals Capital Programme

Fergus O'Dowd

1147. Deputy Fergus O'Dowd asked the Minister for Health the position in relation to the progression of the 50-bed new St. Joseph's Hospital, Ardee, County Louth; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [35979/19]

HIQA Reports

Fergus O'Dowd

1148. Deputy Fergus O'Dowd asked the Minister for Health the measures undertaken since the launch of the HIQA report Office of the Chief Inspector - The use of information gathered and received in the regulation of services September 2018 (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [35981/19]

Medical Records

Fergus O'Dowd

1149. Deputy Fergus O'Dowd asked the Minister for Health if action has been taken against a hospital or hospital group for the numerous incidents in which personal data in the form of medical documents have been found in public, including the files found in Baltray, County Louth in November 2018; if the Data Protection Commissioner has made recommendations on same; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [35982/19]

Services for People with Disabilities

Fergus O'Dowd

1150. Deputy Fergus O'Dowd asked the Minister for Health if Sruthan House, Dundalk, County Louth will remain open into the future following the deferral of its closure in July 2019; the plans of the HSE in place to cater for the service users that will be affected by such a closure; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [35984/19]

Drug and Alcohol Task Forces

Fergus O'Dowd

1188. Deputy Fergus O'Dowd asked the Minister for Health if he will prioritise and outline the measures he will take to address the significant drug-related activity that has escalated in Drogheda, County Louth and its surrounding areas in view of the murder that took place on 27 August 2019 in Clogherhead, County Louth; the action he will take to address the perceived complete lack of drug outreach workers in Drogheda; if he has assessed or progressed matters relating to funding a Mulvey-type report to assess and plan appropriately to manage the drugs crisis in view of the recent drug-related criminality; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [36158/19]

Road Projects Status

Fergus O'Dowd

1554. Deputy Fergus O'Dowd asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport the position regarding the funding for the proposed Narrow Water bridge between counties Louth and Down; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [35985/19]

Road Projects Status

Fergus O'Dowd

1611. Deputy Fergus O'Dowd asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport the progress made with regard to the draft appraisal for the Julianstown bypass; if the project has been listed as urgent; if the application will be supported in view of more than 20,000 vehicles passing through the village each day, which is similar to the figures prior to the motorway being built which was meant to drastically reduce these numbers; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [36180/19]

Local Authority Housing Eligibility

Fergus O'Dowd

1973. Deputy Fergus O'Dowd asked the Minister for Housing, Planning and Local Government the proposed date for the completion of the net income limits for social housing assessments review; when it will be completed and published; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [35975/19]

Tenant Purchase Scheme Review

Fergus O'Dowd

1974. Deputy Fergus O'Dowd asked the Minister for Housing, Planning and Local Government if he will review the tenant (incremental) purchase scheme and the €15,000 minimum income requirement to avail of the scheme due to the significant number of persons being denied the scheme albeit living in the homes for decades in some cases; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [35978/19]

Sports Capital Programme

Fergus O'Dowd

344. Deputy Fergus O'Dowd asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport when the next round of sports grants will commence; the capital available for the clubs and organisation that apply and qualify; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [30209/19]

IDA Ireland

Fergus O'Dowd

324. Deputy Fergus O'Dowd asked the Minister for Business, Enterprise and Innovation herviews on criticism of the IDA policy relating to Drogheda published in the media (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [29674/19]

Housing Adaptation Grant Data

Fergus O'Dowd

850. Deputy Fergus O'Dowd asked the Minister for Housing, Planning and Local Government the number of grants paid by each local authority to enable home adaptations to facilitate persons with disabilities or older persons live in or return to their homes from acute hospitals in each of the past three years; the average grant paid per local authority for each of the past three years; the average contribution per applicant; the length of waiting time from application to payment of grant in each of the past three years; if a panel of approved builders has been developed for each local authority; if so, the criteria for such approval; and if consideration will be given to establishing a working group with the Department of Health, the HSE, relevant non-government organisations and organisations (details supplied) to facilitate faster transfers of care from acute hospitals to homes in which physical environment adaptations are required. [29651/19]

National Broadband Plan Data

Fergus O'Dowd

38. Deputy Fergus O'Dowd asked the Minister for Communications, Climate Action and Environment the number of homes in County Louth that are in the intervention area under the national broadband plan; when the roll-out of high speed broadband will take place; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [28562/19]

Climate Change Adaptation Plans

Fergus O'Dowd

59. Deputy Fergus O'Dowd asked the Minister for Communications, Climate Action and Environment the key elements of the Climate Action Plan 2019; and the consultation and rolling review of the actions of the plan which will ensure its successful implementation. [28563/19]

Apprenticeship Data

Fergus O'Dowd

185. Deputy Fergus O'Dowd asked the Minister for Education and Skills if a reply will issue to correspondence from an association (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [28508/19]

Medical Aids and Appliances Provision

Fergus O'Dowd

462. Deputy Fergus O'Dowd asked the Minister for Health if concerns raised in correspondence by a person (details supplied) relating to the availability of the FreeStyle Libre device for adults will receive a response; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [26571/19]

Primary Care Centres Provision

Fergus O'Dowd

498. Deputy Fergus O'Dowd asked the Minister for Health the status of a primary care centre (details supplied); if a site has been secured; if so, the list of services that will be provided on site; the reason for the delays; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [26767/19]

Primary Care Centres Provision

Fergus O'Dowd

499. Deputy Fergus O'Dowd asked the Minister for Health the status of a primary care centre (details supplied); if a site has been secured; if so, the list of services that will be provided on site; the reason for the delays; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [26768/19]

Thalidomide Victims Compensation

Fergus O'Dowd

204. Deputy Fergus O'Dowd asked the Minister for Health the support services available for persons who have been adversely affected by the use of a drug (details supplied); his plans to increase wrap around support for an association; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [25808/19]

Tracker Mortgage Examination

Fergus O'Dowd

129. Deputy Fergus O'Dowd asked the Minister for Finance if the concerns of a person (details supplied) regarding tracker settlements will be considered; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [24831/19]

Hospital Car Parks

Fergus O'Dowd

398. Deputy Fergus O'Dowd asked the Minister for Health when the implementation of the €10 cap on hospital car park charges will be introduced to the car parks in Our Lady of Lourdes Hospital in Drogheda, County Louth; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [25253/19]

National Heritage Plan

Fergus O'Dowd

49. Deputy Fergus O'Dowd asked the Minister for Culture, Heritage and the Gaeltacht the level of response she received from County Louth during the Heritage 2030 public consultations; and the remaining opportunities for groups and residents of the county to make submissions to the process. [24187/19]

Invasive Plant Species

Fergus O'Dowd

54. Deputy Fergus O'Dowd asked the Minister for Culture, Heritage and the Gaeltacht the threat that invasive species are posing in County Louth; and the measures being taken to combat same. [24188/19]

Electric Vehicles

Fergus O'Dowd

208. Deputy Fergus O'Dowd asked the Minister for Communications, Climate Action and Environment his views on concerns of a person (details supplied) about a possible safety issue in regard to the release of hydrofluoric acid from the batteries of electric vehicles; if these concerns have been raised previously in his Department; if so, his plans to mitigate the risk; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [24507/19]

Road Traffic Offences Data

Fergus O'Dowd

358. Deputy Fergus O'Dowd asked the Minister for Justice and Equality the number of persons convicted for driving while using a mobile telephone in each of the years 2016 to 2018 and to date in 2019, in tabular form; the average fine for each of the same years; his plans to introduce stronger deterrents for this offence in the near future; the number of repeat offenders and the average fine a repeat offender was charged over the same time period; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [23851/19]

Health Services Funding

Fergus O'Dowd

394. Deputy Fergus O'Dowd asked the Minister for Health the level of resources provided through Departments to support the work of an organisation (details supplied). [24264/19]

HSE Investigations

Fergus O'Dowd

400. Deputy Fergus O'Dowd asked the Minister for Health if employees in the HSE following the launch of a human resources investigation have a veto over the person who carries out that investigation; if proposals have been received from the HSE to end such a veto; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [23195/19]

Home Care Packages

Fergus O'Dowd

496. Deputy Fergus O'Dowd asked the Minister for Health if he will consider the establishment of a central national budget for sudden onset conditions to be operated independently of regular home care packages in the context of a submission (details supplied) in order to relieve some of the enormous pressures on patients and their families, on hospital capacity and to ensure the effective and equitable operation of home care packages for those with established conditions; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [23537/19]

Home Care Packages Data

Fergus O'Dowd

497. Deputy Fergus O'Dowd asked the Minister for Health if he will provide a schedule of the mean, median and modal hours per week for home care packages for persons over 65 years of age by county; the percentage of HCPs per head of population of over 65s by county; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [23538/19]

Respite Care Services Data

Fergus O'Dowd

686. Deputy Fergus O'Dowd asked the Minister for Health the number of respite bed nights provided for adults in counties Louth and Meath in each of the years 2015 to 2018 and to date in 2019, in tabular form; the number of adults for whom respite was provided in counties Louth and Meath in the same years in tabular form; the average number of nights persons were offered over the same years; the method of rolling years relating to the provision of respite; if persons lose an entitlement to respite provision in the subsequent years if this option is taken up; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [24183/19]

Health Services Funding

Fergus O'Dowd

690. Deputy Fergus O'Dowd asked the Minister for Health the level of resources provided to the national safeguarding office of the HSE and for each of the community healthcare organisations' safeguarding and protection teams for the years 2015 to 2019. [24211/19]

Health Services Funding

Fergus O'Dowd

691. Deputy Fergus O'Dowd asked the Minister for Health if he will consider the need for additional resources for HSE safeguarding teams in view of the results of a recent national survey which showed that one in ten persons was aware of the abuse of a vulnerable adult in the past 12 months. [24212/19]

Health Services Funding

Fergus O'Dowd

692. Deputy Fergus O'Dowd asked the Minister for Health if an organisation (details supplied) will be involved in the safeguarding policy development group established by his Department; and when it is planned to establish a group for all of Government. [24213/19]

Home Care Packages Provision

Fergus O'Dowd

703. Deputy Fergus O'Dowd asked the Minister for Health his views on concerns relating to home care provision by a person (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [24233/19]

Childcare Services

Fergus O'Dowd

826. Deputy Fergus O'Dowd asked the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs the position with regard to publishing the childminding action plan; if the concerns of a person (details supplied) about the impact it may have on certain childminders will receive a response; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [23265/19]

State Pension (Contributory) Eligibility

Fergus O'Dowd

862. Deputy Fergus O'Dowd asked the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection her plans to address the perceived unjust system under which carers do not receive qualifying stamps in order to qualify for contributory pensions in view of the significant saving they make for the State in terms of care cost; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [23196/19]

Social Insurance Payments

Fergus O'Dowd

914. Deputy Fergus O'Dowd asked the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection if a person receiving a State pension (contributory) over 66 years of age while still working in a full-time position and paying normal rates of PRSI, tax and so on can benefit from paying a reduced PRSI and-or tax contribution; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [23878/19]

Home Loan Scheme

Fergus O'Dowd

953. Deputy Fergus O'Dowd asked the Minister for Housing, Planning and Local Government further to Parliamentary Question No. 127 of 14 May 2019, if the internal review has been completed; if so, the details of same; when an announcement will be made in order to recommence the scheme; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [23224/19]

Social and Affordable Housing Eligibility

Fergus O'Dowd

955. Deputy Fergus O'Dowd asked the Minister for Housing, Planning and Local Government if he will address a matter in relation to an assessment of income of a person (details supplied) under social housing guidelines; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [23228/19]

Medicinal Products Availability

Fergus O'Dowd

90. Deputy Fergus O'Dowd asked the Minister for Health the position in relation to the availability of Versatis patches for persons on a medical card or long-term illness card; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [23084/19]

Private Rented Accommodation

Fergus O'Dowd

163. Deputy Fergus O'Dowd asked the Minister for Housing, Planning and Local Government his plans in relation to the possible introduction of lifelong tenancies which are being evaluated at present; the details of his remit in relation to same; if impact studies have been carried out to assess the impact the introduction of such a tenancy will have in the immediate future in terms of termination notices in advance of a prescribed date of implementation; his views on whether large-scale property investors will be receptive to such a policy; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [23080/19]

Respite Care Services

Fergus O'Dowd

209. Deputy Fergus O'Dowd asked the Minister for Health if matters raised in correspondence regarding respite care from a person (details supplied) will be responded to; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [22328/19]

Greenhouse Gas Emissions

Fergus O'Dowd

319. Deputy Fergus O'Dowd asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if a reply will issue to correspondence from a person (details supplied) in relation to greenhouse gases; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [22308/19]

Public Transport Subsidies

Fergus O'Dowd

387. Deputy Fergus O'Dowd asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport if the campaign to extend the short-hop zone to Drogheda, County Louth, in the immediate future will be supported in order to reduce the costs for commuters in the area; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [22357/19]