Parliamentary questions

Housing Provision

Richard O'Donoghue

353. Deputy Richard O'Donoghue asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth if he will provide details of the areas in Limerick city and county where the proposed modular homes are to be built, in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [5418/23]

Passport Services

Richard O'Donoghue

67. Deputy Richard O'Donoghue asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs the extent to which the Passport Office is prepared for the influx of passport applications for this spring and summer (details supplied). [4615/23]

Passport Services

Richard O'Donoghue

352. Deputy Richard O'Donoghue asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs the additional resources that his Department has provided to address the backlog of passports yet to be processed; and if there is a current backlog of postal applications to be dealt with. [4616/23]

School Staff

Richard O'Donoghue

254. Deputy Richard O'Donoghue asked the Minister for Education if her attention has been drawn to the fact that post-primary teachers have no secure way to switch jobs; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [3804/23]

School Staff

Richard O'Donoghue

255. Deputy Richard O'Donoghue asked the Minister for Education if her attention has been drawn to the fact that schools have to cancel junior cycle technology subjects in-service training due to the lack of substitute teachers; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [3805/23]

Hospital Services

Richard O'Donoghue

307. Deputy Richard O'Donoghue asked the Minister for Health if his attention has been drawn to the length of time women are waiting for biopsy results that are sent to a laboratory in Waterford, and that it is a serious concern to these women; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [3803/23]

Business Supports

Richard O'Donoghue

142. Deputy Richard O'Donoghue asked the Minister for Finance why the temporary business energy support scheme does not cover the use of liquid gas, such as LPG and BioLPG (details supplied). [62210/22]

Departmental Expenditure

Richard O'Donoghue

110. Deputy Richard O'Donoghue asked the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform the reason the Department of Rural and Community Development was allocated voted capital and current expenditure of only €331 million or 0.45% of the overall voted allocation in 2022 at a time when regional and rural infrastructure is creaking at the seams and many rural services are subpar or non-existent when compared with urban areas; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [2526/23]

Driver Test

Richard O'Donoghue

178. Deputy Richard O'Donoghue asked the Minister for Transport if his attention has been drawn to the number of persons waiting to sit their driving test in most centres around the country, including Limerick; if additional instructors will be hired to alleviate this backlog; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [2530/23]

Tax Code

Richard O'Donoghue

206. Deputy Richard O'Donoghue asked the Minister for Finance the reason VAT was added to products for the alleviation of flu and flu-like symptoms, given the escalating cost-of-living and the surge in flu and Covid symptoms this time of the year; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [2529/23]

Public Expenditure Policy

Richard O'Donoghue

212. Deputy Richard O'Donoghue asked the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform if he can account for spending a record 21.5% increase in taxation revenues in 2022 (from €68.41 billion in 2021 to €83.13 billion in 2022) when it comes to delivering rural infrastructure and critical services across our regions; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [2527/23]

Hospital Staff

Richard O'Donoghue

316. Deputy Richard O'Donoghue asked the Minister for Health the number of radiographers working at University Hospital Limerick in the years 2020, 2021 and 2022; if this number will increase to alleviate the waiting times in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [2531/23]

Public Sector Pensions

Richard O'Donoghue

106. Deputy Richard O'Donoghue asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications the position regarding the sign-off of the pension increase of 3% for Eir pensioners approved by the pension trustees and Eir since 1 July 2022; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [1349/23]

Tax Code

Richard O'Donoghue

328. Deputy Richard O'Donoghue asked the Minister for Finance if he will clarify whether accessories associated with defibrillators are also exempt from VAT from 1 January 2023 (details supplied). [1075/23]

School Equipment

Richard O'Donoghue

232. Deputy Richard O'Donoghue asked the Minister for Education the number of schools per county that have high-efficiency particulate absorbing, HEPA, filters installed in classrooms in tabular form. [62905/22]

Health Services Staff

Richard O'Donoghue

319. Deputy Richard O'Donoghue asked the Minister for Health if he can provide a date when all the front-line workers waiting on the pandemic payment of €1,000 can expect to receive the payment (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [62902/22]

Hospital Staff

Richard O'Donoghue

320. Deputy Richard O'Donoghue asked the Minister for Health if his attention has been drawn to the fact that there is no paediatric neurologist in UHL; when it is likely that a neurologist will be appointed; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [62903/22]

Health Services

Richard O'Donoghue

321. Deputy Richard O'Donoghue asked the Minister for Health the services that are currently available to those diagnosed with foetal valproate spectrum disorder; the way that families can access these services within their communities following a diagnosis; if he will provide an update on discussions between the HSE and his Department to improve access to services; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [62904/22]

Agriculture Schemes

Richard O'Donoghue

395. Deputy Richard O'Donoghue asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if he will provide a date for the announcement of the forgotten farmer's scheme; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [62906/22]

Enterprise Support Services

Richard O'Donoghue

59. Deputy Richard O'Donoghue asked the Minister for Finance his views on the rising energy costs and the sustainability of small businesses that have no access to the natural gas grid and are using LPG and BioLPG as an alternative (details supplied); and if he will re-examine the support scheme and amend it to include these businesses. [62319/22]

Nursing Education

Richard O'Donoghue

330. Deputy Richard O'Donoghue asked the Minister for Health the position regarding student nurses; the reason that many of the recommendations of the McHugh report which were due to be implemented by September 2022 have yet to be implemented, resulting in student nurses and midwives continuing to struggle to meet the costs of their training; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [61516/22]

School Accommodation

Richard O'Donoghue

255. Deputy Richard O'Donoghue asked the Minister for Education if additional classrooms will be built in locations in which planning permission is already in place but funding approval is needed for the build as a matter of urgency in view of the fact that Ireland is seeing an increase in the number of children; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [60005/22]

Hospital Staff

Richard O'Donoghue

354. Deputy Richard O'Donoghue asked the Minister for Health the number of Irish trained doctors and Irish trained nurses employed by the HSE in UHL hospital group in 2019, 2020, 2021 and 2022, in tabular form. [60003/22]

Hospital Staff

Richard O'Donoghue

355. Deputy Richard O'Donoghue asked the Minister for Health the total number of doctors and nurses from all nationalities that have left the UHL hospital group in each of the years 2019, 2020, 2021 and 2022, in tabular form. [60004/22]

Social Welfare Payments

Richard O'Donoghue

230. Deputy Richard O'Donoghue asked the Minister for Social Protection if her attention has been drawn to the fact that recipients of the disability allowance, blind pension, invalidity pension and the carer’s support grant will not receive the one-off payment of €500 14 November 2022 given that if these persons have entered training or CE schemes they are not entitled to the payment; if this rule will be changed in order that they can receive the grant; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [57139/22]

Health Services Staff

Richard O'Donoghue

297. Deputy Richard O'Donoghue asked the Minister for Health if his Department is considering extending the payment for those health care workers who remain unwell and in cases in which they continue to remain unwell up until July 2023 (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [57138/22]

EU Data

Richard O'Donoghue

54. Deputy Richard O'Donoghue asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment the total financial amount on both a daily and yearly basis, of EU fines being paid by his Department in 2022; if he will provide the corresponding figures for 2020 and 2021, including the specifics of each case in his Department. [56781/22]

EU Data

Richard O'Donoghue

59. Deputy Richard O'Donoghue asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications the total financial amount on both a daily and yearly basis, of EU fines being paid by his Department in 2022; if he will provide the corresponding figures for 2020 and 2021, including the specifics of each case in his Department. [56781/22]

EU Data

Richard O'Donoghue

69. Deputy Richard O'Donoghue asked the Minister for Transport the total financial amount on both a daily and yearly basis, of EU fines being paid by his Department in 2022; if he will provide the corresponding figures for 2020 and 2021, including the specifics of each case in his Department. [56781/22]

EU Data

Richard O'Donoghue

78. Deputy Richard O'Donoghue asked the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform the total financial amount on both a daily and yearly basis, of EU fines being paid by his Department in 2022; if he will provide the corresponding figures for 2020 and 2021, including the specifics of each case in his Department. [56781/22]

EU Data

Richard O'Donoghue

80. Deputy Richard O'Donoghue asked the Minister for Tourism, Culture, Arts, Gaeltacht, Sport and Media the total financial amount on both a daily and yearly basis, of EU fines being paid by her Department in 2022; if she will provide the corresponding figures for 2020 and 2021, including the specifics of each case in her Department. [56781/22]

EU Data

Richard O'Donoghue

98. Deputy Richard O'Donoghue asked the Minister for Defence the total financial amount on both a daily and yearly basis, of EU fines being paid by his Department in 2022; if he will provide the corresponding figures for 2020 and 2021, including the specifics of each case in his Department. [56781/22]

EU Data

Richard O'Donoghue

100. Deputy Richard O'Donoghue asked the Minister for Education the total financial amount on both a daily and yearly basis, of EU fines being paid by her Department in 2022; if she will provide the corresponding figures for 2020 and 2021, including the specifics of each case in her Department. [56781/22]

EU Data

Richard O'Donoghue

116. Deputy Richard O'Donoghue asked the Minister for Social Protection the total financial amount on both a daily and yearly basis, of EU fines being paid by her Department in 2022; if she will provide the corresponding figures for 2020 and 2021, including the specifics of each case in her Department. [56781/22]

EU Data

Richard O'Donoghue

148. Deputy Richard O'Donoghue asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science the total financial amount on both a daily and yearly basis, of EU fines being paid by his Department in 2022; if he will provide the corresponding figures for 2020 and 2021, including the specifics of each case in his Department. [56781/22]

EU Data

Richard O'Donoghue

154. Deputy Richard O'Donoghue asked the Minister for Justice the total financial amount on both a daily and yearly basis, of EU fines being paid by her Department in 2022; if she will provide the corresponding figures for 2020 and 2021, including the specifics of each case in her Department. [56781/22]

EU Data

Richard O'Donoghue

168. Deputy Richard O'Donoghue asked the Minister for Health the total financial amount on both a daily and yearly basis, of EU fines being paid by his Department in 2022; if he will provide the corresponding figures for 2020 and 2021, including the specifics of each case in his Department. [56781/22]

EU Data

Richard O'Donoghue

196. Deputy Richard O'Donoghue asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the total financial amount on both a daily and yearly basis, of EU fines being paid by his Department in 2022; if he will provide the corresponding figures for 2020 and 2021, including the specifics of each case in his Department. [56781/22]

EU Data

Richard O'Donoghue

210. Deputy Richard O'Donoghue asked the Minister for Rural and Community Development the total financial amount on both a daily and yearly basis, of EU fines being paid by her Department in 2022; if she will provide the corresponding figures for 2020 and 2021, including the specifics of each case in her Department. [56781/22]

Civil Service

Richard O'Donoghue

83. Deputy Richard O'Donoghue asked the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform the reason that the Government is refusing to publish the salaries paid to the Secretaries General of Government Departments (details supplied). [56782/22]

Health Services Staff

Richard O'Donoghue

491. Deputy Richard O'Donoghue asked the Minister for Health if his Department has ever considered the need to look at public procurement in view to retention of staff in the HSE (details supplied). [56783/22]

Social Welfare Payments

Richard O'Donoghue

263. Deputy Richard O'Donoghue asked the Minister for Social Protection if the position regarding persons claiming illness benefit not getting the Christmas bonus will be reconsidered, given that the recipients of illness benefit are struggling on this low income; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [55967/22]

Covid-19 Pandemic

Richard O'Donoghue

304. Deputy Richard O'Donoghue asked the Minister for Health the reason that the Government and the HSE have been extremely slow to provide adequate services and supports for patients suffering from long-Covid (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [55966/22]

Covid-19 Pandemic

Richard O'Donoghue

305. Deputy Richard O'Donoghue asked the Minister for Health if his attention has been drawn to the number of children suffering from long-Covid with no supports at school to deal with these issues; if discussions are expected with the Minister for Education to put supports in place for these children; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [55968/22]

Departmental Bodies

Richard O'Donoghue

284. Deputy Richard O'Donoghue asked the Minister for Finance if the disabled drivers’ medical board of appeal has been reinstated at the National Rehabilitation University Hospital, Dún Laoghaire, County Dublin; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [55018/22]

Social Welfare Payments

Richard O'Donoghue

680. Deputy Richard O'Donoghue asked the Minister for Social Protection if her attention has been drawn to the length of time that persons are waiting for the additional needs’ payment (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [55019/22]

Dental Services

Richard O'Donoghue

1125. Deputy Richard O'Donoghue asked the Minister for Health if orthodontic treatment for children under the age of 16 can be expedited as children are suffering because of the lack of care; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [55020/22]

Ukraine War

Richard O'Donoghue

296. Deputy Richard O'Donoghue asked the Minister for Health if trained medics amongst the Ukrainian community, including nurses, doctors and so on, could be allowed to practice in centres around the country, provided that they have the relevant paperwork, given that there is a shortage of GPs around the country and that many Ukrainians are finding it difficult to access GP-care; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [54005/22]

Hospital Services

Richard O'Donoghue

297. Deputy Richard O'Donoghue asked the Minister for Health if discussions are expected to allow cataract operations to be carried-out privately in Ireland to medical-card patients and reimbursed to persons, in the same way as the Cross-Border Directive (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [54006/22]

Pension Provisions

Richard O'Donoghue

319. Deputy Richard O'Donoghue asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if he will assist in securing a rise for the pensions of retired Coillte employees (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [54004/22]