Parliamentary questions

Health Services

Róisín Shortall

496. Deputy Róisín Shortall asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth to provide an update on plans to provide a community neurorehabilitation team in all nine CHOs; the timeline he is working towards for each CHO; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [2422/24]

Healthcare Infrastructure Provision

Róisín Shortall

561. Deputy Róisín Shortall asked the Minister for Health the estimated timeline for delivery of each of the six surgical hubs; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [2386/24]

Vaccination Programme

Róisín Shortall

562. Deputy Róisín Shortall asked the Minister for Health the aftercare provided to people who received the incorrect formulation of a vaccine (details supplied); the information provided to those impacted; if any adverse effects were reported; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [2387/24]

Medical Aids and Appliances

Róisín Shortall

596. Deputy Róisín Shortall asked the Minister for Health if his Department or any of the other relevant bodies will issue a formal authoritative request to a representative body to issue a notification to its members regarding the recall of products (details supplied); the reason this has not been done; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [2515/24]

Nursing Homes

Róisín Shortall

4. Deputy Róisín Shortall asked the Minister for Health to respond to the recent ERSI report on the changes and challenges facing the Irish long-term residential care sector since Covid-19; his views on the consolidation of nursing home ownership, with 14 operators controlling 40% of all beds, and the increasing monetisation of elder care; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [2279/24]

Passport Services

Róisín Shortall

132. Deputy Róisín Shortall asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs the status of a passport application for a person (details supplied) in Dublin 11; the reason for the delay; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [2209/24]

Legislative Programme

Róisín Shortall

299. Deputy Róisín Shortall asked the Minister for Health to provide an update on plans to introduce a statutory right to home care, as committed to in the Programme for Government; the timeline he is working towards in publishing the necessary legislation; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [2280/24]

Work Permits

Róisín Shortall

438. Deputy Róisín Shortall asked the Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment if he or the Minister of State with responsibility for Business, Employment and Retail will meet with an organisation (details supplied) in relation to changes to the work permit scheme for non-EEA healthcare assistants; the steps he is taking to address the concerns raised in correspondence; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [1238/24]

Social Welfare Eligibility

Róisín Shortall

896. Deputy Róisín Shortall asked the Minister for Social Protection if financial supports are available for self-employed people with disabilities, similar to the wage subsidy scheme for people with disabilities; if not, if she plans to introduce such a scheme; if not, plans, the reason; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [56997/23]

Disability Services

Róisín Shortall

1416. Deputy Róisín Shortall asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth if there is any legal obligation on large retailers to provide disability trolleys in their stores; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [1224/24]

Departmental Funding

Róisín Shortall

1417. Deputy Róisín Shortall asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth if an allocation under the new youth employability scheme will be made to an organisation (details supplied), given that the special purpose grant allocated to the organisation for its Employability Support Programme expired at the end of 2023; if he will provide a timeline for the allocation of such funding; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [1248/24]

Hospital Procedures

Róisín Shortall

1509. Deputy Róisín Shortall asked the Minister for Health if he is aware of public hospitals refusing GP referrals for DEXA scans (details supplied); the reason for this policy in a number of hospitals; the steps being taken to address this; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [56579/23]

Health Services Staff

Róisín Shortall

1550. Deputy Róisín Shortall asked the Minister for Health his views on the number of doctors in HSE consultant posts that are not on the Irish Medical Council specialist register for the specialty they are practising in (details supplied); his views on the potential for patient safety issues; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [56773/23]

Primary Care Services

Róisín Shortall

1593. Deputy Róisín Shortall asked the Minister for Health the reason letters are being sent to parents informing them that their child will be removed from primary care waiting lists unless they return a form within two weeks (details supplied); the rationale for this short timeframe of two weeks; if this practice is applied consistently across the country; if there is any recourse for parents who do not see this letter in time, for example during summer or Christmas holidays; if steps will be taken to ensure that parents with additional needs are appropriately accommodated; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [57111/23]

Health Service Executive

Róisín Shortall

1689. Deputy Róisín Shortall asked the Minister for Health further to Parliamentary Question No.150 of 15 November 2023, whether the Health Service Executive pensions section in Manorhamilton is now fully staffed and in a position to process all pension matters for retired HSE workers in a swift and timely manner; if not, if he will outline the reason why and the steps being taken to address this; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [1366/24]

Departmental Schemes

Róisín Shortall

1744. Deputy Róisín Shortall asked the Minister for Health if consideration will be given to adding motor neurone disease (MND) and Kennedy's disease, which is rare but very similar to MND, to the list of medical conditions covered by the long-term illness scheme; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [1642/24]

Departmental Strategies

Róisín Shortall

1745. Deputy Róisín Shortall asked the Minister for Health to provide an update on the National Service Plan 2024; if the HSE has submitted the NSP to him for approval; the timeline he is working towards in approving the NSP; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [1643/24]

Budget 2024

Róisín Shortall

250. Deputy Róisín Shortall asked the Minister for Public Expenditure, National Development Plan Delivery and Reform to respond to the Irish Fiscal Advisory Council’s Fiscal Assessment Report, published recently; his views on their assessment of the health allocation for 2024 (details supplied); if he accepts the views of the Acting Chair; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [56155/23]

Fuel Poverty

Róisín Shortall

378. Deputy Róisín Shortall asked the Minister for Social Protection if her attention has been brought to research into energy hardship experienced by cancer patients with life-limiting diagnoses (details supplied); the steps she is taking to address this issue; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [56154/23]

Healthcare Policy

Róisín Shortall

506. Deputy Róisín Shortall asked the Minister for Health if his attention has been brought to research into energy hardship experienced by cancer patients with life-limiting diagnoses (details supplied); the steps he is taking to address this issue; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [56153/23]

Departmental Budgets

Róisín Shortall

507. Deputy Róisín Shortall asked the Minister for Health if he has engaged with the Minister for Public Expenditure, NDP Delivery and Reform regarding the Irish Fiscal Advisory Council’s Fiscal Assessment Report and their analysis of the Health allocation for 2024 (details supplied); his views on their analysis of the health allocation; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [56156/23]

Disability Services

Róisín Shortall

261. Deputy Róisín Shortall asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science if he will meet representatives of an organisation (details supplied) to discuss serious funding challenges and its role in the evolving further education and training ecosystem; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [55813/23]

Environmental Schemes

Róisín Shortall

170. Deputy Róisín Shortall asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications the supports that will be made available to small retailers to take part in the deposit return scheme; if any research has been carried out as to whether there is potential for some retailers, such as small off-licences, to be disadvantaged by the scheme; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [55091/23]

Alcohol Pricing

Róisín Shortall

731. Deputy Róisín Shortall asked the Minister for Health the steps he is taking to ensure that alcohol price reductions on the basis of a customer having a supermarket loyalty card are not in breach of the Public Health Act (Alcohol) 2018; the engagements he has had with supermarkets on this issue; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [54494/23]

Hospital Facilities

Róisín Shortall

851. Deputy Róisín Shortall asked the Minister for Health further to Parliamentary Question No. 250 of 17 May 2023, if any beds, units or buildings have been closed in the Mater Misericordia University Hospital, Dublin 7, this year; if there are any plans to do so in the near future; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [55360/23]

Health Services

Róisín Shortall

858. Deputy Róisín Shortall asked the Minister for Health the steps he is taking to address the lack of capacity in PrEP services, particularly in view of the 68% increase in HIV diagnoses in 2022; how the additional €600,000 allocated to support PrEP services in budget 2024 will be spent; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [55412/23]

Health Services

Róisín Shortall

859. Deputy Róisín Shortall asked the Minister for Health the number of staff in public PrEP services in 2020, 2021, 2022 and to date in 2023, by location, in tabular form; the number of vacancies in the service in each year; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [55413/23]

Health Services

Róisín Shortall

331. Deputy Róisín Shortall asked the Minister for Health if a company will be in a position to begin the diabetic retina screening programme in January 2024 (details supplied); if this organisation has signed its contract with the National Screening Service; the reason the National Screening Service appointed a sole bidder for all of Ireland; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [54381/23]

Constitutional Amendments

Róisín Shortall

152. Deputy Róisín Shortall asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth to respond to matters raised in correspondence regarding the wording of the proposed constitutional amendment to the definition of a family (details supplied); when an announcement will be made in respect of the proposed wording; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [54097/23]

Vaccination Programme

Róisín Shortall

158. Deputy Róisín Shortall asked the Minister for Health the status of the health technology assessment on the herpes zoster vaccine which also protects against shingles; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [53921/23]

Health Service Executive

Róisín Shortall

184. Deputy Róisín Shortall asked the Minister for Health the number of properties owned by the HSE, by location, use and value, in tabular form; and the number of these which are vacant and the length of vacancy. [54094/23]

Health Service Executive

Róisín Shortall

185. Deputy Róisín Shortall asked the Minister for Health the number of properties rented by the HSE, by location, use and annual cost, in tabular form. [54095/23]

Grant Payments

Róisín Shortall

201. Deputy Róisín Shortall asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science to examine a matter in relation to a SUSI grant (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [54024/23]

School Accommodation

Róisín Shortall

245. Deputy Róisín Shortall asked the Minister for Education the assistance available to a school (details supplied) in Dublin 9 regarding an urgent structural issue facing them; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [53434/23]

Departmental Meetings

Róisín Shortall

598. Deputy Róisín Shortall asked the Minister for Health the meetings held by his officials from assistant principal level up with representatives of the alcohol industry in 2020, 2021, 2022 and to date in 2023; the dates, attendees and matters that were discussed at each meeting; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [53743/23]

Vehicle Registration Tax

Róisín Shortall

313. Deputy Róisín Shortall asked the Minister for Finance further to Parliamentary Question No. 459 of 21 April 2021, the current steps being taken to address the proliferation of illegal vehicle registration plates on motor cars; whether sufficient legislation is in place for gardaí to apply a fixed charge penalty notice for this offence (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [53019/23]

Road Traffic Offences

Róisín Shortall

435. Deputy Róisín Shortall asked the Minister for Justice the number of prosecutions initiated by gardaí in each of the past five years for illegal number plates, noisy exhausts, tinted windows and visors obstructing the windows; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [53020/23]

Mother and Baby Homes

Róisín Shortall

459. Deputy Róisín Shortall asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth when it is expected to open applications for the mother and baby institutions payment scheme; the reason for the delay; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [52942/23]

Dental Services

Róisín Shortall

476. Deputy Róisín Shortall asked the Minister for Health his plans for the Connolly Hospital Dental General Anaesthetic Unit in James Connolly Memorial Hospital, which was due to open in 2019 but has not opened since its construction; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [52943/23]

Health Services Staff

Róisín Shortall

477. Deputy Róisín Shortall asked the Minister for Health the number of doctors in HSE consultant posts including temporary, locum and permanent, that are not on the Irish Medical Council specialist register for the specialty they are practicing in; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [52955/23]

Hospital Facilities

Róisín Shortall

494. Deputy Róisín Shortall asked the Minister for Health if he has engaged with the management of the Mater Hospital, Dublin, in relation to the absence of free staff parking and the financial difficulties which this poses, especially to staff who do not have public transport options; the steps he is taking to address this issue; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [53110/23]

Hospital Charges

Róisín Shortall

495. Deputy Róisín Shortall asked the Minister for Health the status of the Programme for Government commitment to introduce a cap on the maximum daily charge for patients and visitors at all public hospitals; the timeline he is working towards; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [53111/23]

Proposed Legislation

Róisín Shortall

496. Deputy Róisín Shortall asked the Minister for Health the steps he is taking to ensure that the health service is properly resourced to deal with the health impacts of the Sale of Alcohol Bill 2022; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [53113/23]

Hospital Services

Róisín Shortall

499. Deputy Róisín Shortall asked the Minister for Health the current services provided at Ennis Hospital; the opening hours; if there are any plans to expand services; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [53172/23]

Vaccination Programme

Róisín Shortall

132. Deputy Róisín Shortall asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth the number of Covid-19 vaccines that were purchased by the HSE between 2020 and 2022; and the total cost of these vaccines. [52849/23]

Vaccination Programme

Róisín Shortall

158. Deputy Róisín Shortall asked the Minister for Health the number of Covid 19 vaccines that were purchased by the HSE between 2020 and 2022; and the total cost of these vaccines. [52848/23]

Departmental Bodies

Róisín Shortall

229. Deputy Róisín Shortall asked the Minister for Public Expenditure, National Development Plan Delivery and Reform the reason for the delay in publishing the Health Budget Oversight Group minutes for August and September 2023; the date on which these will be published; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [52521/23]

Health Strategies

Róisín Shortall

585. Deputy Róisín Shortall asked the Minister for Health the funding that was provided to the National Maternity Strategy in 2023; the level of funding sought by the HSE National Women and Infants Health Programme for the National Maternity Strategy in 2023; if he expects the €43.6 million required to implement the strategy by 2026 to be provided in full and the level provided to date; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [52025/23]

Departmental Meetings

Róisín Shortall

586. Deputy Róisín Shortall asked the Minister for Health the meetings held by his officials from assistant principal level upwards with representatives of the food industry in 2020, 2021, 2022 and to date in 2023; the dates, attendees and matters that were discussed at each meeting; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [52026/23]

Departmental Meetings

Róisín Shortall

587. Deputy Róisín Shortall asked the Minister for Health the meetings held by his officials from assistant principal-level upwards with representatives of the tobacco and nicotine inhaling products industry in 2020, 2021, 2022 and to date in 2023; the dates, attendees and matters that were discussed at each meeting; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [52027/23]