Parliamentary questions

Water Services

Caoimhghín Ó Caoláin

231. Deputy Caoimhghín Ó Caoláin asked the Minister for Housing, Planning, Community and Local Government the steps he has taken since coming to office to resolve the issue of Irish Water refusing to access and resolve issues with public water and wastewater infrastructure that is located private side; his views on whether this is an issue across the State; the timeframe for resolution of this anomaly; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [25564/17]

Domiciliary Care Allowance Applications

Caoimhghín Ó Caoláin

285. Deputy Caoimhghín Ó Caoláin asked the Minister for Social Protection the status of a domiciliary care allowance application by a person (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [25536/17]

Public Sector Pensions

Caoimhghín Ó Caoláin

366. Deputy Caoimhghín Ó Caoláin asked the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform his plans regarding the restoration in full of all State employee pension entitlements cut under the FEMPI measures; the full impact of the cuts that applied; the partial restoration which has taken place to date; the timeframe for full restoration across all State employee sectors; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [25576/17]

Services for People with Disabilities

Caoimhghín Ó Caoláin

445. Deputy Caoimhghín Ó Caoláin asked the Minister for Health the replacement services that will be in situ for the service users of a centre (details supplied) when it closes shortly; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [25509/17]

Local Authority Services

Caoimhghín Ó Caoláin

291. Deputy Caoimhghín Ó Caoláin asked the Minister for Housing, Planning, Community and Local Government the estimated cost of introducing a scheme that would make central funding available to local authorities for the purposes of installing, via adaptation or otherwise, fully accessible public toilets including a hoist and a changing bench with the objective of delivering 50 such facilities across the State; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [24305/17]

Home Care Packages Provision

Caoimhghín Ó Caoláin

482. Deputy Caoimhghín Ó Caoláin asked the Minister for Health further to Parliamentary Question No. 791 of 2 May 2017, the level of ongoing engagement with the social care division to optimise timely access to homecare packages; the areas that have been identified within this area as being problematic or are barriers to expansion of early supported discharge; the actions which will be taken to ensure access to homecare packages for stroke patients or those suitable for ESD; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [24314/17]

National Stroke Programme Implementation

Caoimhghín Ó Caoláin

483. Deputy Caoimhghín Ó Caoláin asked the Minister for Health further to Parliamentary Question No. 1071 of 2 May 2017, the cost of increasing the number of stroke unit beds to meet the predicted increase of stroke numbers; the further cost of bringing stroke units to quality standards; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [24315/17]

Home Care Packages Data

Caoimhghín Ó Caoláin

484. Deputy Caoimhghín Ó Caoláin asked the Minister for Health the number of applications for home care packages that were submitted by persons under 65 years of age in 2015 and 2016; the number of these applications which were successful; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [24316/17]

Home Care Packages Provision

Caoimhghín Ó Caoláin

485. Deputy Caoimhghín Ó Caoláin asked the Minister for Health if the provision of homecare packages will be broadened to include persons under 65 years of age; the consideration which has been given to this in discussions between the national stroke programme and the social care division; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [24317/17]

Home Care Packages Provision

Caoimhghín Ó Caoláin

486. Deputy Caoimhghín Ó Caoláin asked the Minister for Health further to Parliamentary Question No. 1072 of 2 May 2017, if his attention has been drawn to the fact that increased difficulty in accessing home care support is worse for persons under 65 years of age who have suffered a stroke; the consideration which is being given to those persons to access home supports in order to avoid direct discharge to nursing homes, the increase in which has translated to additional expenditure of €17.25 million between 2014 and 2015; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [24318/17]

Home Care Packages Provision

Caoimhghín Ó Caoláin

487. Deputy Caoimhghín Ó Caoláin asked the Minister for Health further to Parliamentary Question No. 793 of 2 May 2017, the enhanced number of persons who could access early supported discharge if there was prompt access to home-care packages; the number of persons have been unable to access ESD specifically due to a lack of access to ESD; the areas in which this has been an issue; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [24319/17]

Hospitals Discharges

Caoimhghín Ó Caoláin

488. Deputy Caoimhghín Ó Caoláin asked the Minister for Health further to Parliamentary Question No. 793 of 2 May 2017, the staffing vacancies that currently exist in the early supported discharge teams across the current sites; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [24320/17]

Hospitals Discharges

Caoimhghín Ó Caoláin

489. Deputy Caoimhghín Ó Caoláin asked the Minister for Health further to Parliamentary Question No. 793 of 2 May 2017, the challenges that exist in respect of the staffing in maintaining early supported discharge teams across the current sites; the challenges that exist in respect of the organisation, for example, catchment areas in maintaining early supported discharge teams across the current sites; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [24321/17]

National Stroke Programme Implementation

Caoimhghín Ó Caoláin

490. Deputy Caoimhghín Ó Caoláin asked the Minister for Health if his attention has been drawn to the findings of a report (details supplied); if there will be a multi-year plan put in place to address the service and staff deficits in stroke services here; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [24322/17]

National Stroke Programme Implementation

Caoimhghín Ó Caoláin

491. Deputy Caoimhghín Ó Caoláin asked the Minister for Health if he will meet representatives of an organisation (details supplied) that has requested a meeting on stroke services here in view of the findings of a report; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [24323/17]

Nursing Homes Support Scheme Appeals

Caoimhghín Ó Caoláin

524. Deputy Caoimhghín Ó Caoláin asked the Minister for Health if there is an appeal process through the HSE or fair deal office in the case of a nursing home provider introducing an additional monetary demand or redesignating particular services or particular needs as requiring additional contributions from the service user directly that is outside the calculation of the fair deal support approved; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [24584/17]

Proposed Legislation

Caoimhghín Ó Caoláin

637. Deputy Caoimhghín Ó Caoláin asked the Minister for Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation the position regarding the Copyright Bill; when she expects it will be published; if she will consider extending a college's (details supplied) current statutory copyright library status to include accessible digital formats, which would make for greater accessibility for blind and visually impaired persons; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [24191/17]

Services for People with Disabilities

Caoimhghín Ó Caoláin

223. Deputy Caoimhghín Ó Caoláin asked the Minister for Health when a person (details supplied) will receive an appointment for assessment of need; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [23486/17]

Refugee Resettlement Programme

Caoimhghín Ó Caoláin

107. Deputy Caoimhghín Ó Caoláin asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Justice and Equality the statistics for each of the two refugee sub-programmes, resettlement and relocation; if under the resettlement sub-programme the State has lived up to its own target of accepting a further 260 persons in spring 2017; if a selection mission visited Lebanon in the early months of 2017; the status of the agreement with Greece under the relocation sub-programme; the number of persons of the 1,100 the State has agreed to accept from Greece up to September 2017 who are now here; the number of the 200 unaccompanied minors, formerly detained at Calais in France, that Dáil Éireann agreed to accept in November 2016 who have been relocated here; her views on the State's responsibilities and undertakings regarding these humanitarian crises; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [22835/17]

School Meals Programme

Caoimhghín Ó Caoláin

251. Deputy Caoimhghín Ó Caoláin asked the Minister for Social Protection the cost of the free school meals programme for each of the past five years; the current rates of payment per meal, child and day, respectively; the number of students availing of each meal option, in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [22812/17]

School Meals Programme

Caoimhghín Ó Caoláin

252. Deputy Caoimhghín Ó Caoláin asked the Minister for Social Protection the way the free school meals programme is assessed or audited in terms of the provision of suitable quality and nutritional value; the way the free school meals programme is assessed or audited in terms of the way in which meals are prepared and consumed; if his attention has been drawn to instances in which the lack of access to appropriate infrastructure has hindered the ability of a school to avail of the scheme or a particular meal option; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [22813/17]

Community Care

Caoimhghín Ó Caoláin

334. Deputy Caoimhghín Ó Caoláin asked the Minister for Health his plans to develop a system for supplying automated external defibrillators for families of children with inherited heart conditions; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [22665/17]

Community Care

Caoimhghín Ó Caoláin

335. Deputy Caoimhghín Ó Caoláin asked the Minister for Health the procedures and criteria in place in respect of supplying automated external defibrillators for families of children with inherited heart conditions; if there are different criteria in place in view of the absence of standard pathways; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [22666/17]

Community Care

Caoimhghín Ó Caoláin

336. Deputy Caoimhghín Ó Caoláin asked the Minister for Health the number of requests made to the HSE in each of the past five years and to date in 2017 for funding for automated external defibrillators by families with inherited heart conditions; the number of approvals; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [22667/17]

Obesity Strategy

Caoimhghín Ó Caoláin

377. Deputy Caoimhghín Ó Caoláin asked the Minister for Health the way in which action 3.2 of A Healthy Weight for Ireland is being advanced; the position regarding the development, implementation and evaluation of a code of practice for food and beverages promotion, marketing and sponsorship; if his Department will work with other relevant Departments to develop a system of data collection regarding food marketing and targeted advertising; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [22814/17]

School Milk Scheme

Caoimhghín Ó Caoláin

210. Deputy Caoimhghín Ó Caoláin asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine further to Parliamentary Question No. 1249 on 2 May 2017, the value of products that are provided here under the EU school milk scheme for each of the past five years in respect of category 1 products that are heat treated milk with chocolate, fruit juice or flavoured (details supplied); if the value of products provided under category 1 are broken down in terms of the quantity and value provided; if not, the reason therefore; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [22534/17]

Medicinal Products Availability

Caoimhghín Ó Caoláin

201. Deputy Caoimhghín Ó Caoláin asked the Minister for Health to outline the reason medications (details supplied) are no longer available under the medical card scheme; if his attention has been drawn to the impact this is having on persons that suffer from macular degeneration and that now pay in excess of €17 per month to access this drug; his plans to reverse this decision; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [21309/17]

Legal Proceedings

Caoimhghín Ó Caoláin

244. Deputy Caoimhghín Ó Caoláin asked the Minister for Health the number of legal actions alleging misdiagnosis currently being taken against the HSE western division; the way in which cases are recorded in data; if such data is made available to the public; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [21006/17]

National Clinical Programme for Heart Failure

Caoimhghín Ó Caoláin

249. Deputy Caoimhghín Ó Caoláin asked the Minister for Health further to Parliamentary Questions Nos. 245 to 250, inclusive, of 6 April 2017, the details of the resources that would be needed for service roll out of the revised model of care; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [21038/17]

National Clinical Programme for Heart Failure

Caoimhghín Ó Caoláin

250. Deputy Caoimhghín Ó Caoláin asked the Minister for Health further to Parliamentary Questions Nos. 245 to 250, inclusive, of 6 April 2017, the funding needed to support the reconfiguration of services to the model of care; the funding needed to address the geographical gaps in service provision; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [21039/17]

National Clinical Programme for Heart Failure

Caoimhghín Ó Caoláin

251. Deputy Caoimhghín Ó Caoláin asked the Minister for Health further to Parliamentary Questions Nos. 245 to 250, inclusive, of 6 April 2017, the details of the funding needed to address the gap in service provision in County Cork which currently has no heart failure unit or structured service; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [21040/17]

National Clinical Programme for Heart Failure

Caoimhghín Ó Caoláin

252. Deputy Caoimhghín Ó Caoláin asked the Minister for Health further to Parliamentary Questions Nos. 245 to 250, inclusive, of 6 April 2017, the investment that would be required for the heart failure specialist teams to build on the work carried out by the NCP to improve care for heart failure patients in hospital; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [21041/17]

National Clinical Programme for Heart Failure

Caoimhghín Ó Caoláin

253. Deputy Caoimhghín Ó Caoláin asked the Minister for Health further to Parliamentary Questions Nos. 245 to 250, inclusive, of 6 April 2017, the investment that would be required to implement heart failure integrated care projects in the community; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [21042/17]

Tobacco Control Measures

Caoimhghín Ó Caoláin

231. Deputy Caoimhghín Ó Caoláin asked the Minister for Finance if he will consider the recommendation in Tobacco Free Ireland to introduce a levy on the tobacco industry; the discussions his Department has had with the Department of Health on this; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [19339/17]

Tobacco Control Measures

Caoimhghín Ó Caoláin

232. Deputy Caoimhghín Ó Caoláin asked the Minister for Finance if his Department has undertaken research on the recommendation in Tobacco Free Ireland to introduce a levy on the tobacco industry; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [19340/17]

Tax Code

Caoimhghín Ó Caoláin

258. Deputy Caoimhghín Ó Caoláin asked the Minister for Finance the consultation his Department has had with his counterparts in the UK in respect of the sugar sweetened drinks tax; if his attention has been drawn to recent announcements in the UK that revenues from the UK soft drinks industry levy are to be ring-fenced for a healthy pupils capital programme; if it will be possible to ring-fence some of the funding generated by the tax for specific purposes; if he has given consideration to same; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [19824/17]

Schools Health and Safety

Caoimhghín Ó Caoláin

407. Deputy Caoimhghín Ó Caoláin asked the Minister for Education and Skills to outline the way in which action 1.4 of A Healthy Weight for Ireland will be advanced; the status of the provision of potable water in all learning centres; if a national audit has taken place of learning centres in respect of the availability of potable water; if not, if this will be done as a matter of priority; the consultation his officials have had with the Department of Health in this regard; the cost of providing potable water in all learning centres. [20829/17]

Schools Health and Safety

Caoimhghín Ó Caoláin

408. Deputy Caoimhghín Ó Caoláin asked the Minister for Education and Skills to outline his plans to undertake an audit of the built environment infrastructure and facilities available to schools and learning centres as part of the roll-out of the national physical activity plan for Ireland; the consultation which has taken place with his Department and other Departments in this regard; if his attention has been drawn to the results of a report (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [20834/17]

Tobacco Control Measures

Caoimhghín Ó Caoláin

771. Deputy Caoimhghín Ó Caoláin asked the Minister for Health the actions being taken in view of the Framework Convention on Tobacco Control Illicit Trade Protocol; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [19341/17]

Hospitals Discharges

Caoimhghín Ó Caoláin

791. Deputy Caoimhghín Ó Caoláin asked the Minister for Health the position regarding the roll-out of the new early supported discharge teams as part of the national stroke programme; the details of the staffing team for each inclusive of grade and cost of same; the timescale for the roll-out of these programmes; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [19194/17]

National Stroke Programme Implementation

Caoimhghín Ó Caoláin

792. Deputy Caoimhghín Ó Caoláin asked the Minister for Health the cost of providing one whole-time equivalent physiotherapist, occupational therapist and nurse and a 0.5 whole-time equivalent occupational therapist and 0.5 medical social worker that would meet the acceptable international standards for early supported discharge teams; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [19195/17]

Hospitals Discharges

Caoimhghín Ó Caoláin

793. Deputy Caoimhghín Ó Caoláin asked the Minister for Health the number of persons across each operating site that have been discharged home via early supported discharge for stroke patients since the first ESD rollout in 2011; the percentage of this category compared to total stroke discharges; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [19196/17]

Action Against Tobacco Industry

Caoimhghín Ó Caoláin

826. Deputy Caoimhghín Ó Caoláin asked the Minister for Health if he will advance the proposal to introduce a levy on the tobacco industry; the discussions his Department has had with the Department of Finance on this following on from a recommendation in Tobacco Free Ireland; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [19338/17]

Hospital Appointments Status

Caoimhghín Ó Caoláin

901. Deputy Caoimhghín Ó Caoláin asked the Minister for Health the status of an appointment for a person (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [19604/17]

Obesity Strategy

Caoimhghín Ó Caoláin

1023. Deputy Caoimhghín Ó Caoláin asked the Minister for Health the work being undertaken by his Department in respect of food product improvement; the expected date for publishing the national plan for food product improvement; the consultations his Department has had with relevant stakeholders in respect of the plan; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [20169/17]

Obesity Strategy

Caoimhghín Ó Caoláin

1024. Deputy Caoimhghín Ó Caoláin asked the Minister for Health the progress being made on the development of a code of practice for the marketing, retail promotion and sponsorship of high fat and sugar foods; when this will be finalised; the consultation which has taken place in this regard; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [20170/17]

Obesity Strategy

Caoimhghín Ó Caoláin

1130. Deputy Caoimhghín Ó Caoláin asked the Minister for Health the way in which action 1.4 of A Healthy Weight for Ireland will be advanced; the status of the provision of potable water in all learning centres; if a national audit has taken place of learning centres in respect of the availability of potable water; if not, if this will be done as a matter of priority; the consultation his officials have had with the Department of Education and Skills in this regard; the cost of providing potable water in all learning centres; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [20828/17]

Obesity Strategy

Caoimhghín Ó Caoláin

1131. Deputy Caoimhghín Ó Caoláin asked the Minister for Health the way in which action 1.8 of A Healthy Weight for Ireland will be advanced; the status of proposals on the roll-out of evidence-based fiscal measures to support healthy eating and lifestyles; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [20830/17]

Obesity Strategy

Caoimhghín Ó Caoláin

1132. Deputy Caoimhghín Ó Caoláin asked the Minister for Health the way in which action 1.10 of A Healthy Weight for Ireland will be advanced; the status of the evidence review for fiscal measures on products that are high in fat, sugar and salt; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [20831/17]

Obesity Strategy

Caoimhghín Ó Caoláin

1133. Deputy Caoimhghín Ó Caoláin asked the Minister for Health the way in which action 2.1 of A Healthy Weight for Ireland will be advanced; the status of the development of guidelines and support materials for those working in developing the built environment for urban development and planning in relation to reducing the obesogenic environment; the timeline for same; the consultation he has had with other Departments in this regard; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [20832/17]

Obesity Strategy

Caoimhghín Ó Caoláin

1134. Deputy Caoimhghín Ó Caoláin asked the Minister for Health his plans to undertake an audit of the built environment infrastructure and facilities available to schools and learning centres as part of the roll-out of the national physical activity plan for Ireland; the consultation which has taken place with his Department and other Departments in this regard; if his attention has been drawn to the results of a report (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [20833/17]

Physical Education

Caoimhghín Ó Caoláin

1135. Deputy Caoimhghín Ó Caoláin asked the Minister for Health his plans to roll out national initiatives to increase physical activity for children in schools as part of the national physical activity plan; if he will work with the Minister for Education and Skills to examine the need for physical activity and education to be part of the education syllabus from early childhood education to secondary level and to be part of teacher training; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [20835/17]

Obesity Strategy

Caoimhghín Ó Caoláin

1136. Deputy Caoimhghín Ó Caoláin asked the Minister for Health the way in which action 10.2 of A Healthy Weight for Ireland is being advanced; the status of the implementation of a nutrition health surveillance system; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [20836/17]

School Milk Scheme

Caoimhghín Ó Caoláin

1247. Deputy Caoimhghín Ó Caoláin asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the amount of funding provided for the EU school milk scheme in terms of EU financing and Irish funding; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [20825/17]

School Milk Scheme

Caoimhghín Ó Caoláin

1248. Deputy Caoimhghín Ó Caoláin asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the number of schools in receipt of the EU school milk scheme for each of the past five years at primary and secondary level; the number of students who received an allocation from the EU school milk scheme for each of the past five years at primary and secondary level; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [20826/17]

School Milk Scheme

Caoimhghín Ó Caoláin

1249. Deputy Caoimhghín Ó Caoláin asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the value of products that are provided here under the EU school milk scheme for each of the past five years in respect of the five heat-treated milk products under category 1 and category 2 of the scheme; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [20827/17]

Broadcast Advertising Standards Regulation

Caoimhghín Ó Caoláin

1262. Deputy Caoimhghín Ó Caoláin asked the Minister for Communications, Climate Action and Environment further to Parliamentary Question No. 719 of 11 April 2017, the role his Department has with the on-demand audiovisual services group; the role his Department has with respect to the World Health Organization's protocol for monitoring food and beverage marketing to children via television and the Internet despite not having a role in developing or amending BAI codes on advertising; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [19558/17]

Broadcast Advertising Standards Regulation

Caoimhghín Ó Caoláin

1263. Deputy Caoimhghín Ó Caoláin asked the Minister for Communications, Climate Action and Environment further to Parliamentary Question No. 719 of 11 April 2017, the role his Department has with the on-demand audiovisual services group in respect of membership; if there is a departmental representative on this group; the membership of this group; if public health or children’s organisations are members of this group; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [19559/17]

Broadcast Advertising Standards Regulation

Caoimhghín Ó Caoláin

1264. Deputy Caoimhghín Ó Caoláin asked the Minister for Communications, Climate Action and Environment further to Parliamentary Question No. 719 of 11 April 2017, if work will be undertaken to quantify the extent and nature of children's exposure to marketing of high in fat, salt and sugar, HFSS, foods via television and the Internet as per the protocol despite not having a formal role in developing or amending BAI codes on advertising in view of the importance of this for the public; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [19560/17]

Health Promotion

Caoimhghín Ó Caoláin

269. Deputy Caoimhghín Ó Caoláin asked the Minister for Health further to Parliamentary Question No. 243 of 6 April 2017, if he will provide further details of the HSE cook it and healthy food made easy projects; the locations being targeted by these projects; the number of communities and families that have benefitted from this; the number that are expected to benefit and the timeframe; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [19018/17]

EU School Fruit and Vegetable Scheme

Caoimhghín Ó Caoláin

275. Deputy Caoimhghín Ó Caoláin asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine further to Parliamentary Question No. 244 of 6 April 2017, the details of the Food Dudes project and the school fruit scheme projects; the locations being targeted by these projects; the number of communities and schools that have benefitted from this; the number that are expected to benefit and the timeframe; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [19019/17]

Election Management System

Caoimhghín Ó Caoláin

194. Deputy Caoimhghín Ó Caoláin asked the Minister for Housing, Planning, Community and Local Government his plans to ensure that the constitutional rights of the visually impaired voters to vote are upheld in view of the High Court judgment on 30 March 2017 (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [18447/17]

UN Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities

Caoimhghín Ó Caoláin

123. Deputy Caoimhghín Ó Caoláin asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Justice and Equality the estimated annual cost for the proper implementation of the UN Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities once ratified; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [17735/17]

Army Barracks

Caoimhghín Ó Caoláin

268. Deputy Caoimhghín Ó Caoláin asked the Minister for Education and Skills further to Parliamentary Question No. 276 of 21 March 2017, the reason his Department is apparently unaware that Cavan and Monaghan Education and Training Board has determined the future use of the Dún Uí Neill barracks site in Cavan town; if he will re-examine his answer to Parliamentary Question No. 276 of 21 March and provide a more comprehensive response; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [18132/17]

Summer Works Scheme

Caoimhghín Ó Caoláin

270. Deputy Caoimhghín Ó Caoláin asked the Minister for Education and Skills the details of the summer works scheme 2016-17; if there are planned works for summer 2017; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [18165/17]

Equal Opportunities Employment

Caoimhghín Ó Caoláin

348. Deputy Caoimhghín Ó Caoláin asked the Minister for Social Protection the annual cost of running the WALK PEER programme; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [17616/17]

Broadcast Advertising Standards Regulation

Caoimhghín Ó Caoláin

719. Deputy Caoimhghín Ó Caoláin asked the Minister for Communications, Climate Action and Environment if his attention has been drawn to the World Health Organization protocol on monitoring food and beverage marketing to children via television and the Internet; if he will undertake work to quantify the extent and nature of children's exposure to marketing for HFSS foods (details supplied) via television and the Internet as per the protocol; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [18011/17]

School Meals Programme

Caoimhghín Ó Caoláin

174. Deputy Caoimhghín Ó Caoláin asked the Minister for Social Protection the detail of the current provision of free school meals programmes nationally; the cost of providing this; the cost of extending free school meals programmes to full coverage; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [17250/17]

Food Poverty

Caoimhghín Ó Caoláin

243. Deputy Caoimhghín Ó Caoláin asked the Minister for Health if his attention has been drawn to the proposal on developing family food initiatives to support children and families experiencing food poverty to have access to healthy food and to develop cooking and food growing skills; if he, working with the Department of Children and Youth Affairs, will consider the development of family food initiatives and the funding of same; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [17251/17]

Obesity Strategy

Caoimhghín Ó Caoláin

244. Deputy Caoimhghín Ó Caoláin asked the Minister for Health if he will work with his colleagues in other Departments to assess the feasibility of introducing fruit and vegetable subsidies targeted at disadvantaged communities, in which obesity levels are almost three times higher than in better off communities; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [17252/17]

National Clinical Programme for Heart Failure

Caoimhghín Ó Caoláin

245. Deputy Caoimhghín Ó Caoláin asked the Minister for Health to outline the position regarding the fulfilment of the aims of the HSE’s national clinical programme for heart failure; the way in which the aims and objectives of this are being followed through on; the gaps that exist in the programme; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [17253/17]

National Clinical Programme for Heart Failure

Caoimhghín Ó Caoláin

246. Deputy Caoimhghín Ó Caoláin asked the Minister for Health to outline the number of operational structured heart failure programmes here; the hospitals in which they are located; the funding provided for structured heart failure programmes in each of the past five years; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [17254/17]

National Clinical Programme for Heart Failure

Caoimhghín Ó Caoláin

247. Deputy Caoimhghín Ó Caoláin asked the Minister for Health to set down the number of recurrent hospital admissions of persons with heart failure in each of the past five years; if the clinical programme for heart failure objective to reduce recurrent hospital admissions by 1,000 has been met; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [17255/17]

National Clinical Programme for Heart Failure

Caoimhghín Ó Caoláin

248. Deputy Caoimhghín Ó Caoláin asked the Minister for Health to set out the detail of the reduction in the length of hospital stay of persons with heart failure in each of the past five years; if the clinical programme for heart failure objective to save 20,000 hospital days per year has been met; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [17256/17]

National Clinical Programme for Heart Failure

Caoimhghín Ó Caoláin

249. Deputy Caoimhghín Ó Caoláin asked the Minister for Health to outline the progress being made to date in the development of a rapid access diagnostic service for new onset heart failure and the integration of care and support to place a new emphasis on care of heart failure patients in the community; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [17257/17]

National Clinical Programme for Heart Failure

Caoimhghín Ó Caoláin

250. Deputy Caoimhghín Ó Caoláin asked the Minister for Health to set down the number of heart failure clinics here; the number of hospitals that do not have heart failure clinics; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [17258/17]

Health Services Provision

Caoimhghín Ó Caoláin

251. Deputy Caoimhghín Ó Caoláin asked the Minister for Health to set down the details of the availability of cardiac rehabilitation services here; the number of hospitals that do not have cardiac rehabilitation services; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [17259/17]

Medical Card Data

Caoimhghín Ó Caoláin

284. Deputy Caoimhghín Ó Caoláin asked the Minister for Health if he will provide figures of the average annual cost of a medical card; if he will provide a breakdown of the areas of spend, for example, GP, drugs and hospitals; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [17040/17]

Medical Card Data

Caoimhghín Ó Caoláin

285. Deputy Caoimhghín Ó Caoláin asked the Minister for Health the number of discretionary medical cards held currently or the latest figure available; the number held at its peak; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [17041/17]

Departmental Reports

Caoimhghín Ó Caoláin

68. Deputy Caoimhghín Ó Caoláin asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Justice and Equality if she will report on progress in implementing the recommendation of the report of the interdepartmental working group on fuller working lives to provide guidance material to employers on the use of fixed term contracts beyond normal retirement age; if she has raised the matter with the Irish Human Rights and Equality Commission; the response she has received from it; if work has commenced on the production of these materials; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [15719/17]

Departmental Reports

Caoimhghín Ó Caoláin

105. Deputy Caoimhghín Ó Caoláin asked the Minister for Education and Skills his views on implementing the recommendation of the report of the interdepartmental working group on fuller working lives to develop appropriate solutions tailored to the needs of older workers in order to support them to remain attached to the workforce for as long as possible and to reskill or upskill from occupations in which they may no longer be in a position to remain; if he has raised the matter with SOLAS and the education and training boards; the response he has received from them; if work has commenced on the development of these solutions; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [15720/17]

Employment Rights

Caoimhghín Ó Caoláin

200. Deputy Caoimhghín Ó Caoláin asked the Minister for Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation the status of the Workplace Relations Commission in preparing a code of practice under section 42 of the Industrial Relations Act 1990 to set out best industrial relations practice in managing the engagement between employers and employees in the run up to retirement, including requests to work beyond the normal retirement age in the employment concerned; the way and with whom the commission has consulted in preparing this code of practice; if a deadline has been set by when she expects the commission to complete its work; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [15718/17]

UN Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities

Caoimhghín Ó Caoláin

97. Deputy Caoimhghín Ó Caoláin asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Justice and Equality the remaining steps to be taken and the timeframe envisaged to allow for Irish ratification of the United Nations Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [15380/17]

Institutes of Technology

Caoimhghín Ó Caoláin

276. Deputy Caoimhghín Ó Caoláin asked the Minister for Education and Skills the reason the Dún Uí Neill barracks site at Cavan town is no longer intended as an extended campus facility for Cavan Institute; his plans for this site; the main anchors of the alternative use now planned; the alternative arrangements that will now be made to facilitate Cavan Institute's floor space needs; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [13139/17]

Disability Allowance

Caoimhghín Ó Caoláin

167. Deputy Caoimhghín Ó Caoláin asked the Minister for Social Protection to set down the estimated annual cost of increasing the weekly disability allowance by €20; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [12576/17]

Wage Subsidy Scheme

Caoimhghín Ó Caoláin

168. Deputy Caoimhghín Ó Caoláin asked the Minister for Social Protection to set down the number of persons currently availing of the wage subsidy scheme; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [12577/17]

Wage Subsidy Scheme

Caoimhghín Ó Caoláin

169. Deputy Caoimhghín Ó Caoláin asked the Minister for Social Protection to set down the amount of money allocated to employability services; the number of persons availing of these services; the estimated annual cost of expanding the employability service to provide places for an additional 1,000 persons with disabilities; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [12578/17]

Nursing Home Services

Caoimhghín Ó Caoláin

223. Deputy Caoimhghín Ó Caoláin asked the Minister for Health the amount of money spent on nursing home care in 2015 and 2016; the amount expected to be spent in 2017; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [12581/17]

Nursing Home Services

Caoimhghín Ó Caoláin

224. Deputy Caoimhghín Ó Caoláin asked the Minister for Health the number of persons currently in nursing home care; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [12582/17]

Nursing Home Services

Caoimhghín Ó Caoláin

225. Deputy Caoimhghín Ó Caoláin asked the Minister for Health the estimated cost of providing an additional 100 nursing home beds; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [12583/17]

Home Care Packages

Caoimhghín Ó Caoláin

226. Deputy Caoimhghín Ó Caoláin asked the Minister for Health the amount of money spent on home help and home care packages in 2016; the amount ring-fenced for 2017; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [12584/17]

Home Care Packages

Caoimhghín Ó Caoláin

227. Deputy Caoimhghín Ó Caoláin asked the Minister for Health the number of persons currently availing of home care supports; the number who meet the criteria for home care supports who have been refused them; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [12585/17]

Home Care Packages

Caoimhghín Ó Caoláin

228. Deputy Caoimhghín Ó Caoláin asked the Minister for Health the estimated cost of increasing home help hours and home care packages by 10%; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [12586/17]

Health Services Data

Caoimhghín Ó Caoláin

229. Deputy Caoimhghín Ó Caoláin asked the Minister for Health the number of personal assistant hours currently provided by the State; the associated cost; the estimated cost over one year of increasing personal assistant hours by 500,000 hours; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [12587/17]

Health Services Data

Caoimhghín Ó Caoláin

230. Deputy Caoimhghín Ó Caoláin asked the Minister for Health the number of persons on the PAS waiting list; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [12588/17]

Speech and Language Therapy Provision

Caoimhghín Ó Caoláin

231. Deputy Caoimhghín Ó Caoláin asked the Minister for Health the number of adults currently on waiting lists to be assessed by speech and language therapists, occupational therapists, physiotherapists and psychologists; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [12589/17]

Speech and Language Therapy Provision

Caoimhghín Ó Caoláin

232. Deputy Caoimhghín Ó Caoláin asked the Minister for Health the number of children currently on waiting lists to be assessed by speech and language therapists, occupational therapists, physiotherapists and psychologists; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [12590/17]

Speech and Language Therapy Provision

Caoimhghín Ó Caoláin

233. Deputy Caoimhghín Ó Caoláin asked the Minister for Health the estimated cost of employing an additional 250 speech and language therapists, 100 occupational therapists, 100 physiotherapists and 150 psychologists; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [12591/17]

Respite Care Services

Caoimhghín Ó Caoláin

234. Deputy Caoimhghín Ó Caoláin asked the Minister for Health the full year cost of providing respite care services; the estimated cost of increasing respite care services by 20%; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [12592/17]

Health Services

Caoimhghín Ó Caoláin

235. Deputy Caoimhghín Ó Caoláin asked the Minister for Health the full year cost and make up of a community neuro-rehabilitation team and all supports required for the team; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [12593/17]