Parliamentary questions

Site Acquisitions

Frankie Feighan

249. Deputy Frankie Feighan asked the Minister for Education if any further consideration has been given to the proposal to sanction a new primary school for Carrick-on-Shannon, County Leitrim; if the Board of Management has identified a potential site for a new school; and whether communication has been received by her Department seeking approval to negotiate with any potential site owner. [4691/24]

Industrial Development

Frankie Feighan

33. Deputy Frankie Feighan asked the Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment what action he is taking to safeguard the pharmaceutical industry in Ireland, and future investment in manufacturing and research and development into Ireland, from any unintended consequences as a result of the European Commission pharmaceutical review, currently under way; if he can update on any meetings his Department has had on the subject in Ireland and at an EU level since 2022; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [4401/24]

Medicinal Products

Frankie Feighan

161. Deputy Frankie Feighan asked the Minister for Health for an update on the development of Ireland's national position on the revision of the EU general pharmaceuticals legislation as proposed by the European Commission; when Ireland will be making its official response to the European Commission on the pharmaceutical review known; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [4400/24]

Waste Management

Frankie Feighan

405. Deputy Frankie Feighan asked the Minister for Social Protection if she has considered providing a reduction or payment assistance in relation to domestic waste charges for disabled people particularly to persons who have excess charges because they suffer from incontinence or other similar issues that incur extra waste disposal charges. [2954/24]

General Practitioner Services

Frankie Feighan

608. Deputy Frankie Feighan asked the Minister for Health if it is a requirement for a doctor who is seeking to be issued with a GMS registration that he/she must agree to an allocation of (public) patients; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [2619/24]

Hospital Facilities

Frankie Feighan

660. Deputy Frankie Feighan asked the Minister for Health if he will provide a full update regarding the development of the 42 bed unit extension to Sligo University Hospital; the timelines around tender closing dates and expected construction commencement and competition; and if he will update regarding other capital developments in and around the hospital campus in Sligo. [2993/24]

Departmental Data

Frankie Feighan

972. Deputy Frankie Feighan asked the Minister for Social Protection the number of people in receipt of jobseekers allowance payments for 12 months or longer, for two years or longer, three years or longer, four years or longer and for five years or longer, in tabular form; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [1679/24]

Departmental Data

Frankie Feighan

973. Deputy Frankie Feighan asked the Minister for Social Protection the number of people on jobseekers allowance who are long-term unemployed and who had penalties applied to their payments in 2023 due to failure to engage with her Department's labour activation services; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [1680/24]

Departmental Data

Frankie Feighan

974. Deputy Frankie Feighan asked the Minister for Social Protection the number of people on jobseekers allowance who are currently in receipt of a reduced jobseekers allowance payment due to a penalty imposed on their payment for failure to engage with her Department's activation services; if she will consider stepping up control work in this area in 2024; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [1681/24]

Departmental Policies

Frankie Feighan

975. Deputy Frankie Feighan asked the Minister for Social Protection the steps her Department intends to take in 2024 to ensure that long-term unemployed persons are encouraged to take up employment given the labour shortages being experienced in many sectors; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [1682/24]

Departmental Data

Frankie Feighan

976. Deputy Frankie Feighan asked the Minister for Social Protection the savings achieved by her Department arising from control work in respect of jobseekers allowance payments for each year between 2013-2023; the savings she estimates her Department will achieve in 2024 from control measures in relation to long term jobseekers allowance payments, in tabular form; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [1683/24]

School Funding

Frankie Feighan

346. Deputy Frankie Feighan asked the Minister for Education if she will provide a list of the normal funding options for small DEIS schools; if her Department will introduce a small grants work (minor works) scheme and IT support grant; if the current ancillary (general) grant will be reviewed and increased in line with recent inflationary pressures on energy and other related increases that many small schools are experiencing; if information or opportunities for such funding will be provided to a school (details supplied) in County Leitrim that finds itself under financial pressure due to the lack of grant funding opportunities. [55240/23]

Vacant Properties

Frankie Feighan

450. Deputy Frankie Feighan asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage if it is a prerequisite for local authorities to insist on applicants for the vacant home refurbishment grants to supply full details and professional and technical reports on the condition of the existing septic tank of the property before they consider processing the vacant homes grant application; if applicants can seek funding under this scheme to provide for an upgrade of the septic tank system; if not, if the funding opportunity comes solely under the septic tank renewal grant which is due to be increased in 2024; if all local authorities are ‘at one’ in how they interpret the vacant homes grant on the issue of funding of septic tanks across the country; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [55276/23]

Social Welfare Payments

Frankie Feighan

487. Deputy Frankie Feighan asked the Minister for Social Protection when a person (details supplied) in County Sligo will receive a decision regarding the review of their carer's allowance; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [54926/23]

Social Welfare Eligibility

Frankie Feighan

373. Deputy Frankie Feighan asked the Minister for Social Protection if she would provide clarification as to whether children who turned 18 this year but are still attending secondary school are entitled to have their child benefit reinstated after the recent budget 2024 announcement, noting that if this measure only came into effect from September 2024, this would put all leaving certificate students who turn 18 years of age before completing their secondary school education next year at a disadvantage; and if a student decides after their leaving certificate to continue with full-time education, if they would be entitled then to receive the extended child benefit. [53788/23]

Community Development Projects

Frankie Feighan

202. Deputy Frankie Feighan asked the Minister for Education when her Department will proceed to give permission to MSLETB to proceed with a lease on a portion of derelict grounds at Drumshanbo, County Leitrim to the local community centre committee (details supplied) to develop a new sports facility and playing courts which may not proceed unless matters around the lease are progressed soon. [49491/23]

Community Development Projects

Frankie Feighan

203. Deputy Frankie Feighan asked the Minister for Education if her Department would grant the additional funding to a school (details supplied) in County Leitrim to pay for the use of the local community centre's facilities which over the years has meant that the said school did not have to invest in new capital buildings for assembly and sports uses. [49492/23]

Community Care

Frankie Feighan

18. Deputy Frankie Feighan asked the Minister for Health to outline the progress made to date in expanding community-based care by increasing opening times for unscheduled care, radiology, and diagnostic services. [48867/23]

Hospital Overcrowding

Frankie Feighan

23. Deputy Frankie Feighan asked the Minister for Health if he will provide details on his Department's latest work in tackling overcrowding in hospitals. [48866/23]

Hospital Admissions

Frankie Feighan

121. Deputy Frankie Feighan asked the Minister for Health the number of paediatric hospitalisations in Ireland associated with chickenpox in 2022 and to date in 2023; the percentage increase, if any, in hospitalisation between both years; the economic impact of such hospitalisations in terms of bed nights on our public paediatric system; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [48915/23]