Parliamentary questions

Prison Committals

John Halligan

350. Deputy John Halligan asked the Minister for Justice and Equality the number of prisoners sentenced to a custodial term who were collected and transported to jail by members of An Garda Síochána and who were then processed, given a train or bus ticket and released on the same day due to overcrowding in each of the years 2013 to 2015 to date; the number of gardaí who engage in such activities on a daily basis, thereby taking them off the streets they are employed to protect; the cost to the State if this situation is permitted to continue; if judges are aware, when passing sentence, that there is no room to facilitate convicts; if a strong system of monitored community service should be implemented where sentences of three months or less have been handed down in order to alleviate the strain on the prison system and the needless waste of taxpayers' money; the system in place to either accommodate these prisoners or to facilitate their rehabilitation and the completion of their sentence elsewhere; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [41792/15]

Patient Data

John Halligan

731. Deputy John Halligan asked the Minister for Health the number of patients who have undergone ostomy operations here in the years, 2010 to 2014; the number of persons here who currently have either an iliostomy bag or a colonostomy bag; his plans to include this condition in the long-term illness scheme; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [37727/15]

Hospital Accommodation Provision

John Halligan

3. Deputy John Halligan asked the Minister for Health his plans to address the overcrowding in the emergency Department and wards of University Hospital Waterford during the busy winter months; the number of the recently announced 440 additional beds that will be allocated to the hospital to increase its capacity; when these beds will open; the other measures, specific to the hospital, he has planned, to address regular overcrowding therein; his plans to address the number of delayed discharges at the hospital, particularly at weekends; his views that the shortage of residential follow-on aftercare placements for elderly patients deemed by the hospital medical staff to be medically well is adding to discharges being delayed, as many of these patients cannot be looked after at home by family members, and this is having an adverse effect on the bed shortages; his further plans to address this issue; if he will provide an update in relation to the promise to provide an additional 50-bed unit in Saint Patrick's Hospital in County Waterford; when planning permission will be sought; when building work will be carried out; his views on using the private sector to ease overcrowding at University Hospital Waterford during the particularly busy times; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [36667/15]

Hospital Services

John Halligan

5. Deputy John Halligan asked the Minister for Health the current staffing levels at the dermatology department of University Hospital Waterford; if the unit is fully staffed and operating to its full potential; when the full dermatology services at the hospital will be restored; the plans the Health Service Executive has to make this happen; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [36668/15]

Maternity Services

John Halligan

26. Deputy John Halligan asked the Minister for Health if he will provide an update on the status of the new labour unit in County Waterford; when it is due to open; if funding has been allocated to provide equipment for it; if staff have been allocated to work in it; the reason for the delay in opening it; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [36367/15]

Autism Support Services

John Halligan

32. Deputy John Halligan asked the Minister for Health the number of children currently waiting for a full diagnostic assessment for autism in University Hospital Waterford; the composition of the team; if all the positions are covered; the number of psychologists on the autism team who will provide a full diagnostic assessment; the length of time it will take to recruit staff; the Health Service Executive plan in the absence of a fully trained psychologist to undertake the assessment procedure; if he will make reference in his reply to a specific case (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [36371/15]

Hospital Waiting Lists

John Halligan

44. Deputy John Halligan asked the Minister for Health the number of patients outsourced from University Hospital Waterford to private hospitals for outpatient appointments in 2014 and in 2015 to date; the average cost per consultation for these appointments; the number of such appointments that required follow-up care; the number of these care requirements that will be facilitated at University Hospital Waterford; the number of patients referred to private hospitals for inpatient or day case procedures; the average cost of these procedures; the hospitals the patients were treated at; the number of these outsourced patients who received a full complement of care and have now been returned to University Hospital Waterford; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [36369/15]

Hospital Staff Recruitment

John Halligan

55. Deputy John Halligan asked the Minister for Health the number of unfilled consultant positions at University Hospital Waterford by Department; the measures the hospital has taken to fill these posts to date; the average salary being offered; how this compares with similar positions in other hospitals; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [36370/15]

Hospitals Building Programme

John Halligan

74. Deputy John Halligan asked the Minister for Health the proposed use of the three top floors of the new regional specialist inpatient unit and day service in palliative medicine building on the grounds of University Hospital Waterford; if a designated private wing is being considered for these floors; when construction will commence on the building; when it will be completed; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [36368/15]

Student Grant Scheme Eligibility

John Halligan

143. Deputy John Halligan asked the Minister for Education and Skills to outline her plans to review the residency condition which must be satisfied by applicants for Student Universal Support Ireland grants with respect to Irish nationals returning home to Ireland after an extended period abroad; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [36682/15]

Central Bank of Ireland Investigations

John Halligan

280. Deputy John Halligan asked the Minister for Finance further to previous parliamentary questions on the issue of the mis-selling of payment protection insurance policies, if he will confirm the current status of the investigation being held by the Central Bank of Ireland; the progress that has been made in the ongoing negotiations with small entities, including credit unions, which sold this insurance; the amount of the total refund to date; the number of policies refunded to date; when is it estimated that the refund process will cease; if he is satisfied that the process of refunding the mis-sold policies is being adequately run; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [36082/15]

Mental Health Services Provision

John Halligan

485. Deputy John Halligan asked the Minister for Health the number of children who are waiting for an appointment with the Waterford child and adolescent mental health services; the composition of the services team; if all the positions are covered; if the services are taking new referrals; the number of children who were admitted to adult mental health services in County Waterford in 2014 and in 2015 to date; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [36398/15]

Mental Health Services Provision

John Halligan

486. Deputy John Halligan asked the Minister for Health the number of referrals or re-referrals to the Waterford child and adolescent mental health services who were offered a first appointment and seen within three months in 2014 and in 2015 to date, in tabular form; the number who were waiting six months, nine months and 12 months; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [36399/15]

Hospital Procedures

John Halligan

487. Deputy John Halligan asked the Minister for Health the number of operations and procedures cancelled at University Hospital Waterford in the first six months of 2015; the number of these that were for inpatients and outpatients, respectively; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [36400/15]

Hospital Staff Recruitment

John Halligan

515. Deputy John Halligan asked the Minister for Health if he will acknowledge that the psychology and psychiatry departments in University Hospital Waterford are very seriously understaffed; the reason there has been no maternity cover for the psychology service in Tramore in County Waterford; his views that it is unacceptable to have vital positions remaining unfilled, or at least receiving maternity cover; if he will make inquiries into a particular case (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [34247/15]

Student Grant Scheme Eligibility

John Halligan

640. Deputy John Halligan asked the Minister for Education and Skills her plans to extend eligibility for the special rate of Student Universal Support Ireland grant to those applicants whose family income is below the threshold but who are not currently in receipt of a qualifying social welfare payment; her views that where a family income is below a certain level the special rate should be awarded irrespective of whether the income is earned or awarded through a social welfare payment; that families who are working hard to support themselves but who are on low incomes should not be precluded from being eligible for the special rate grant; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [34248/15]

Fáilte Ireland Funding

John Halligan

765. Deputy John Halligan asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport if funding has been allocated to capital projects in County Waterford under the first phase of funding for the Ireland's Ancient East initiative; if County Waterford projects have received funding under the first stage of branded signage for all counties within the region; the number of applications that were received from interested parties in County Waterford for this phase of funding; if County Waterford projects are being assessed for the next round of funding; when that funding will be announced; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [34246/15]

Mortgage Interest Rates

John Halligan

120. Deputy John Halligan asked the Minister for Finance if he has requested the banks to cut their high variable rates; the nature of their response; the reason his Department did not exert more pressure on the banks to introduce more variable rate reductions; his views that it is acceptable that some banks have reduced their fixed rates, but have left variable rates unchanged; his plans to amend regulations to stop banks overcharging for variable rate mortgages; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [33090/15]

General Medical Services Scheme Payments

John Halligan

1003. Deputy John Halligan asked the Minister for Health if he will provide details on the State yearly spending, on average, per full medical card holder in terms of medical cards for those over 70 years of age and those under 70 years of age in the years 2013 and 2014. [31435/15]

Adult Education Provision

John Halligan

256. Deputy John Halligan asked the Minister for Education and Skills the current national policy on terms and conditions for teachers working in the adult literacy service; the circulars that exist for tutors and teachers working in the service; in view of this Deputy's understanding that they are registered with the Teaching Council as teachers, yet are classified as tutors by the education and training boards, his views that there is a disparity between the treatment of some adult education sectors, such as Youthreach and the vocational training opportunities scheme, and the treatment of others such as adult literacy, with literacy teachers currently working on low-hour contracts which do not reflect the hours they actually work; her further views that it is unfair that they have no access to the State pension scheme, no incremental scale and no paid leave or maternity leave entitlements; her views that this is a simple case of discrimination against teachers working within the adult literacy service; if she acknowledges that it is having a negative impact on students of the service due to unfavourable working conditions; if she will further acknowledge that many teachers in the service are being forced to take positions elsewhere, meaning that there is a constant roll-over of experienced staff, which has an administrative effect on the Department of Social Protection which has to sign-on, assess and sign-off over 1,000 literacy tutors every mid-term, Christmas, Easter and summer; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [28127/15]