Parliamentary questions

Forestry Sector

Martin Browne

1134. Deputy Martin Browne asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine his views on the way the number forestry licences with ecology input processed between November 2020 to February 2021 equates to one licence per ecologist per week given that 21 full-time equivalent ecologists have been employed; his views on whether this work rate is below that which is needed to address the crisis in the forestry sector; when the ecology target of 220 licences will be achieved; and the number of full-time ecologists that will be needed to achieve this target. [21352/21]

Departmental Staff

Martin Browne

1135. Deputy Martin Browne asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if his Department has engaged or employed an ecologist from outside the State to assess forestry licences. [21353/21]

Office of Public Works

Martin Browne

552. Deputy Martin Browne asked the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform if he will provide a list of the empty and vacant OPW buildings across the State by county; the length of time each of the buildings has been vacant; and the annual cost of retaining these buildings on the OPW portfolio. [19073/21]

Wildlife Control

Martin Browne

762. Deputy Martin Browne asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage if his Department consulted with tillage farmers regarding the National Parks and Wildlife Service suggestion that open season on wood pigeons be removed. [19687/21]

Wildlife Control

Martin Browne

763. Deputy Martin Browne asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage his views on the National Parks and Wildlife Service suggestion to end the open season on wood pigeon shooting; the studies the Service has undertaken on the issue of crop damage by wood pigeons; and the number of farmers were involved in these studies. [19688/21]

Wildlife Control

Martin Browne

764. Deputy Martin Browne asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage his views on whether wood pigeons are not a threat to tillage and horticulture crops; if a provision in legislation will be made for same as a game bird (details supplied); and if he will ensure responsible hunting will not be impeded by his Department as with other game species. [19689/21]

Emergency Works Scheme

Martin Browne

954. Deputy Martin Browne asked the Minister for Education if her attention has been drawn to a recent application by a school (details supplied) in County Tipperary for funding for emergency works to ensure the safety of staff and pupils; and if funding will be made available to the school. [18556/21]

Domestic Violence Refuges Provision

Martin Browne

1208. Deputy Martin Browne asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth the number of persons from north County Tipperary that are referred to refuge accommodation in counties Limerick and Clare in each of the years 2016 to 2020 inclusive; his views on the lack of a refuge in north County Tipperary; his further views on the pressure it puts on such services in counties Limerick and Clare; and if there are plans to provide such a service in north County Tipperary. [19074/21]

Child and Family Agency

Martin Browne

1237. Deputy Martin Browne asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth his views on the way the irregular location of certain child and family support networks such as play therapy may pose a barrier to the implementation of a successful intervention in the lives of a family requiring that service locally. [19576/21]

Family Support Services

Martin Browne

1238. Deputy Martin Browne asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth his views on south County Tipperary being left behind in relation to the to the roll-out of the national prevention, partnership and family support service; and the initiatives being taken currently to rectify the matter. [19577/21]

Family Support Services

Martin Browne

1239. Deputy Martin Browne asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth the date and plan for when a prevention, partnership and family support team will be operational in south County Tipperary as is operating in neighbouring Tusla business areas. [19578/21]

Mental Health Services

Martin Browne

1261. Deputy Martin Browne asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science the investment made into student mental health services over the past three academic years. [20706/21]

Mental Health Services

Martin Browne

1262. Deputy Martin Browne asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science the current psychological counselling staffing levels across all public higher education institutions. [20707/21]

Mental Health Services

Martin Browne

1351. Deputy Martin Browne asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science the average salary for one full-time equivalent counselling psychologist; and the estimated amount it would cost to fund one full-time psychological counsellor for every 1,000 students in each higher education institution nationwide. [20708/21]

Mental Health Policy

Martin Browne

1435. Deputy Martin Browne asked the Minister for Justice the decision making process that led to the appointment of a person (details supplied) as lead of the mental health task force on the way in which persons with mental health and addiction are treated within the criminal justice system; the number of other persons considered for the role; the qualifications of the person for the role; and the make-up of the rest of the task force. [19482/21]

Speech and Language Therapy

Martin Browne

1872. Deputy Martin Browne asked the Minister for Health the current wait times for children on the waiting list for initial speech and language therapy assessments by CHO; the number of children on the waiting list for occupational therapy appointments by CHO; and the average current wait times for same by CHO. [19189/21]

Ambulance Service

Martin Browne

1978. Deputy Martin Browne asked the Minister for Health the average length of time it takes for an ambulance to arrive at a scene after a call was received; and the number on a response area basis. [19484/21]

Ambulance Service

Martin Browne

1979. Deputy Martin Browne asked the Minister for Health the current average ambulance response time in each area of County Tipperary.; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [19485/21]

Hospital Waiting Lists

Martin Browne

1980. Deputy Martin Browne asked the Minister for Health the number of persons currently on hospital outpatient waiting lists; the number of persons waiting on a six month incremental basis; and the number on a hospital basis. [19486/21]

Dental Services

Martin Browne

2017. Deputy Martin Browne asked the Minister for Health his views on changing to the Dentists Act 1985 to allow change to the scope of practice for dental hygienists to work independently from dentists; his views on the way this could enable them to treat children in schools given the delay in dental assessments in primary schools; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [19586/21]