Parliamentary questions

Tax Code

Martin Browne

416. Deputy Martin Browne asked the Minister for Finance his views on farmers having to pay carbon tax while fishing boat operators do not have to do so; the reason for same; his views on this discrepancy given the technologically advanced tractors and other machinery farmers are investing in; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [15616/21]

Covid-19 Pandemic Supports

Martin Browne

466. Deputy Martin Browne asked the Minister for Finance the supports in place to reimburse businesses for stock they have had to dispose of as a result of stock going out of date or for other reasons that relate to the closure of their premises due to Covid-19 restrictions; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [14968/21]

Insurance Costs

Martin Browne

479. Deputy Martin Browne asked the Minister for Finance his views on the amounts in personal injuries insurance guidelines as set by the Judicial Council; and his views on whether the level of payment for damages is a contributor to the excessive costs of insurance premiums. [15177/21]

School Curriculum

Martin Browne

931. Deputy Martin Browne asked the Minister for Education the guidelines that have been issued to schools for junior certificate students for assessing students in view of the significant number of months missed due to Covid-19. [15541/21]

Hospital Staff

Martin Browne

1299. Deputy Martin Browne asked the Minister for Health if South Tipperary General Hospital is to lose ten of its current 19 intern doctors; if he will consider reversing the decision; his views on the way the failure to employ graduating doctors will lead to forced emigration; his views on the impact this will have on the health service; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [13878/21]

Dental Services

Martin Browne

1397. Deputy Martin Browne asked the Minister for Health the number of dentists in County Tipperary participating in the dental medical card scheme; and his plans to address the number of dentists leaving the scheme, which has left medical card patients in many areas with no access to dental treatment. [14122/21]

Dental Services

Martin Browne

1398. Deputy Martin Browne asked the Minister for Health his plans to address the inflated running costs for dental practices, which are a significant factor in forcing many dentists out of the medical card scheme. [14123/21]

Dental Services

Martin Browne

1399. Deputy Martin Browne asked the Minister for Health his plans to review the dental medical card scheme in the lifetime of the Thirty-third Dáil. [14124/21]

Dental Services

Martin Browne

1554. Deputy Martin Browne asked the Minister for Health the number of dentists in County Tipperary registered as participating in the dental medical card scheme over the past five years in tabular form. [14637/21]

Dental Services

Martin Browne

1555. Deputy Martin Browne asked the Minister for Health if his attention has been drawn to the fact that, due to a perceived inadequate dental medical card scheme, dentists are leaving the scheme and are refusing to take on additional patents under the scheme; when a review of the scheme will take place; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [14638/21]

Health Services Staff

Martin Browne

1577. Deputy Martin Browne asked the Minister for Health the measures being taken to qualify persons in the area of mental health given that the availability of skilled staff is a significant issue; the reason for much of the potential workforce availing of employment opportunities outside of Ireland; the additional cost in each of the past three years incurred through the filling of staff shortages through the work of locums, agency workers and overtime comparative to the cost of employing staff members; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [14725/21]

Occupational Therapy

Martin Browne

1676. Deputy Martin Browne asked the Minister for Health his views on the way children that are receiving CAMHS services in north County Tipperary but are unable to access occupational therapy services due to a lack of a physical room; his views on whether such a situation is acceptable; the waiting times for same in 2019, 2020 and to date in 2021, in tabular form; his views on the lack of a physical room for occupational therapy services at CAMHS in Nenagh, County Tipperary; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [15099/21]

Speech and Language Therapy

Martin Browne

1677. Deputy Martin Browne asked the Minister for Health the number of children currently on the waiting list for speech and language therapy by county in 2019, 2020 and to date in 2021; and his views on the situation of children that are in need of a multidisciplinary team approach occupational therapy, speech and language therapy and so on that cannot access them due to the Covid-19 crisis. [15100/21]

Child and Adolescent Mental Health Services

Martin Browne

1678. Deputy Martin Browne asked the Minister for Health his views on families having to access private autism spectrum disorder, ASD, assessments for children before they will be considered for treatment at CAMHS services; his views on the way one family in north County Tipperary is unable to get access for their six-year-old child with ADHD to occupational therapy services with CAMHS due to the fact they have no physical room for them to work in; the reason therapists are not in a position to provide the service to the child in question, who is in need of a multidisciplinary team approach; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [15101/21]

Covid-19 Pandemic

Martin Browne

1706. Deputy Martin Browne asked the Minister for Health his plans to reopen nursing homes for visits (details supplied); and if a framework is in place for same. [15178/21]

Environmental Schemes

Martin Browne

2027. Deputy Martin Browne asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine his views on the importance of new grass in acting as an emissions sink; if progress is being made in providing financial support in reseeding; his views on the level of support per acre that would be appropriate; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [15615/21]

Environmental Policy

Martin Browne

2028. Deputy Martin Browne asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the estimated amount of emissions such as carbon that is sequestered back into farming grassland; the way in which those figures are determined; his views on whether these figures show the actual level of sequestration; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [15617/21]

Climate Change Policy

Martin Browne

119. Deputy Martin Browne asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications if his attention has been drawn to the fact that wood pellets are being imported from Australia; his views on the carbon footprint involved in importing such products over such a distance; the level of the importation of such alternatives; his views on the way this is compatible with environmental policy; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [13076/21]

Rail Network

Martin Browne

262. Deputy Martin Browne asked the Minister for Transport if local community groups will be invited to participate in the upcoming strategic rail review; and if an estimated date for the start of this review will be provided. [13451/21]

Value Added Tax

Martin Browne

295. Deputy Martin Browne asked the Minister for Finance his plans to retain the 9% tourism VAT rate until 2025; his views on the way this would assist the recovery of the hospitality and hotel industry; his views on whether such a commitment must be made without delay as tourism contracting has commenced for 2022 and 2023; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [13236/21]