Parliamentary questions

Tax Code

Colm Burke

72. Deputy Colm Burke asked the Minister for Finance if all assistive technology and mainstream technology devices have been made exempt from VAT for persons who are blind or vision impaired, as is recommended in a report (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [56407/21]

Passport Services

Colm Burke

95. Deputy Colm Burke asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs the number of passport express applications which have been processed and issued since the resumption of the service on 19 July 2021 to date, in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [56240/21]

Passport Services

Colm Burke

96. Deputy Colm Burke asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs the number of passport express applications processed and issued in 2019, 2020 and to date in 2021, in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [56241/21]

Defence Forces

Colm Burke

100. Deputy Colm Burke asked the Minister for Defence the impact he envisages the development of a new cadet school at the Curragh will have in terms of recruitment; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [56242/21]

Equality Issues

Colm Burke

141. Deputy Colm Burke asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth the action he is taking to assist those who are blind or visually impaired to gain employment; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [56405/21]

Equality Issues

Colm Burke

142. Deputy Colm Burke asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth if he will include sight loss specific information in the information campaign of the Comprehensive Employment Strategy to help demystify the assumptions regarding a person’s ability and capacity and take guidance from an organisation (details supplied) on same; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [56406/21]

Equality Issues

Colm Burke

143. Deputy Colm Burke asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth if it is intended to bring forward regulations to ensure that there is proactive engagement by all employers with an organisation (details supplied) to ensure all aspects of their recruitment processes are accessible from applying online to conducting aptitude tests to interview procedures, as is recommended in a report by the organisation; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [56410/21]

Equality Issues

Colm Burke

144. Deputy Colm Burke asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth the action being taken by his Department to encourage companies to employ persons with blindness or visual impairment; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [56411/21]

Health Service Executive

Colm Burke

234. Deputy Colm Burke asked the Minister for Health if a decision has been made by the HSE to provide expanded access of anti-IL-5 therapies for severe asthma; if there is a limit in place on the number of patients who will be able to access same; the number of patients expected to be able to access same in 2022; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [56347/21]

Healthcare Policy

Colm Burke

245. Deputy Colm Burke asked the Minister for Health if the target to ensure that cancer referrals from a general practitioner into a hospital will be made electronically and each hospital group will facilitate the phasing-in of e-referral by the end of 2022 is still on track as is recommended in the National Cancer Strategy 2017-2026; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [56391/21]

Healthcare Policy

Colm Burke

246. Deputy Colm Burke asked the Minister for Health if public sector radiation oncology facilities in Dublin, Cork and Galway have been expanded to meet patient demand; if a planned national programme of equipment refreshment and replacement has been implemented as is recommended in the National Cancer Strategy 2017-2026; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [56392/21]

Healthcare Policy

Colm Burke

247. Deputy Colm Burke asked the Minister for Health if plans are in place to establish an age-appropriate facility designated for adolescents and young adults with cancer within the new national children’s hospital as is recommended in the National Cancer Strategy 2017-2026; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [56393/21]

Healthcare Policy

Colm Burke

248. Deputy Colm Burke asked the Minister for Health if his Department has established a cancer patient advisory committee to provide input into the development of programmes for patients with cancer as is recommended in the National Cancer Strategy 2017-2026; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [56394/21]

Healthcare Policy

Colm Burke

249. Deputy Colm Burke asked the Minister for Health if his Department has reviewed the scope of the national cancer registry with a view to increasing and optimising the use of available data to drive improvements in cancer care for patients as is recommended in the National Cancer Strategy 2017-2026; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [56395/21]

Healthcare Policy

Colm Burke

250. Deputy Colm Burke asked the Minister for Health if the appropriate endoscopy capacity is being provided in hospitals to allow for the expansion of BowelScreen to all persons aged between 55 to 74 years of age by year end 2021 as is recommended in the National Cancer Strategy 2017-2026; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [56396/21]

Healthcare Policy

Colm Burke

251. Deputy Colm Burke asked the Minister for Health if his Department has liaised with the health and education authorities to increase places in third-level institutions for the training of radiographers and sonographers as is recommended in the National Cancer Strategy 2017-2026; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [56397/21]

Healthcare Policy

Colm Burke

252. Deputy Colm Burke asked the Minister for Health if his Department has ensured that investment in infrastructure, facilities, personnel and programmes in the designated cancer centres will have a goal of ultimately developing at least one comprehensive cancer care centre that will optimise cancer prevention, treatment, education and research during the strategy period as is recommended in the National Cancer Strategy 2017-2026; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [56398/21]

Healthcare Policy

Colm Burke

253. Deputy Colm Burke asked the Minister for Health if his Department has ensured that patient representatives are involved in policy making, planning, practice and oversight of cancer services at local, regional and national levels as is recommended in the National Cancer Strategy 2017-2026; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [56399/21]

Housing Schemes

Colm Burke

274. Deputy Colm Burke asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage when it is anticipated that the affordable housing local authority home loan and first home schemes will come into effect; the income threshold for those living in County Cork; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [55538/21]

Grant Payments

Colm Burke

451. Deputy Colm Burke asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science if the grants and scholarship schemes which are currently available to third-level students will be further expanded in order to cater for students that are refugees such as a person (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [56101/21]

Live Exports

Colm Burke

677. Deputy Colm Burke asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the position in respect of the recently signed agreement between Ireland and China for the export of live breeding pigs to China; if his Department is in the process of obtaining travel licences for the transport of these live animals; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [55994/21]

Live Exports

Colm Burke

678. Deputy Colm Burke asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if a regular review of the agreement between Ireland and China for the export of live breeding pigs to China will be carried out by his Department; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [55995/21]

Animal Welfare

Colm Burke

679. Deputy Colm Burke asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the plans in place to improve animal welfare legislation and put in place additional protection measures particularly in reference to the control of horses, following a number of incidents in Cork city; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [56043/21]

Vacant Properties

Colm Burke

64. Deputy Colm Burke asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage if he has requested Cork City Council and Cork County Council to furnish details of all derelict properties currently on their respective registers; the way his Department now plans to tackle the problem of dereliction in Cork city and county; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [54980/21]

Housing Schemes

Colm Burke

69. Deputy Colm Burke asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the progress of the affordable housing scheme in County Cork to date; his plans for this scheme going forward; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [54981/21]

Sports Funding

Colm Burke

146. Deputy Colm Burke asked the Minister for Tourism, Culture, Arts, Gaeltacht, Sport and Media the way the additional €65 million in sports funding through the Covid-19 investment programme will be disbursed; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [54978/21]

Tourism Funding

Colm Burke

159. Deputy Colm Burke asked the Minister for Tourism, Culture, Arts, Gaeltacht, Sport and Media the support provided in 2020 and to date in 2021 by her Department via Fáilte Ireland to relevant businesses in County Cork to help with reopening and recovery; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [54979/21]

Special Educational Needs

Colm Burke

311. Deputy Colm Burke asked the Minister for Education if children in sixth class in County Cork who require ASD class places for their secondary schooling and whose parents were informed by their children's disability network teams that they will not get educational placement recommendations until February 2022 at the earliest, will receive this recommendation before Christmas 2021 due to the importance of an early recommendation; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [55354/21]

Hospital Admissions

Colm Burke

379. Deputy Colm Burke asked the Minister for Health the number of children who spent more than four consecutive days in hospital in each of the years 2016 to 2020 and to date in 2021, in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [55366/21]

Hospital Admissions

Colm Burke

380. Deputy Colm Burke asked the Minister for Health the number of children who spent more than 21 consecutive days in hospital in each of the years 2018 to 2020 and to date in 2021, in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [55367/21]

Hospital Admissions

Colm Burke

381. Deputy Colm Burke asked the Minister for Health the number of children who required hospitalisation from birth of 30 days or more for each of the years 2018 to 2020 and to date in 2021, in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [55368/21]

Hospital Admissions

Colm Burke

382. Deputy Colm Burke asked the Minister for Health the number of children who required ten or more visits inpatient, day case or outpatient to Children’s Health Ireland hospitals or regional paediatric units for each of the years 2018 to 2020 and to date in 2021, in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [55369/21]

Hospital Charges

Colm Burke

383. Deputy Colm Burke asked the Minister for Health the income recorded by Children’s Health Ireland hospitals at Crumlin, Tallaght and Temple Street from parking charges for each of the years 2018 to 2020 and to date in 2021, in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [55370/21]

Brexit Issues

Colm Burke

125. Deputy Colm Burke asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs the practical supports that are in place if Article 16 of the Northern Ireland protocol is triggered by the UK in respect of trade between the two jurisdictions on the island of Ireland; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [55008/21]

Brexit Issues

Colm Burke

126. Deputy Colm Burke asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs if he will confirm the preparatory measures that have been taken in the event Article 16 of the Northern Ireland protocol is triggered by the UK; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [55009/21]

Brexit Issues

Colm Burke

127. Deputy Colm Burke asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs the mechanisms that are in place by the Government which would help identify the circumstances which could entitle conditions necessary for Article 16 of the Northern Ireland protocol to be triggered; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [55010/21]

Brexit Issues

Colm Burke

128. Deputy Colm Burke asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs if Article 16 of the Northern Ireland protocol is triggered, the tariffs that could be imposed on the UK by the EU; the preparatory measures that are being considered for the protection of trade on the island of Ireland; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [55011/21]

Grant Payments

Colm Burke

178. Deputy Colm Burke asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science if he will review the current eligibility criteria for the Student Grant Scheme in view of the fact that persons that have returned from living abroad cannot get grants to return to college; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [54797/21]

Education Schemes

Colm Burke

184. Deputy Colm Burke asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science the engagement that his Department has had with the UK department of higher education in England, Scotland and Wales in respect of the Erasmus programme which would enable Irish and UK students seeking to obtain funding supports to study, train, and get work experience; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [55012/21]

Health Services

Colm Burke

235. Deputy Colm Burke asked the Minister for Health the estimated timeframe for when the new outpatient ophthalmology services for the South/South West HSE area currently being developed in Ballincollig, County Cork will be fully operational; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [54990/21]

Health Services

Colm Burke

236. Deputy Colm Burke asked the Minister for Health if the new outpatient ophthalmology services for the South/South West HSE area currently being developed in Ballincollig, County Cork will have the capacity to keep up with the ever-increasing demand for ophthalmic services in the Cork and Kerry region; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [54991/21]

Health Services

Colm Burke

237. Deputy Colm Burke asked the Minister for Health if the required funding will be made available within the next three months to the South/South West HSE area to enable it to fully equip the new outpatient ophthalmology services which are currently being developed in Ballincollig, County Cork; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [54992/21]

Health Services Staff

Colm Burke

247. Deputy Colm Burke asked the Minister for Health if student nurses in their fourth-year internship placements will get an increase in payments of approximately 12.5%, as per the proposals set out in the recent review of nurses' allowance payments; if these increases will be backdated; when they will be put in place; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [55007/21]

Fishing Industry

Colm Burke

264. Deputy Colm Burke asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if Irish boats which normally operate in UK waters will face the same trajectory as our French counterparts; if they will require to have a licence from the UK authorities; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [55006/21]

Housing Schemes

Colm Burke

122. Deputy Colm Burke asked the Minister for Finance the number of persons who have availed of the help-to-buy scheme in Cork city and county in each of the years 2018 to 2020 and to date in 2021, in view of the extension to the scheme in Budget 2022; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [54375/21]

Tax Reliefs

Colm Burke

147. Deputy Colm Burke asked the Minister for Finance the number of persons who have availed of tax relief and support for those working from home in Cork city and county in each of the years 2018 to 2020 and to date in 2021, in view of the expansion of support for remote workers in Budget 2022; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [54376/21]

Road Projects

Colm Burke

207. Deputy Colm Burke asked the Minister for Transport the status of the N/M20 Cork to Limerick project; the steps to be taken going forward; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [54069/21]

Road Projects

Colm Burke

208. Deputy Colm Burke asked the Minister for Transport the work that has been undertaken and completed in respect of the N/M20 Cork to Limerick project in 2020 and to date in 2021; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [54070/21]

School Facilities

Colm Burke

401. Deputy Colm Burke asked the Minister for Education if a sruth Gaelach will be approved for a school (details supplied) which is a feeder school for a Gaelscoil; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [54055/21]

School Accommodation

Colm Burke

402. Deputy Colm Burke asked the Minister for Education if a school (details supplied) will be considered for funding for additional accommodation given the fact that it has recently become a co-educational school and additional space is required; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [54056/21]