Parliamentary questions

Dental Services

Colm Burke

153. Deputy Colm Burke asked the Minister for Health the measures his Department will take to reduce public orthodontic treatment waiting lists which are as high as six or seven years in the south south west region; if this treatment can be included under the treatment purchase scheme; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [50885/21]

Gambling Sector

Colm Burke

379. Deputy Colm Burke asked the Minister for Finance the reason a casino (details supplied) was refused support under the CRSS as the Revenue Commissioners determined it was not eligible as per SI No. 452 even though guidelines state that it is unable to reopen; if this will be remedied with support given to the business; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [51184/21]

Vacant Sites

Colm Burke

451. Deputy Colm Burke asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the funding provided to each local authority in 2019, 2020 and 2021 to enable it to take possession of derelict sites and proceed to have them registered in its name; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [50604/21]

Foreign Birth Registration

Colm Burke

491. Deputy Colm Burke asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs when the foreign birth registration service will begin processing applications again; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [50420/21]

Special Educational Needs

Colm Burke

545. Deputy Colm Burke asked the Minister for Education when a child (details supplied) with an intellectual disability will receive a place in a special school in their locality as a result of their needs; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [50455/21]

Social Welfare Payments

Colm Burke

637. Deputy Colm Burke asked the Minister for Social Protection if rental income in circumstances in which it is used solely to repay a mortgage will be included as an allowable expense when calculating a person's eligibility for disability allowance; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [51235/21]

Medical Aids and Appliances

Colm Burke

720. Deputy Colm Burke asked the Minister for Health the current position in respect of the supply of wheelchairs and other medical devices for 28 children in the children’s community health network areas 4 and 5; when the appropriate funding will be made available in order to deal with the waiting time which is in excess of 12 months; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [50381/21]

Healthcare Policy

Colm Burke

731. Deputy Colm Burke asked the Minister for Health the progress that has been made in dealing with the request made by the chiropractic profession to restore the right of a chiropractor to refer a patient for an x ray, having previously lost this right in 2018; if new regulations will be put place to restore this right; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [50437/21]

Disease Management

Colm Burke

858. Deputy Colm Burke asked the Minister for Health if it is planned to include chronic kidney disease in the HSE Integrated Care Programme for Prevention and Management of Chronic Disease; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [51149/21]

Disease Management

Colm Burke

859. Deputy Colm Burke asked the Minister for Health the measures that will be taken to improve access to the home dialysis pathway for those with chronic kidney disease in Ireland; if the provision of digital health solutions for home dialysis patients is being considered; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [51150/21]

Disease Management

Colm Burke

860. Deputy Colm Burke asked the Minister for Health the measures that are currently in place to elevate the importance of chronic kidney disease in the context of long-term conditions; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [51151/21]

Vaccination Programme

Colm Burke

867. Deputy Colm Burke asked the Minister for Health the percentage breakdown of Covid-19 vaccination uptake in each county; the number of persons in each county that have availed of the vaccine; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [51187/21]

Hospital Facilities

Colm Burke

880. Deputy Colm Burke asked the Minister for Health if the new elective hospital will cater for both day care procedures and procedures that require inpatient care;; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [51234/21]

Home Care Packages

Colm Burke

881. Deputy Colm Burke asked the Minister for Health the plans in place to regulate the area of homecare; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [51236/21]

Disabilities Assessments

Colm Burke

910. Deputy Colm Burke asked the Minister for Health the way information is gathered on the number of persons diagnosed with autism spectrum disorder; if the numbers of persons diagnosed with autism spectrum disorder are collated; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [51315/21]

Disabilities Assessments

Colm Burke

911. Deputy Colm Burke asked the Minister for Health her plans to establish a specific autism register in Ireland; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [51316/21]

Disabilities Assessments

Colm Burke

912. Deputy Colm Burke asked the Minister for Health his plans to establish public assessment teams dedicated to adult diagnoses of autistic spectrum disorders; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [51317/21]

Disability Services

Colm Burke

913. Deputy Colm Burke asked the Minister for Health the position regarding the Progressing Disability Services for Children & Young People and local Implementation groups that are overseeing the provision of services regionally; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [51318/21]

Disability Services

Colm Burke

914. Deputy Colm Burke asked the Minister for Health the number of children’s disability network teams that have been established nationwide; when it is envisaged there will be full national cover; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [51319/21]

Disability Diagnoses

Colm Burke

915. Deputy Colm Burke asked the Minister for Health the most reliable autism diagnosis data health services use; the number of adults and children that have received a diagnosis; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [51320/21]

Agriculture Schemes

Colm Burke

929. Deputy Colm Burke asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the progress made to date in respect of the establishment of an independent agriculture appeals review panel in line with a commitment under the Programme for Government; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [50722/21]

Food Industry

Colm Burke

930. Deputy Colm Burke asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the progress made to date in respect of the establishment of the new office of the national food ombudsman, regulator or equivalent; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [50723/21]

Agriculture Industry

Colm Burke

931. Deputy Colm Burke asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the progress made to date in respect of proposals for the inclusion of the Irish poultry sector under the remit of an organisation (details supplied) which includes beef and sheep only; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [50724/21]

Agriculture Industry

Colm Burke

932. Deputy Colm Burke asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the progress made to date in respect of the proposal for the establishment of a fund co-financed by industry and Government for the Irish poultry industry, similar to the Dutch animal health fund (details supplied) in order to improve disease control and mitigate financial impacts on Irish poultry farmers; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [50725/21]

National Broadband Plan

Colm Burke

25. Deputy Colm Burke asked the Minister for Rural and Community Development the status of the roll-out of broadband connection points; the number that have been connected to date by county; the number planned to be connected; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [50013/21]

Flexible Work Practices

Colm Burke

58. Deputy Colm Burke asked the Minister for Rural and Community Development the level of funding for remote digital hubs provided for in Budget 2021 that has been disbursed; if additional remote working hubs will be considered going forward in view of the fact that these facilities are vital for both urban and rural communities; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [50014/21]

Research and Development

Colm Burke

22. Deputy Colm Burke asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science if Ireland will consider applying to join CERN due to the enormous scientific and research benefits associated with membership; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [49716/21]

Third Level Education

Colm Burke

39. Deputy Colm Burke asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science the level of funding that has been provided to UCC and the Munster Technological University to enable the safe reopening of on-campus education along with other college activities in autumn 2021; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [49717/21]

Broadband Infrastructure

Colm Burke

98. Deputy Colm Burke asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications the way it is proposed to increase the geographic coverage of the existing 4G network to address blackspot areas; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [49964/21]

Public Transport

Colm Burke

105. Deputy Colm Burke asked the Minister for Transport if additional funding will be provided to the rural transport programme and TFI LocalLink in Budget 2022; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [49963/21]

Tax Reliefs

Colm Burke

107. Deputy Colm Burke asked the Minister for Finance if consideration will be given to extending stamp duty relief to young trained farmers until December 2026; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [49945/21]

Tax Reliefs

Colm Burke

108. Deputy Colm Burke asked the Minister for Finance if consideration will be given to extending stock relief until December 2026; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [49946/21]

Flexible Work Practices

Colm Burke

237. Deputy Colm Burke asked the Minister for Rural and Community Development if consideration will be given to the provision of additional rural working hubs in each rural town and village to enable remote workers to access social and technical facilities; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [49967/21]

Tax Code

Colm Burke

132. Deputy Colm Burke asked the Minister for Finance his views on the proposal outlined in the European Commission public consultation on updating the rules on excise duties for manufactured tobacco products for the equalisation of the tax treatment of roll your own, heated tobacco products and other alternative products with that of cigarettes; the estimated likely impact on revenue generation and illicit trade should such a proposal be enacted in Ireland and across the European Union; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [49742/21]

Education and Training Provision

Colm Burke

251. Deputy Colm Burke asked the Minister for Education the reason home tuition has not yet been sanctioned for a pupil (details supplied); when it is likely to be sanctioned given that this tutorage is essential for the pupil; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [49165/21]

Care Services

Colm Burke

627. Deputy Colm Burke asked the Minister for Health if a minimum four-night respite service at an annual funding cost of €333,000 will be provided at MooreHaven Centre in Tipperary town immediately; if a seven-night respite service at an annual funding cost of €506,000 will be provided there from 2022 onward; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [49741/21]

Live Exports

Colm Burke

666. Deputy Colm Burke asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if the recently signed agreement between Ireland and China for the export of live breeding pigs to China has an end date in place; if not, if this agreement is open ended; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [49641/21]

Live Exports

Colm Burke

667. Deputy Colm Burke asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if he will provide a detailed account of the animal welfare strategy to be put in place for the export of live breeding pigs to China; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [49642/21]

Live Exports

Colm Burke

668. Deputy Colm Burke asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if his Department will be provided with up-to-date documentary information in respect of the condition of live pigs to be exported from Ireland to China upon their arrival in China; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [49643/21]

Live Exports

Colm Burke

669. Deputy Colm Burke asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the up-to-date 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. [49644/21]

Live Exports

Colm Burke

670. Deputy Colm Burke asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the number of live breeding pigs that will be exported per annum to China; if there will be a fixed number per annum; if there are terms within the agreement to increase or decrease this figure; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [49645/21]

Live Exports

Colm Burke

671. 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. [49646/21]

Revenue Commissioners

Colm Burke

210. Deputy Colm Burke asked the Minister for Finance when offices of the Revenue Commissioners will reopen to members of the public; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [48891/21]

School Staff

Colm Burke

234. Deputy Colm Burke asked the Minister for Education the reason a newly qualified teacher (details supplied) who was offered a contract in July 2021 and who furnished all necessary documentation and commenced employment on the first day of this school year has not been paid; when this issue will be resolved and their remuneration will be received; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [48890/21]

Asylum Applications

Colm Burke

347. Deputy Colm Burke asked the Minister for Justice the current position in respect of the offices which were acquired by her Department in Cork city and county over two years ago to facilitate asylum applications; the reason the facility has not opened; when the premises are likely to be brought into use; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [48893/21]

Medicinal Products

Colm Burke

109. Deputy Colm Burke asked the Minister for Health the position regarding the pricing and reimbursement negotiations for the gene therapy drug zolgensma (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [48435/21]

Medicinal Products

Colm Burke

148. Deputy Colm Burke asked the Minister for Health if his Department and the HSE will review the decision not to allow for reimbursement of cannabidiol, epidiolex in view of the fact that there has been clear evidence to show that this drug is extremely effective in the management of care for patients with dravet syndrome and lennox-gastaut syndrome; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [48542/21]

Tourism Promotion

Colm Burke

6. Deputy Colm Burke asked the Minister for Tourism, Culture, Arts, Gaeltacht, Sport and Media the measures she will be put in place following the closure of Cork Airport to encourage tourism to County Cork; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [47849/21]

Sports Funding

Colm Burke

50. Deputy Colm Burke asked the Minister for Tourism, Culture, Arts, Gaeltacht, Sport and Media if consideration will be given to increasing the funding under the 2021 sports capital and equipment programme in view of the large number of applications received by her Department; when the funding is likely to be announced; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [47850/21]

Tobacco Control Measures

Colm Burke

215. Deputy Colm Burke asked the Minister for Finance the extent to which his Department and the Department of Health are engaging at a European level to ensure reform of tobacco taxes across the EU including lobbying for equal tax treatment for reduced risks products and traditional cigarettes in view of the expected publication of the updated Tobacco Directive by the European Commission in 2021; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [48204/21]