Parliamentary questions

Psychological Assessments Waiting Times

Brian Stanley

378. Deputy Brian Stanley asked the Minister for Health when a person (details supplied) will have an assessment of needs carried out in view of the fact that under the Disability Act 2005 this assessment should have been concluded by August 2018. [49005/18]

Psychological Assessments

Brian Stanley

379. Deputy Brian Stanley asked the Minister for Health if psychological assessments carried out privately can be used by the HSE when they are carrying out an assessment of needs if the HSE has not completed the assessment within the required timeframe. [49010/18]

Defence Forces Remuneration

Brian Stanley

76. Deputy Brian Stanley asked the Taoiseach and Minister for Defence if his Department, in conjunction with the command structure within the Defence Forces, has reached a decision on improving the special allowances paid to soldiers. [48209/18]

Defence Forces Remuneration

Brian Stanley

78. Deputy Brian Stanley asked the Taoiseach and Minister for Defence the progress made in addressing the low pay rates for lower ranked members of the Defence Forces. [48208/18]

Nursing Education

Brian Stanley

351. Deputy Brian Stanley asked the Minister for Health if he and the HSE have plans to expand the sponsored nursing training scheme for persons already employed in the health service such as care assistants. [47743/18]

Fuel Allowance Eligibility

Brian Stanley

604. Deputy Brian Stanley asked the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection her plans to change the criteria for fuel allowance in cases in which a person that was on a community employment scheme and in receipt of fuel allowance but had to cease employment due to injury was then placed on jobseeker's benefit and is no longer eligible for a fuel allowance payment. [47742/18]

Housing Issues

Brian Stanley

114. Deputy Brian Stanley asked the Minister for Housing, Planning and Local Government if consideration has been given to moving to a system of certifying old standards of having local authorities carry out the inspections of new builds in view of the difficulties with school buildings. [47080/18]

Social and Affordable Housing Funding

Brian Stanley

118. Deputy Brian Stanley asked the Minister for Housing, Planning and Local Government if funding will be allocated for the regeneration of a location (details supplied) and the construction of social housing on the adjacent vacant site. [47081/18]

Ash Dieback Threat

Brian Stanley

250. Deputy Brian Stanley asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the steps he is taking to prevent the spread of dieback chalara affecting ash forestry here; the studies undertaken by his Department on the way in which this disease commenced here; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [47346/18]

Ash Dieback Threat

Brian Stanley

251. Deputy Brian Stanley asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the measures in place to protect broadleaf forestry from the spread of plant diseases such as chalara in view of the environmental benefits of same; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [47347/18]

Rail Services Provision

Brian Stanley

232. Deputy Brian Stanley asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport if he has conducted an analysis of improving the train schedule by increasing the number of trains and the possibility of more direct trains from County Laois at train stations in Portlaoise and Ballybrophy in view of the fact that the commuting numbers have increased in recent years with no added services; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [46200/18]

Cannabis for Medicinal Use

Brian Stanley

130. Deputy Brian Stanley asked the Minister for Health if secondary legislation to underpin the access programme for medical cannabis products is being prepared; and if this will be finalised once cannabis-based products to be included in the legislation can be sourced. [46038/18]

Cannabis for Medicinal Use

Brian Stanley

131. Deputy Brian Stanley asked the Minister for Health the position regarding liability implications for consultants in both public and private practice who prescribe medicinal cannabis; and his plans to change same. [46039/18]

Park and Ride Facilities

Brian Stanley

65. Deputy Brian Stanley asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport if he will address the need to expand the number of electric vehicle charging points at Portlaoise and Ballybrophy train stations, County Laois and the need to expand the parking facilities to encourage the use of renewable transport and greater use of public transport; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [45482/18]

Railway Stations

Brian Stanley

96. Deputy Brian Stanley asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport if his attention has been drawn to the lack of parking facilities at Portlaoise and Ballybrophy train stations, County Laois, and the need for upgrade and extension to encourage the policy of greater use of public transport; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [45481/18]

Closed-Circuit Television Systems Expenditure

Brian Stanley

399. Deputy Brian Stanley asked the Minister for Justice and Equality the amount of funding that was drawn down in respect of community-based CCTV systems in cases in which there is funding from 2017 and 2018. [44964/18]

Closed-Circuit Television Systems

Brian Stanley

400. Deputy Brian Stanley asked the Minister for Justice and Equality if a decision has issued on the impasse of the data controller for rural community CCTV systems. [44965/18]

Hospital Charges

Brian Stanley

648. Deputy Brian Stanley asked the Minister for Health if there is a mechanism to reimburse a person (details supplied) for private treatment who was referred to Tullamore accident and emergency department with severe pain and subsequently had to seek private treatment due to ongoing pain and the long wait for treatment; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [45333/18]

Bus Éireann Services

Brian Stanley

870. Deputy Brian Stanley asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport the reason for delays in a Bus Éireann service (details supplied) which services County Laois; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [44611/18]

Cyber Security Data

Brian Stanley

307. Deputy Brian Stanley asked the Minister for Communications, Climate Action and Environment the number of cyber attacks recorded here in 2017 and to date in 2018; the number of these attacks that were successfully prevented; the number of these attacks believed or known to have been committed by cyber criminals; and the number of these attacks committed by State actors. [44266/18]

Cyber Security Data

Brian Stanley

308. Deputy Brian Stanley asked the Minister for Communications, Climate Action and Environment the funding allocated to the National Cyber Security Centre as part of his Department's budget per annum since the publication of the cybersecurity strategy in 2015. [44267/18]

Flood Relief Schemes Funding

Brian Stanley

67. Deputy Brian Stanley asked the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform the capital funding being provided for works in Mountmellick on flood relief. [43885/18]

Flood Relief Schemes Funding

Brian Stanley

77. Deputy Brian Stanley asked the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform if funding is available for immediate short-term works for river channel clearing in Mountmellick, County Laois. [43884/18]

Hospitals Policy

Brian Stanley

138. Deputy Brian Stanley asked the Minister for Health the timeframe for the consultation on Portlaoise Hospital; the persons or bodies that will be engaged with in relation to same; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [43503/18]

Hospital Services

Brian Stanley

144. Deputy Brian Stanley asked the Minister for Health if an external facilitator has been appointed for the consultation on the future of Portlaoise hospital. [43502/18]

Special Educational Needs Staff

Brian Stanley

66. Deputy Brian Stanley asked the Minister for Education and Skills if his attention has been drawn to the importance of home school community liaison officers in schools when children have special needs; and his plans for same. [41922/18]

Home School Community Liaison Scheme

Brian Stanley

75. Deputy Brian Stanley asked the Minister for Education and Skills his plans to reintroduce home school community liaison officers in schools in urban and rural areas. [41921/18]

Telecommunications Infrastructure

Brian Stanley

536. Deputy Brian Stanley asked the Minister for Communications, Climate Action and Environment the details of the transatlantic subsea fibre optic cable extending from the United States of America to Killala, County Mayo; the persons and bodies that have benefited from the cable; if a study has been carried out on the cost associated with alternative landfall routes; and his plans to use this infrastructure for the benefit of communities across the west of Ireland. [41770/18]

National Broadband Plan

Brian Stanley

2. Deputy Brian Stanley asked the Minister for Communications, Climate Action and Environment the level of progress on the national broadband plan; the viability of the tender process; the date for signing of the tender agreement; and the expected date of completion of the national broadband plan. [41257/18]

Television Licence Fee Collection

Brian Stanley

10. Deputy Brian Stanley asked the Minister for Communications, Climate Action and Environment if alternative options such as those outlined at the Oireachtas Joint Committee on Communications, Climate Action and Environment in regard to the collection of the licence fee for RTÉ have been considered. [41194/18]

Post Office Network

Brian Stanley

26. Deputy Brian Stanley asked the Minister for Communications, Climate Action and Environment further to the announced closure of 159 post offices and the ongoing review process for these post offices, the policy he has developed in terms of making progress towards changes in services available through the post office network or broadening services to maintain a viable network of post offices and maintain an efficient postal delivery service. [41190/18]

Alternative Energy Projects

Brian Stanley

29. Deputy Brian Stanley asked the Minister for Communications, Climate Action and Environment his policy for the development of alternative energy sources to fossil fuels in respect of the decarbonisation of the environment and reaching emission reduction targets. [41193/18]

Waste Management

Brian Stanley

40. Deputy Brian Stanley asked the Minister for Communications, Climate Action and Environment his plans to establish a different model of collection for household waste in view of the report from the Competition and Consumer Protection Commission, CCPC, on the household waste collection market. [41191/18]

Energy Prices

Brian Stanley

44. Deputy Brian Stanley asked the Minister for Communications, Climate Action and Environment his plans to use his powers under the Electricity Regulation Act 1999 to issue a policy direction to the Commission for Regulation of Utilities regarding energy supply markets and its resultant effect on prices for householders. [41192/18]

Passport Applications Fees

Brian Stanley

38. Deputy Brian Stanley asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade if the standard fee for passports for persons who have been employed and self-employed for over four decades here will be waived; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [40987/18]

Citizenship Applications

Brian Stanley

39. Deputy Brian Stanley asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade if the charge is the same for citizenship for persons who apply from outside the EU. [40988/18]

HSE Properties

Brian Stanley

246. Deputy Brian Stanley asked the Minister for Health his plans to upgrade the HSE facilities at Erkina House, Rathdowney, County Laois. [40720/18]

Patient Transfers

Brian Stanley

247. Deputy Brian Stanley asked the Minister for Health if his attention has been drawn to plans to transfer the patients of Erkina House, Rathdowney, County Laois to other facilities; and the consultation that has taken place with the patients or their families. [40721/18]

Medicinal Products

Brian Stanley

250. Deputy Brian Stanley asked the Minister for Health the position regarding the case of a person (details supplied) to whom medicinal cannabis has been recommended here and in another EU state as being beneficial but which practitioners here are refusing to prescribe due to potential liability; and if, in such cases it is possible to have the drug prescribed in another EU state. [40741/18]

Medicinal Products

Brian Stanley

251. Deputy Brian Stanley asked the Minister for Health the progress being made to deal with the difficulties in having medicinal cannabis prescribed for patients in cases in which this is recommended; if the matter will be discussed with the Medical Council; and his plans to introduce legislation in order to resolve the matter. [40742/18]

Motor Insurance Costs

Brian Stanley

82. Deputy Brian Stanley asked the Minister for Finance the measures he is taking to address the practice in the motor insurance industry of unfairly charging excessive premiums for returning emigrants regardless of their driving experience. [40518/18]

Defence Forces Remuneration

Brian Stanley

90. Deputy Brian Stanley asked the Taoiseach and Minister for Defence the steps being taken to address the issues of pay and conditions in the Defence Forces. [40186/18]

Defence Forces Retirements

Brian Stanley

91. Deputy Brian Stanley asked the Taoiseach and Minister for Defence his plans to address the issues of staff retention in the regular Defence Forces. [40187/18]

Hospital Waiting Lists

Brian Stanley

370. Deputy Brian Stanley asked the Minister for Health if he will address a matter (details supplied) regarding a procedure; and the steps being taken to reduce the waiting time for same [39557/18]

Charitable and Voluntary Organisations

Brian Stanley

439. Deputy Brian Stanley asked the Minister for Health if funding will be provided for a charity (details supplied) in County Offaly; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [39971/18]

Waste Disposal Charges

Brian Stanley

509. Deputy Brian Stanley asked the Minister for Communications, Climate Action and Environment when the disallowance of up to €75 with regard to waste collection for persons with a long-term certified medical condition, which was announced in 2017, will be implemented. [39612/18]

Illness Benefit Eligibility

Brian Stanley

588. Deputy Brian Stanley asked the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection her plans to include the self-employed for class 5 entitlement to illness benefit in view of the fact that the current situation is causing difficulty for persons who are out of work for a considerable time due to illness or injury. [39491/18]

Illness Benefit Eligibility

Brian Stanley

591. Deputy Brian Stanley asked the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection if she plans to include the self-employed for class 5 entitlement to illness benefit in view of the fact that the situation is causing difficulty for persons who are unemployed for a considerable time due to illness or injury. [39554/18]

Renewable Energy Feed-in Tariff Scheme

Brian Stanley

175. Deputy Brian Stanley asked the Minister for Communications, Climate Action and Environment his plans to examine the reason electricity companies do not give credits or payments for excess electricity generated by solar panels on individual homes in view of the fact that in Northern Ireland home owners receive credits; the steps that can be taken to address this difference; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [39143/18]

Defence Forces Remuneration

Brian Stanley

107. Deputy Brian Stanley asked the Taoiseach and Minister for Defence his plans to address the pay and conditions of serving members of the Defence Forces in view of the fact that the Defence Forces have lost a considerable number of highly trained and experienced personnel due to low pay and general conditions. [39075/18]