Parliamentary questions

Hospital Staff

John Brassil

326. Deputy John Brassil asked the Minister for Health if a full-time security person at the Sliabh Mish unit, University Hospital Kerry, will be provided in view of the ongoing security issues; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [51622/18]

Departmental Funding

John Brassil

332. Deputy John Brassil asked the Minister for Health if funding for a centre (details supplied) is still available; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [51651/18]

HSE Funding

John Brassil

333. Deputy John Brassil asked the Minister for Health if the HSE will continue to fund the running of a centre (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [51652/18]

Services for People with Disabilities

John Brassil

347. Deputy John Brassil asked the Minister for Health if the application process for second-level students transitioning to adult services will be reviewed; if the application process and decision-making timeline can be reviewed at the start of each year; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [51689/18]

Autism Support Services

John Brassil

351. Deputy John Brassil asked the Minister for Health the location in which a school can apply for autism-specific services for students transitioning from second-level to adult day services; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [51715/18]

Services for People with Disabilities

John Brassil

352. Deputy John Brassil asked the Minister for Health his plans to develop more adult day services for persons (details supplied) transitioning out of a school; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [51718/18]

Respite Care Services Funding

John Brassil

358. Deputy John Brassil asked the Minister for Health if additional funding will be made available as requested by the HSE in its submission to the health estimates process for respite care services for counties Cork and Kerry (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [51779/18]

Greenways Funding

John Brassil

227. Deputy John Brassil asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport if funding will be provided for the north County Kerry greenway; when a decision on funding will issue; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [51261/18]

Pharmacy Services

John Brassil

119. Deputy John Brassil asked the Minister for Health his plans to help community pharmacists expand their services; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [50802/18]

Medicinal Products Expenditure

John Brassil

123. Deputy John Brassil asked the Minister for Health the action he is taking to make savings on the drugs budget by increasing the use of biosimilar; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [50801/18]

Disability Allowance Payments

John Brassil

294. Deputy John Brassil asked the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection the waiting times from when an appeal of disability allowance is granted by the appeals office to when payment issues from the disability allowance section; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [51009/18]

Schools Building Projects Status

John Brassil

197. Deputy John Brassil asked the Minister for Education and Skills the status of the stage 2 submission by a school (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [50295/18]

Legislative Measures

John Brassil

79. Deputy John Brassil asked the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform the progress to date on the Public Service Superannuation (Age of Retirement) Bill 2018; the date for implementation of this Bill; if employees who are forced to retire before this Bill is enacted will be given leeway to remain in employment; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [49886/18]

Medicinal Products Reimbursement

John Brassil

137. Deputy John Brassil asked the Minister for Health when a decision will be made on Translarna; if engagement with or inclusion of patient representation will occur as part of the assessment process for Translarna; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [49869/18]

Hospital Procedures

John Brassil

428. Deputy John Brassil asked the Minister for Health if he is satisfied the necessary provisions are available here, including doctors who have undergone specialist training, to allow full removal for all women affected by transvaginal mesh complications within a reasonable timeframe; when the chief medical officer's report will be available; if he will consider making the treatment abroad scheme available for this treatment; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [49300/18]

HSE Expenditure

John Brassil

458. Deputy John Brassil asked the Minister for Health the expenditure on medicines and its percentage of the total health budget in each of the years 2013 to 2017 and to date in 2018, in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [49514/18]

Medicinal Products Reimbursement

John Brassil

459. Deputy John Brassil asked the Minister for Health the medicines that have been approved as cost effective by the National Centre for Pharmacoeconomics but have yet to be reimbursed by the HSE; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [49515/18]

Primary Care Centres Provision

John Brassil

132. Deputy John Brassil asked the Minister for Health further to Parliamentary Question No. 132 of 20 September 2018, if a reply has been received from the developer; if planning permission and legal agreements have commenced; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [48690/18]

School Accommodation

John Brassil

144. Deputy John Brassil asked the Minister for Education and Skills the status of an application by a school (details supplied) in respect of a request to purchase a site for the building of a new school; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [48619/18]

Nursing Homes Support Scheme Applications

John Brassil

465. Deputy John Brassil asked the Minister for Health if an application under the fair deal scheme will be expedited for a person (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [48290/18]

Child and Family Agency Expenditure

John Brassil

572. Deputy John Brassil asked the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs if an organisation (details supplied) will receive an increase in funding in view of the fact that its case load has increased significantly since 2012, which contrasts with a 16% reduction in state support from 2012 to 2018; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [48176/18]

Hospital Appointments Status

John Brassil

108. Deputy John Brassil asked the Minister for Health the status of an appointment for a person (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [47459/18]

Health Services Staff Remuneration

John Brassil

129. Deputy John Brassil asked the Minister for Health if he will direct the HSE to extend the short timeframe for the return of forms by section 39 organisations in view of the fact that all information has already been provided for pay restoration; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [47526/18]

Pharmaceutical Sector

John Brassil

301. Deputy John Brassil asked the Minister for Business, Enterprise and Innovation her views on proposed changes to Regulation (EC) No. 469/2009 to allow for a SPC manufacturing waiver; her views on this initiative; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [47188/18]

Community Employment Schemes Data

John Brassil

549. Deputy John Brassil asked the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection the number of vacancies on employment schemes nationally in view of the reliance on these schemes to carry out essential work and repairs (details supplied); the steps she will take to address concerns of scheme providers that expect to face much greater difficulties in hiring participants for schemes due to a return to full employment; if she has given consideration to changing the rules of schemes to allow greater flexibility including longer participation times; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [46561/18]

Student Universal Support Ireland Administration

John Brassil

79. Deputy John Brassil asked the Minister for Education and Skills his plans to ensure that a route planner (details supplied) is used when assessing distances for the adjacent or non-adjacent SUSI grant; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [46295/18]

Mobile Telephony Use

John Brassil

83. Deputy John Brassil asked the Minister for Education and Skills his plans to effect a new circular to ban the presence and use of mobile phones by students in all national schools; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [46327/18]

Nursing Staff Recruitment

John Brassil

174. Deputy John Brassil asked the Minister for Health the provisions in place to recruit and retain graduate psychiatric nurses within the local mental health services; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [46333/18]

Nursing Staff Data

John Brassil

175. Deputy John Brassil asked the Minister for Health the number of 2018 graduate psychiatric nurses who have been provided employment contracts; the number recruited; the type of contract provided in each area in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [46334/18]

Foreshore Licence Applications

John Brassil

291. Deputy John Brassil asked the Minister for Housing, Planning and Local Government the status of a foreshore licence for a person (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [46213/18]

Illness Benefit Waiting Times

John Brassil

164. Deputy John Brassil asked the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection if she and the Secretary General of her Department will appear before the Oireachtas Committee of Public Accounts about the delays in payments of illness benefit to circa 50,000 persons; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [45993/18]

Deer Culls

John Brassil

189. Deputy John Brassil asked the Minister for Culture, Heritage and the Gaeltacht her plans to introduce a deer management plan for Killarney National Park; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [45980/18]

Land Acquisition

John Brassil

190. Deputy John Brassil asked the Minister for Culture, Heritage and the Gaeltacht the progress regarding the purchase of land for the new entrance for a walkway to a location (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [45988/18]

National Parks and Wildlife Service Staff

John Brassil

191. Deputy John Brassil asked the Minister for Culture, Heritage and the Gaeltacht when the regional manager and district conservation officer posts will be filled for Killarney National Park (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [46037/18]

Deer Culls

John Brassil

192. Deputy John Brassil asked the Minister for Culture, Heritage and the Gaeltacht the culling carried out by the National Parks and Wildlife Service since the deer on Innisfallen Island, Killarney, were found starving in March 2018; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [46057/18]

School Transport

John Brassil

325. Deputy John Brassil asked the Minister for Education and Skills if he will sanction funding through the NTA initially on a pilot basis for the provision of a school bus service to schools (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [45217/18]

Hospital Appointments Status

John Brassil

529. Deputy John Brassil asked the Minister for Health to set out the status of an appointment for a person (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [44760/18]

Hospital Waiting Lists Data

John Brassil

534. Deputy John Brassil asked the Minister for Health to set out the status of the recommencement of arthroplasty operations at University Hospital Kerry; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [44789/18]

Hospital Waiting Lists Data

John Brassil

535. Deputy John Brassil asked the Minister for Health to set out the number of arthroplasty operations that have been undertaken at University Hospital Kerry since 15 October 2018; the number that have been for private and public patients, respectively; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [44790/18]

Hospital Waiting Lists Data

John Brassil

536. Deputy John Brassil asked the Minister for Health to set out the number of public patients who were on the waiting list for a procedure prior to the suspension of arthroplasty operations at University Hospital Kerry; the number of public patients waiting for an arthroplasty operation; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [44791/18]

Hospital Waiting Lists Data

John Brassil

537. Deputy John Brassil asked the Minister for Health to outline the reason arthroplasty procedures have not recommenced for public patients at University Hospital Kerry; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [44792/18]

Hospital Procedures

John Brassil

538. Deputy John Brassil asked the Minister for Health when arthroplasty procedures will recommence for public patients at University Hospital Kerry; if it is a matter of funding; if so, his plans to meet the funding shortfall; his views on whether the current situation regarding arthroplasty operations at the hospital is acceptable; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [44793/18]

Hospital Waiting Lists Data

John Brassil

539. Deputy John Brassil asked the Minister for Health to outline his plans to address the need for patients to have arthroplasty operations whilst services are suspending at University Hospital Kerry; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [44794/18]

Hospital Appointments Status

John Brassil

540. Deputy John Brassil asked the Minister for Health to set out the status of an outpatient appointment for a person (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [44808/18]

Health Products Regulatory Authority

John Brassil

649. Deputy John Brassil asked the Minister for Health his views on the proposal by the Health Products Regulatory Authority to increase its fees by 8% in 2019, further to an increase in fees in 2018, if his attention has been drawn to the rationale for these fee increases; his views on whether such an increase is justified against a backdrop of increased costs for pharmaceutical and other healthcare providers resulting from Brexit in 2019; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [45334/18]

Medicinal Products Reimbursement

John Brassil

676. Deputy John Brassil asked the Minister for Health when a review will take place to determine the next steps for reimbursement of the FreeStyle Libre glucose monitoring system; when he expects the review to be completed; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [45467/18]

Hospital Appointments Status

John Brassil

677. Deputy John Brassil asked the Minister for Health the status of an appointment for a person (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [45470/18]

Voluntary Sector Funding

John Brassil

696. Deputy John Brassil asked the Minister for Health the statutory funding or grant aid available to voluntary food banks and soup kitchens; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [45529/18]

Industrial Disputes

John Brassil

715. Deputy John Brassil asked the Minister for Health if his attention has been drawn to the balloting of members of a union (details supplied) for industrial action in counties Cork and Kerry in view of the failure of the HSE to implement the revised contracts within the agreed timeframes; his views on same; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [45597/18]

Industrial Disputes

John Brassil

716. Deputy John Brassil asked the Minister for Health the steps he will take to prevent possible industrial action in respect of revised home care contracts in counties Cork and Kerry by members of a union (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [45599/18]

Health Services Staff Remuneration

John Brassil

742. Deputy John Brassil asked the Minister for Health when community pharmacists will be provided with a pathway out of FEMPI; when negotiations will commence with the contractors involved; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [45802/18]

Community Pharmacy Services

John Brassil

743. Deputy John Brassil asked the Minister for Health the reason cuts to the wholesale margin of products sold by pharmacists have not been considered as income in reviews conducted by his Department into the operation of FEMPI (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [45803/18]

Community Pharmacy Services

John Brassil

744. Deputy John Brassil asked the Minister for Health when the role of community pharmacists will be expanded in line with the commitment contained in A Programme for Partnership Government; the reason this has not been included in the Sláintecare implementation plan; the way in which the role will be expanded; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [45804/18]

Minor Ailments Scheme

John Brassil

745. Deputy John Brassil asked the Minister for Health when a decision will be taken on the nationwide roll-out of a minor ailment scheme following the successful pilot in 2016; when he will publish the HSE report that has already been submitted to his Department; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [45805/18]

Medicinal Products Regulation

John Brassil

746. Deputy John Brassil asked the Minister for Health if pharmacies will be permitted to dispense oral contraception without prescription under plans for free contraception being considered; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [45806/18]

Vaccination Programme

John Brassil

747. Deputy John Brassil asked the Minister for Health if, following the successful roll-out of flu vaccines in pharmacies, consideration is being given to the expansion of pharmacy-based vaccination services; the reason the cost of the essential pneumococcal vaccine is not yet reimbursed in pharmacies for public patients as the flu vaccine is; the timeframe for a decision in this regard; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [45807/18]

Light Rail Projects

John Brassil

930. Deputy John Brassil asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport his plans to resume the Tralee and Dingle light rail projects as a tourist attraction; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [45501/18]

Departmental Correspondence

John Brassil

251. Deputy John Brassil asked the Minister for Health the outcome of inquiries made in relation to a person (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [44394/18]

Schools Building Projects Status

John Brassil

170. Deputy John Brassil asked the Minister for Education and Skills the status of a submission by a school (details supplied) which was submitted for approval on 11 September 2018; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [44088/18]

Illness Benefit Eligibility

John Brassil

305. Deputy John Brassil asked the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection if a qualified child payment for a person (details supplied) will be expedited; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [44005/18]

Medicinal Products Reimbursement

John Brassil

78. Deputy John Brassil asked the Minister for Health if Respreeza will continue to be provided to patients with Alpha-1 antitrypsin deficiency; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [43564/18]

Hospital Beds Data

John Brassil

131. Deputy John Brassil asked the Minister for Health when 37 additional beds will be provided in Kerry University Hospital; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [43565/18]

Hospital Beds Data

John Brassil

351. Deputy John Brassil asked the Minister for Health if the 37 surge beds at University Hospital Kerry will be in place for winter 2018-2019 in line with the recommendations of the health service capacity review; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [43165/18]

Disability Services Funding

John Brassil

399. Deputy John Brassil asked the Minister for Health his plans to provide funding to an organisation (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [43408/18]

Paediatric Services

John Brassil

589. Deputy John Brassil asked the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs the number of children awaiting paediatric occupational therapy appointments in each CHO area to date in 2018, in tabular form; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [43771/18]

Local Employment Service

John Brassil

619. Deputy John Brassil asked the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection if annual contracts for local employment services will be reviewed; her views on developing a national, community based not-for-profit employment service that recognises rural employment, underemployment and seasonal employment; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [43245/18]

JobPath Programme

John Brassil

622. Deputy John Brassil asked the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection the number of persons referred to Turas Nua and Seetec for JobPath by county; the number of persons that have completed the JobPath programme by county; the number of those persons that have progressed to further education and training, part or full-time employment and self-employment since commencement of this labour activation scheme by county in tabular form; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [43293/18]

Housing Assistance Payment Applications

John Brassil

687. Deputy John Brassil asked the Minister for Housing, Planning and Local Government if a HAP arrears payment will issue to a person (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [43409/18]

Garda Deployment

John Brassil

25. Deputy John Brassil asked the Minister for Justice and Equality the number of gardaí and reservists in each Garda station in County Kerry; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [42408/18]

Home Help Service Provision

John Brassil

407. Deputy John Brassil asked the Minister for Health the status of negotiations between a union (details supplied) and the HSE regarding the roll-out of a new home help service proposed by the HSE; if he is satisfied with the progress of same; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [41999/18]

Services for People with Disabilities

John Brassil

106. Deputy John Brassil asked the Minister for Health if an appointment for a person (details supplied) will be expedited; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [41581/18]

HSE Funding

John Brassil

119. Deputy John Brassil asked the Minister for Health if grant aid has been restored to an organisation (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [41631/18]

Hospital Consultant Recruitment

John Brassil

125. Deputy John Brassil asked the Minister for Health the number of paediatric rheumatologist consultant positions advertised in 2018; the number of applications received; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [41648/18]

Health Services Funding

John Brassil

126. Deputy John Brassil asked the Minister for Health the funding being provided in 2018 to implement the model of care for juvenile arthritis and rheumatology; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [41649/18]

Health Services

John Brassil

127. Deputy John Brassil asked the Minister for Health if a model of care for adult arthritis and rheumatology has been agreed; if so, when it will be published; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [41650/18]

Medicinal Products Availability

John Brassil

163. Deputy John Brassil asked the Minister for Health if the drug Cariban available on the GMS and DPS schemes for the treatment of hyperemesis gravidarum for pregnant women will be made available; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [41428/18]

Home Help Service Data

John Brassil

281. Deputy John Brassil asked the Minister for Health the number of home help hours assigned in County Kerry for the month of September 2018, in tabular form; the number of hours provided in each month by HSE home help and private company staff, respectively; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [40853/18]

Long-Term Illness Scheme Eligibility

John Brassil

284. Deputy John Brassil asked the Minister for Health if a cost-benefit analysis has been undertaken in respect of the provision of the FreeStyle Libre monitoring system for all persons with type 1 diabetes on the long-term illness scheme; his plans to extend the scheme to all type 1 diabetes patients; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [40856/18]

Electric Vehicles

John Brassil

419. Deputy John Brassil asked the Minister for Communications, Climate Action and Environment the measures in place to rectify the outage of fast charging points for electric vehicles; the number of these charging points out of service; the timeframe in this regard; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [41200/18]

Electric Vehicles

John Brassil

420. Deputy John Brassil asked the Minister for Communications, Climate Action and Environment if the issue with the fast charging point for EV vehicles in Killarney, County Kerry will be resolved; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [41249/18]

Illness Benefit Payments

John Brassil

479. Deputy John Brassil asked the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection the status of payments in respect of illness benefit recipients; the number of outstanding payments since the change to claim forms was introduced; if she is satisfied with the level of engagement and information provided to recipients during this process; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [40746/18]

Tax Code

John Brassil

73. Deputy John Brassil asked the Minister for Finance his plans to reduce the life assurance exit tax from the higher rate of 41% in line with reductions in deposit interest retention tax for budget 2019; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [40484/18]

Medicinal Products Reimbursement

John Brassil

139. Deputy John Brassil asked the Minister for Health when the agreement with a company (details supplied) will be completed regarding the treatment of 19 Alpha 1 clinical trial patients; if there are plans to extend this treatment to all other Alpha 1 patients; if so, the timeline for same; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [40429/18]

Pupil-Teacher Ratio

John Brassil

222. Deputy John Brassil asked the Minister for Education and Skills his plans to reduce the quota of students to teacher ratio for two teacher schools (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [39672/18]

Back to Education Allowance Eligibility

John Brassil

597. Deputy John Brassil asked the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection if the length of the progression rule for course completion for level 5 and 6 courses for qualification for back to education allowance will be reviewed; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [39711/18]

Healthcare Infrastructure Provision

John Brassil

149. Deputy John Brassil asked the Minister for Health further to Parliamentary Question No. 418 of 13 February 2018, the status of the construction of a helipad at Cork University Hospital to facilitate an air ambulance service; if discussions with the Irish Aviation Authority have concluded; if planning permission has been sought and approved; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [39223/18]

Student Accommodation

John Brassil

244. Deputy John Brassil asked the Minister for Housing, Planning and Local Government the measures in place to deal with the projected shortfall of in excess of 16,000 student beds by 2024 as outlined in the Rebuilding Ireland national student accommodation strategy; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [39227/18]

Special Areas of Conservation Management

John Brassil

271. Deputy John Brassil asked the Minister for Culture, Heritage and the Gaeltacht if she will liaise with the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine to review a more workable system to allow farmers in designated special areas of conservation who are not in REPS or GLAS to farm their lands sustainably; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [39157/18]

Nursing Homes Support Scheme

John Brassil

241. Deputy John Brassil asked the Minister for Health his plans to introduce a scheme to incentivise homeowners residing in nursing homes and availing of the fair deal scheme to rent out vacant family homes in order to get the them back into the housing market to address shortfalls in the rental market; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [38293/18]

National Centre for Pharmacoeconomics

John Brassil

379. Deputy John Brassil asked the Minister for Health the number of health technology assessments carried out by the National Centre for Pharmacoeconomics since 2016 in view of the fact that page 6 of the NCPE’s health technology assessment submission applicant template indicated that the medicine has an orphan designation from the European Medicines Agency; the number of these medicines that have since been added to the reimbursement list; the combined cost of these reimbursed medicines per annum; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [38835/18]

Flood Prevention Measures

John Brassil

66. Deputy John Brassil asked the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform the position regarding the pending applications from the OPW and Kerry County Council regarding the clearing of the Glenflesk river, Glenflesk, Killarney, County Kerry; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [38067/18]

Hospital Beds Data

John Brassil

129. Deputy John Brassil asked the Minister for Health the status of the provision of 37 additional beds required at UHK for winter 2018 as recommended in the bed capacity review 2017; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [38048/18]

Primary Care Centres Provision

John Brassil

132. Deputy John Brassil asked the Minister for Health the position regarding the provision of a primary care centre in Rathmore, County Kerry; his plans to prioritise the provision of this service as a permanent location for general practitioner services; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [38069/18]

Road Safety Data

John Brassil

252. Deputy John Brassil asked the Minister for Justice and Equality the number of fatal accidents, serious injuries and minor injuries recorded at locations (details supplied) prior to May 2016 and from May 2016 to date in 2018, in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [37002/18]

Nursing Homes Support Scheme Administration

John Brassil

401. Deputy John Brassil asked the Minister for Health his plans to incentivise owners to get vacant properties back into usable housing stock in view of the excess of houses lying vacant due to the owners being in full-time care in the fair deal scheme; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [37086/18]

Hospital Waiting Lists

John Brassil

440. Deputy John Brassil asked the Minister for Health if a hospital assessment for a person (details supplied) will be expedited; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [37216/18]

Medical Card Administration

John Brassil

449. Deputy John Brassil asked the Minister for Health the selection process regarding persons to be reviewed by the primary care reimbursement service, PCRS, for eligibility for a medical card; if he will re-examine the way in which persons are selected for review; if he will amend the process to ensure that those who have been reviewed in a given year are not selected for review in the same year; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [37275/18]

Home Help Service Data

John Brassil

479. Deputy John Brassil asked the Minister for Health the number of home help hours assigned in County Kerry in the months January to September 2018, in tabular form; the number of hours provided in each month by HSE home help and private company staff, respectively; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [37372/18]

Home Help Service

John Brassil

481. Deputy John Brassil asked the Minister for Health the status of the provision of new contracts to HSE home help staff; the timeline for completion; if he is satisfied with the progress of same; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [37386/18]

Health and Social Care Professionals Regulation

John Brassil

523. Deputy John Brassil asked the Minister for Health the status of the establishment of a registration board for the regulation of counsellors and psychotherapists; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [37507/18]