Parliamentary questions

Higher Education Institutions Issues

Caoimhghín Ó Caoláin

84. Deputy Caoimhghín Ó Caoláin asked the Minister for Education and Skills his views on whether Irish higher education institutions are operating at maximum productivity. [43094/12]

VAT Rate Increases

Caoimhghín Ó Caoláin

152. Deputy Caoimhghín Ó Caoláin asked the Minister for Finance the amount of VAT that has been collected at the higher rate for each of the past five years; if he will provide on a county basis the amount of VAT that has been collected at the higher rate for 2011; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [42714/12]

Disability Allowance Applications

Caoimhghín Ó Caoláin

324. Deputy Caoimhghín Ó Caoláin asked the Minister for Social Protection the reason a person (details supplied) in County Cavan has had their payments cut off; the way these payments can be reinstated; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [42716/12]

Water Services Provision

Caoimhghín Ó Caoláin

406. Deputy Caoimhghín Ó Caoláin asked the Minister for the Environment; Community and Local Government the role local authorities will play in Irish Water and the management of water services; the way capital investment will be prioritised; if it will be linked to regional and local development plans; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [42707/12]

Water Services Provision

Caoimhghín Ó Caoláin

407. Deputy Caoimhghín Ó Caoláin asked the Minister for the Environment; Community and Local Government the priority that will be given to larger water schemes under the new Irish Water; what will happen to rural and smaller water schemes; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [42708/12]

Water and Sewerage Schemes Status

Caoimhghín Ó Caoláin

408. Deputy Caoimhghín Ó Caoláin asked the Minister for the Environment; Community and Local Government the progress being made to date with the approval of the upgrade of a water programme (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [42709/12]

Water Services Provision

Caoimhghín Ó Caoláin

409. Deputy Caoimhghín Ó Caoláin asked the Minister for the Environment; Community and Local Government if a fund will be available within Irish Water for rural water schemes; if funding will be maintained for rural water schemes; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [42710/12]

Water Services Provision

Caoimhghín Ó Caoláin

410. Deputy Caoimhghín Ó Caoláin asked the Minister for the Environment; Community and Local Government the way group water schemes will link in with the new Irish Water body in view of the relationships that these schemes have with local authorities; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [42711/12]

Departmental Funding

Caoimhghín Ó Caoláin

411. Deputy Caoimhghín Ó Caoláin asked the Minister for the Environment; Community and Local Government the amount of money that has been sent back to central funds by local authorities due to the inability of these authorities to match funding on a county basis for each of the past five years providing the most recent figure; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [42712/12]

Child Care Services Provision

Caoimhghín Ó Caoláin

554. Deputy Caoimhghín Ó Caoláin asked the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs her plans to introduce a programme of supports for established small private creche providers, similar to the community childcare subvention programme that targets the community not for profit childcare services, in view of the considerable investment made and the serious hit that these providers have taken because they cannot access CCS funding or other comparable supports; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [43319/12]

Adoption Records Provision

Caoimhghín Ó Caoláin

556. Deputy Caoimhghín Ó Caoláin asked the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs if he will outline her policy in relation to open and closed adoptions; if he will detail the relevant guidelines and protocols which advise authorities in this regard; the effect the upcoming Children's Referendum and associated Adoption Bill will have on these protocols; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [43458/12]

Adoption Records Provision

Caoimhghín Ó Caoláin

557. Deputy Caoimhghín Ó Caoláin asked the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs the efforts she is making to facilitate the estimated 50,000 adopted persons in this State who have been refused access to their personal medical and other records. [43459/12]

Dental Services Provision

Caoimhghín Ó Caoláin

577. Deputy Caoimhghín Ó Caoláin asked the Minister for Health the public dental services available for children; the public dental services available to children in County Cavan; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [42715/12]

National Children's Hospital Location

Caoimhghín Ó Caoláin

631. Deputy Caoimhghín Ó Caoláin asked the Minister for Health the date on which a decision will be made on the location of the new National Children's Hospital; the process and criteria that is being used to decide on the location; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [42984/12]

Assisted Human Reproduction Issues

Caoimhghín Ó Caoláin

635. Deputy Caoimhghín Ó Caoláin asked the Minister for Health if his attention has been drawn to the increased costs to former cancer patients of in vitro fertilisation treatment; if he will investigate this anomaly and take measures to rectify same; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [43007/12]

HSE Funding

Caoimhghín Ó Caoláin

678. Deputy Caoimhghín Ó Caoláin asked the Minister for Health in view of the current Health Service Executive budget overrun and consequent cuts in essential services, his views on whether energy costs across the health sector, estimated by Sustainable Energy Authority of Ireland, at €80 million a year at least, should be reduced by up to 20% on an urgent basis; if his attention has been drawn to the fact that existing voluntary projects show the potential for such savings by implementing targeted and low-cost energy efficiency programmes; the measures he and the HSE are taking to ensure that such savings are made within the next two years instead of the cutbacks to essential services; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [43317/12]

General Medical Services Scheme Administration

Caoimhghín Ó Caoláin

683. Deputy Caoimhghín Ó Caoláin asked the Minister for Health if a nutritional supplement (details supplied) is still covered under the General Medical Services; if there are circumstances in which this supplement is still covered and if a person in Dublin 8 is eligible; if he will provide a complete list of drugs covered via PCRS currently and those which have been removed in the past 12 months; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [43330/12]

Medical Aids and Appliances Applications

Caoimhghín Ó Caoláin

688. Deputy Caoimhghín Ó Caoláin asked the Minister for Health if he will provide an update on the most recent changes to the stock of occupational therapy home care aids and appliances in the Health Service Executive Dublin North East area; if he will detail the procurement process which was followed in advance of the most recent changes of suppliers; if he is satisfied that this process compiled with all the necessary protocols; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [43356/12]

Health Services Staff Issues

Caoimhghín Ó Caoláin

691. Deputy Caoimhghín Ó Caoláin asked the Minister for Health if his attention has been drawn to the difficulty that community midwives, excluding home birth midwives, have in accessing professional indemnity insurance; the way he intends to address this matter in view of the Programme for Government commitment to primary and community care; if he has considered the potential role of the State Claims Agency clinical indemnity scheme in this regard; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [43460/12]

Hospital Facilities

Caoimhghín Ó Caoláin

692. Deputy Caoimhghín Ó Caoláin asked the Minister for Health if his attention has been drawn to the proposals to outsource laundry services at Our Lady of Lourdes Hospital, Drogheda, County Louth; the stage this proposed change is at and the process of pre-change analysis; if he will investigate this situation with a view to maintaining this service within the public health service and retaining a dedicated and experienced workforce in-situ at Our Lady of Lourdes; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [43462/12]

Prescription Charges

Caoimhghín Ó Caoláin

696. Deputy Caoimhghín Ó Caoláin asked the Minister for Health the expected cost savings from the introduction of the Health (Pricing and Supply of Medical Goods) Bill 2012 and the negotiations with regards the cost of on-patent drugs; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [43485/12]

Roads Maintenance

Caoimhghín Ó Caoláin

697. Deputy Caoimhghín Ó Caoláin asked the Minister for Transport; Tourism and Sport his plans for the reinstatement of the local improvement scheme; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [42713/12]

Tax Reliefs Availability

Caoimhghín Ó Caoláin

76. Deputy Caoimhghín Ó Caoláin asked the Minister for Finance if there are tax reliefs available to private nursing homes; if he will identify said reliefs; the cost of such reliefs in 2011 and to date in 2012; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [42416/12]

Departmental Expenditure

Caoimhghín Ó Caoláin

226. Deputy Caoimhghín Ó Caoláin asked the Minister for Health further to Parliamentary Question No. 225 of 19 September 2012, if he will provide a detailed breakdown, with itemised costs, of the services obtained from Goodbody Stockbrokers for the €333,413 paid by his Department to the company in 2011 and 2012 [42417/12]

Hospital Accommodation Provision

Caoimhghín Ó Caoláin

236. Deputy Caoimhghín Ó Caoláin asked the Minister for Health further to Parliamentary Question Number 760 of 17 July 2012, when a reply will issue from the Health Service Executive; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [42451/12]

Hospital Staff Issues

Caoimhghín Ó Caoláin

237. Deputy Caoimhghín Ó Caoláin asked the Minister for Health further to Parliamentary Question No 358 of 18 July 2012 when a reply will issue from the Health Service Executive; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [42452/12]

Nursing Home Services

Caoimhghín Ó Caoláin

238. Deputy Caoimhghín Ó Caoláin asked the Minister for Health further to Parliamentary Question No 446 of 25 September 2012 when a reply will issue from the Health Service Executive; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [42453/12]

Health Services Expenditure

Caoimhghín Ó Caoláin

239. Deputy Caoimhghín Ó Caoláin asked the Minister for Health further to Parliamentary Question No 477 of 25 September 2012 when a reply will issue from the Health Service Executive [42454/12]

Health Services Expenditure

Caoimhghín Ó Caoláin

240. Deputy Caoimhghín Ó Caoláin asked the Minister for Health further to Parliamentary Question No 478 of 25 September 2012 when a reply will issue from the Health Service Executive [42455/12]

HSE Staff Responsibilities

Caoimhghín Ó Caoláin

241. Deputy Caoimhghín Ó Caoláin asked the Minister for Health further to Parliamentary Question No 479 of 25 September 2012 when a reply will issue from the Health Service Executive; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [42456/12]

Health Services Expenditure

Caoimhghín Ó Caoláin

242. Deputy Caoimhghín Ó Caoláin asked the Minister for Health further to Parliamentary Question No 480 of 25 September 2012 when a reply will issue from the Health Service Executive; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [42457/12]

Maoiniú d’Fhoras na Gaeilge

Caoimhghín Ó Caoláin

35. D'fhiafraigh Deputy Caoimhghín Ó Caoláin den Aire Ealaíon; Oidhreachta agus Gaeltachta an féidir leis a dheimhniú go dtabharfar an maoiniú céanna d’Fhoras na Gaeilge in 2013 agus a tugadh dó in 2012. [41974/12]

HSE Reports

Caoimhghín Ó Caoláin

191. Deputy Caoimhghín Ó Caoláin asked the Minister for Health if he will detail the extent and scope of the current review of addiction services in the Health Service Executive; the cost and agents undertaking same; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [42086/12]

Hospital Bed Data

Caoimhghín Ó Caoláin

203. Deputy Caoimhghín Ó Caoláin asked the Minister for Health the changes to staffing levels at the emergency Department of Mid-West Regional Hospital during the past six months; the reason a person (details supplied) in County Clare has to spend more than fifteen hours on a trolley there on 17 September 2012; the trolley count at that hospital on that day; the average trolley count; the average waiting time and the longest waiting time; the efforts he is making to address this situation; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [42173/12]

Carer's Allowance Applications

Caoimhghín Ó Caoláin

280. Deputy Caoimhghín Ó Caoláin asked the Minister for Social Protection when a decision will issue on a carer's allowance application in respect of a person (details supplied) in County Monaghan; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [41440/12]

Invalidity Pension Eligibility

Caoimhghín Ó Caoláin

283. Deputy Caoimhghín Ó Caoláin asked the Minister for Social Protection the number of persons in receipt of invalidity pension at the present time; the number of persons in receipt of invalidity pension since January 2011 who have been notified that they are no longer eligible for the payment on foot of a review by his Department's medical assessor. [41485/12]

Water Fluoridation

Caoimhghín Ó Caoláin

507. Deputy Caoimhghín Ó Caoláin asked the Minister for Health the amount of hydroflosilicic acid added to the public water supply by local authorities; if he will provide a breakdown by local authority, supplied and cost for the period 2009 to 2012 inclusive; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [41685/12]

Primary Care Centres Provision

Caoimhghín Ó Caoláin

526. Deputy Caoimhghín Ó Caoláin asked the Minister for Health if he will provide an update on the proposed primary care centre for Carrickmacross, County Monaghan; the target timeframe for completion and operation; the discussions and agreements with local general practitioners to date; the site identified; the services to be provided at the site; and any other matter considered relevant [41441/12]

Hospital Services

Caoimhghín Ó Caoláin

539. Deputy Caoimhghín Ó Caoláin asked the Minister for Health if he will provide paediatric congenital cardiac services here; the number of consultant specialists expert in this area working here; the hours worked and the facilities available to them; if he considers these resources adequate; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [41625/12]

Cross-Border Co-operation

Caoimhghín Ó Caoláin

540. Deputy Caoimhghín Ó Caoláin asked the Minister for Health if his attention has been drawn to comments by the Minister for Health in the Northern Assembly (details supplied); if he will commit to working with his Northern Assembly counterpart to explore fully an all-island solution for the provision of paediatric congenital cardiac services and that service will prioritise the needs of children; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [41626/12]

Public Procurement Tenders

Caoimhghín Ó Caoláin

541. Deputy Caoimhghín Ó Caoláin asked the Minister for Health if he will provide an update on the most recent changes to the stock of nappies in the Health Service Executive Dublin North East and HSE Dublin Mid Leinster Regions; if he will detail the procurement process including tests of quality which were followed in advance of the most recent changes of suppliers; if his attention has been drawn to the fact that many parents have reported children experiencing extreme discomfort (details supplied) because of the new nappies; if he will commit to immediately investigating this matter; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [41683/12]

Dental Services Provision

Caoimhghín Ó Caoláin

578. Deputy Caoimhghín Ó Caoláin asked the Minister for Health when a person (details supplied) in County Monaghan will receive a dental appointment. [42001/12]

HSE Staff Remuneration

Caoimhghín Ó Caoláin

579. Deputy Caoimhghín Ó Caoláin asked the Minister for Health the annual health payroll bill for the years 2007 to 2012 inclusive; if he will provide a breakdown of same by year, numbers employed and staff category, that is management, administration, ICT, general support staff, medical, nursing, dental, allied health and social care professionals, science, laboratory, technical and maintenance, catering and housekeeping and other [42011/12]

Medical Card Applications

Caoimhghín Ó Caoláin

580. Deputy Caoimhghín Ó Caoláin asked the Minister for Health when a decision will be made on the medical card application in respect of a person (details supplied) in County Tipperary. [42012/12]

Hospital Bed Data

Caoimhghín Ó Caoláin

581. Deputy Caoimhghín Ó Caoláin asked the Minister for Health if his attention has been drawn to the shortage of consultant audiologists cover and audiology staff at Crumlin Children's Hospital, Dublin; the average waiting time at Crumlin Children's Hospital for an audiology appointment; the longest and shortest time for same for the months August 2011 and August 2012; the efforts he is making to address same; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [42013/12]

Long-Term Illness Scheme Budget

Caoimhghín Ó Caoláin

584. Deputy Caoimhghín Ó Caoláin asked the Minister for Health if he will verify that officials were informed that only life saving resources should be allocated until years end as part of the long term illness scheme; that items such as AFOs and communication apps will no longer be funded in 2013; the number of AFOs funded in the past two months; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [42018/12]

Cancer Screening Programmes

Caoimhghín Ó Caoláin

2. Deputy Caoimhghín Ó Caoláin asked the Minister for Health the progress he has made towards the planned roll-out of a bowel cancer screening programme before the end of 2012; if he will ensure that it is targeted at the 55 to 74 years age group; if he will confirm full-funding for this prevention programme that will not only save the State significant costs in treatment of advanced bowel cancer but will save an untold number of lives; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [41081/12]

Hospital Services

Caoimhghín Ó Caoláin

9. Deputy Caoimhghín Ó Caoláin asked the Minister for Health if he will set out the reduced services to patients and the savings, if any, as a result of the reduction in planned theatre activity at Cavan General Hospital; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [40982/12]

Hospitals Building Programme

Caoimhghín Ó Caoláin

57. Deputy Caoimhghín Ó Caoláin asked the Minister for Health if he will provide details of the planned refurbishment works at St. Mary's Hospital, Castleblayney, County Monaghan; if restoration of respite services is an integral part of the promised major capital investment programme at the hospital; when the refurbishment and capital investment works will get underway; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [40981/12]

Nursing Homes Support Scheme Applications

Caoimhghín Ó Caoláin

187. Deputy Caoimhghín Ó Caoláin asked the Minister for Health when a fair deal application will be processed in respect of a person (details supplied) in County Mayo; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [41141/12]