Parliamentary questions

Greyhound Industry

Neasa Hourigan

428. Deputy Neasa Hourigan asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the cost to Greyhound Racing Ireland of sponsoring the Greyhound Derby quarter-finals, semi-finals and final on a television channel (details supplied) on 19 and 26 August and 2 September 2023, respectively; the viewership figures for each respective broadcast; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [46325/23]

Childcare Services

Neasa Hourigan

470. Deputy Neasa Hourigan asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth his plans to professionalise the early childhood home visiting sector; his plans to ensure ring-fenced budgetary supports for the same; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [46176/23]

Abortion Services

Neasa Hourigan

350. Deputy Neasa Hourigan asked the Minister for Health if he will provide an annual breakdown of the number of reimbursements made via the primary care reimbursement scheme for first consultations for abortion care from 2019 to 2022, inclusive. [45928/23]

Abortion Services

Neasa Hourigan

351. Deputy Neasa Hourigan asked the Minister for Health if he will provide an annual breakdown of the number of reimbursements made via the primary care reimbursement scheme for second consultations for abortion care from 2019 to 2022, inclusive. [45929/23]

Abortion Services

Neasa Hourigan

352. Deputy Neasa Hourigan asked the Minister for Health if he will provide an annual breakdown of the number of reimbursements made via the primary care reimbursement scheme for third consultations for abortion care from 2019 to 2022, inclusive. [45930/23]

Abortion Services

Neasa Hourigan

353. Deputy Neasa Hourigan asked the Minister for Health if he will provide an annual breakdown of the number of abortions provided in hospital-based abortion services under Section 12 of the Health (Regulation of Termination of Pregnancy) Act 2018 from 2019 to 2022, inclusive. [45931/23]

Abortion Services

Neasa Hourigan

354. Deputy Neasa Hourigan asked the Minister for Health if he will provide an annual breakdown of the number of abortions provided by the community-based healthcare providers such as GPs, family planning clinics, women’s health clinics, student health services under Section 12 of the Health (Regulation of Termination of Pregnancy) Act 2018 from 2019 to 2022, inclusive. [45932/23]

Departmental Strategies

Neasa Hourigan

65. Deputy Neasa Hourigan asked the Taoiseach to outline the work completed on implementation of the Well-being Framework Policy post-Budget 2023 and prior to Budget 2024; the data sets used in that process; the outcomes of those processes, in tabular form [45485/23]

Equality Issues

Neasa Hourigan

120. Deputy Neasa Hourigan asked the Minister for Public Expenditure, National Development Plan Delivery and Reform to outline the work completed on gender equality budgeting by his Department post-Budget 2023 and prior to Budget 2024; the data sets used in that process; the outcomes of those processes, in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [45464/23]

Tax Code

Neasa Hourigan

160. Deputy Neasa Hourigan asked the Minister for Finance for the Revenue Commissioners' plans to reassess their planned revised tax treatment of general medical services income of general practitioners which is to be effective from 1 January 2024; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [44857/23]

Income Inequality

Neasa Hourigan

208. Deputy Neasa Hourigan asked the Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment further to Parliamentary Question No.41 of 15 February 2023, if his attention has been drawn to a report (details supplied) which noted that the Commission on Taxation and Welfare analysis of universal basic income was based on an insufficient number of studies and recommended that further examination of the proposal be undertaken; his plans for further examination of universal basic income, and to conduct a pilot in the lifetime of the Government; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [45243/23]

State Pensions

Neasa Hourigan

349. Deputy Neasa Hourigan asked the Minister for Social Protection if she plans to publish the report on the benchmarked/indexed rate of State pension payments which was introduced as an input to the Budget process this year; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [44699/23]

Departmental Schemes

Neasa Hourigan

645. Deputy Neasa Hourigan asked the Minister for Rural and Community Development the grants and funding streams available to assist community centres with the maintenance and upgrade of their facilities; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [44701/23]

Transport Policy

Neasa Hourigan

76. Deputy Neasa Hourigan asked the Minister for Transport if he will outline the work undertaken by his Department to introduce mandatory accessibility requirements, similar to road safety standards for motorists, rather than design guidelines for persons using walking infrastructure; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [44477/23]

Transport Policy

Neasa Hourigan

77. Deputy Neasa Hourigan asked the Minister for Transport if he will outline the members and participation of the National Guidelines and Standards Group in his Department; the work completed to date; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [44478/23]

Transport Policy

Neasa Hourigan

78. Deputy Neasa Hourigan asked the Minister for Transport if he will outline representation and participation by disability advocates or persons with disabilities in the work of the National Guidelines and Standards Group currently operating in his Department; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [44479/23]

Transport Policy

Neasa Hourigan

79. Deputy Neasa Hourigan asked the Minister for Transport if he will outline work undertaken by his Department and by the National Guidelines and Standards Group to remove shared space guidelines from national documents, standards and circulars including the Design Manual for Urban Roads and Streets; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [44480/23]

Tax Code

Neasa Hourigan

92. Deputy Neasa Hourigan asked the Minister for Finance if he will outline any approaches or negotiations engaged in by Ireland with other EU Member States to waive the exemption on aviation fuel tax for intra-community flights; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [44476/23]

Climate Change Policy

Neasa Hourigan

54. Deputy Neasa Hourigan asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications if he will outline which public body has responsibility for ensuring compliance with section 15.1 of the Climate Action and Low Carbon Development (Amendment) Act 2021 on film productions which are in receipt of funding under Section 481 of the Taxes Consolidation Act (TCA) 1997. [44259/23]

Overseas Development Aid

Neasa Hourigan

8. Deputy Neasa Hourigan asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs the progress made to date in achieving the target for overseas development assistance of 0.7% of gross national income by 2030; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [43722/23]

Defibrillators Provision

Neasa Hourigan

192. Deputy Neasa Hourigan asked the Minister for Education her plans to provide funding to ensure that defibrillators are in place in all special schools; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [43662/23]

School Funding

Neasa Hourigan

195. Deputy Neasa Hourigan asked the Minister for Education the funding and grants available to schools for ICT infrastructure, such as desktop PCs, projectors and printers; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [43687/23]

Homeless Persons Supports

Neasa Hourigan

273. Deputy Neasa Hourigan asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the research his Department has undertaken to examine the experiences and impact of in-work homelessness; if he will outline the supports in place for people who are working whilst experiencing homelessness; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [43696/23]

Healthcare Policy

Neasa Hourigan

469. Deputy Neasa Hourigan asked the Minister for Health his plans to introduce mandatory fortification of foodstuffs with folic acid following his Department's Folic Acid Policy Committee report on the matter; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [43498/23]

Health Services

Neasa Hourigan

489. Deputy Neasa Hourigan asked the Minister for Health further to Parliamentary Question No. 465 of 27 September 2022, if he will outline which five recommendations are still in progress as part of the full implementation of the Chief Medical Officer’s report on The Use of Uro-Gynaecological Mesh in Surgical Procedures; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [43586/23]

Defibrillators Provision

Neasa Hourigan

512. Deputy Neasa Hourigan asked the Minister for Health his plans to provide funding to ensure that defibrillators are available in public places, such as community centres and schools; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [43663/23]

Pharmacy Services

Neasa Hourigan

515. Deputy Neasa Hourigan asked the Minister for Health his plans to ensure hospital pharmacy technicians are subject to a statutory professional regulatory regime and that their qualification is standardised across the various providers of pharmacy technician education and training; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [43709/23]

Local Authorities

Neasa Hourigan

266. Deputy Neasa Hourigan asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the name of the external supplier procured by his Department in conjunction with the Public Appointments Service to assist in the search of a permanent replacement for the role of chief executive of Dublin City Council; the cost of the same; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [43232/23]

Recycling Policy

Neasa Hourigan

58. Deputy Neasa Hourigan asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications if he has ensured that the infrastructure associated with the deposit return scheme will be universally accessible, in particular for wheelchair users; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [43020/23]

Active Travel

Neasa Hourigan

68. Deputy Neasa Hourigan asked the Minister for Transport if he is aware that local authorities are prevented from using national active travel funding for the repair and upgrade of existing walking routes, including where there are existing footpaths and walkways; if he is aware that this is having a negative impact on investment in walking infrastructure vis-à-vis other active travel infrastructure by local authorities; his plans to review this policy; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [42874/23]

Legal Aid

Neasa Hourigan

167. Deputy Neasa Hourigan asked the Minister for Justice her plans to raise criminal legal aid fees paid to solicitors to pre-2008 levels; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [42966/23]

Data Protection

Neasa Hourigan

226. Deputy Neasa Hourigan asked the Minister for Health if any investigations will be considered in light of findings from the Data Protection Commissioner that officials in his Department kept dossiers in a manner that was unlawful and unnecessary, containing sensitive information on families of children with autism who had previously engaged in litigation with the HSE; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [43122/23]

Child Poverty

Neasa Hourigan

137. Deputy Neasa Hourigan asked the Taoiseach if he will outline how the new child poverty unit within his Department will address the data deficit in terms of regional mapping of child poverty; what means the unit will use to assess where there are higher concentrations of child poverty; and what ethnic identifiers the unit will use to assess which populations are most at risk and to ensure that culturally appropriate supports are in place. [42689/23]

School Staff

Neasa Hourigan

302. Deputy Neasa Hourigan asked the Minister for Education her plans to re-introduce additional payments for teachers who gain extra qualifications, such as a special education qualification or a doctorate degree; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [42317/23]

School Funding

Neasa Hourigan

325. Deputy Neasa Hourigan asked the Minister for Education the schemes and funding streams available to assist schools green their external spaces, with, for example, trees and landscaped green areas; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [42650/23]

Greyhound Industry

Neasa Hourigan

476. Deputy Neasa Hourigan asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the number of the 12,483 non-coursing greyhounds born and registered with the Irish Coursing Club between January 1st 2021 and December 31st 2021 that were registered to owners normally resident in the Republic of Ireland only, taking onboard that under the terms of the Greyhound Industry Act 1958, the Irish Coursing Club is obliged to furnish this information to Rásaíocht Con Éireann; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [42270/23]

Greyhound Industry

Neasa Hourigan

477. Deputy Neasa Hourigan asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the number of the 11,698 non-coursing greyhounds born and registered with the Irish Coursing Club between January 1st 2022 and December 31st 2022 that were registered to owners normally resident in the Republic of Ireland only, taking on board that under the terms of the Greyhound Industry Act 1958, the Irish Coursing Club is obliged to furnish this information to Rasaíocht Con Eireann; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [42271/23]

Departmental Priorities

Neasa Hourigan

540. Deputy Neasa Hourigan asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth the Government’s plans to provide for regulation of the translation and interpreting sectors and establish industry standards, to ensure interpreters who work in hospitals, in international protection, in Garda stations, in the courts, and so on, have appropriate training in how to interpret in those particular circumstances; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [42464/23]

Departmental Funding

Neasa Hourigan

603. Deputy Neasa Hourigan asked the Minister for Health if he will provide an update on the spending of the €110,000 which was allocated in the budget 2023 for the development of a diabetes register; whether unused funding will carry over to 2024; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [42295/23]

Departmental Funding

Neasa Hourigan

604. Deputy Neasa Hourigan asked the Minister for Health if he will provide an update on the recruitment of a programme manager to assist in the development of a diabetes register; whether this process has stalled as a result of a HSE recruitment embargo; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [42296/23]

Departmental Funding

Neasa Hourigan

605. Deputy Neasa Hourigan asked the Minister for Health if he will provide an update on the spending of funding allocated in budget 2023 for the development of a national paediatric diabetes audit, in conjunction with NOCA, following the publication of a detailed feasibility study; if he will provide an update on the recruitment of a programme manager and data analytics staff who were required to commence audit development; whether unused funding will carry over to 2024; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [42297/23]

Departmental Data

Neasa Hourigan

655. Deputy Neasa Hourigan asked the Minister for Health further to Parliamentary Question No. 664 of 20 June 2023, the number of complaints submitted for review under the Dignity at Work policy by HSE employees and subsequently screened out by HSE employee relations personnel as not meeting the criteria for this process, in each CHO and hospital group area in 2022 and to date in 2023, in tabular form; the percentage of cases deemed as such; and the duration in each case that the employee waited for this verdict, from the time they submitted the complaint. [42573/23]

Health Service Executive

Neasa Hourigan

706. Deputy Neasa Hourigan asked the Minister for Health further to Parliamentary Question No. 1045 of 20 September 2023, the specific requirements for the advertising of local recruitment competitions, as opposed to national panel recruitment competitions, for HSE staff grade and senior grade psychology posts, such that they are compliant with the Commission for Public Service Appointments and the HSE's own recruitment protocols; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [42846/23]

Health Service Executive

Neasa Hourigan

707. Deputy Neasa Hourigan asked the Minister for Health further to Parliamentary Question No. 1045 of 20 September 2023, the difference between internal and external appointments in respect of HSE psychology recruitment; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [42847/23]

Greyhound Industry

Neasa Hourigan

239. Deputy Neasa Hourigan asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine his views on the significance of greyhound owners listed as 'GRI-SALES' for dozens of Irish greyhounds on a website (details supplied); how such greyhounds are recorded on the Rásaíocht Con Éireann traceability system; the current location of a particular greyhound; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [42042/23]

Greyhound Industry

Neasa Hourigan

240. Deputy Neasa Hourigan asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the circumstances of the export of an Irish greyhound (details supplied) to China and his current status on the Rásaíocht Con Éireann traceability system; if he is aware that the greyhound set a new track record at Lifford stadium on 4 June 2023 but did not finish (DNF) his last recorded race at Dundalk stadium on 15 July 2023, suggesting serious injury; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [42059/23]

Greyhound Industry

Neasa Hourigan

241. Deputy Neasa Hourigan asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the number of greyhounds yearly from 1 January 2021 to 30 June 2023 who were traced on the Rásaíocht Con Éireann traceability system (RCÉTS); to provide a yearly breakdown, in tabular form, of the number of greyhounds on RCÉTS who normally reside at registered kennels in Northern Ireland or elsewhere, outside Greyhound Racing Ireland's jurisdiction; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [42060/23]

Departmental Projects

Neasa Hourigan

37. Deputy Neasa Hourigan asked the Taoiseach for an update on the status of the project to develop a national model that will help support communication with communities where accommodation centres are opening. [41723/23]

Departmental Priorities

Neasa Hourigan

133. Deputy Neasa Hourigan asked the Minister for Health his plans for the development of a national diabetes register; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [41724/23]

Child Poverty

Neasa Hourigan

95. Deputy Neasa Hourigan asked the Taoiseach whether data is collected on rates of child poverty, particularly in areas of deprivation, as defined by Pobal, by his Department or any relevant bodies; the methods used; and the subsets under which this data is collected. [41134/23]