Parliamentary questions

Health Service Executive

Brendan Griffin

251. Deputy Brendan Griffin asked the Minister for Health what will happen with current HSE buildings in County Kerry (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [22169/24]

Medical Qualifications

Mark Ward

252. Deputy Mark Ward asked the Minister for Health to explain the rationale behind CORU’s recommendation that observers sit in on psychotherapy sessions; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [22171/24]

General Practitioner Services

Michael Fitzmaurice

253. Deputy Michael Fitzmaurice asked the Minister for Health if a locum GP will be put in place at a health centre (details supplied) to cover a departure; what plans are in place for this; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [22175/24]

Health Services

John McGuinness

254. Deputy John McGuinness asked the Minister for Health if section 39 funding will be put in place immediately for a project (details supplied) as the project is under considerable financial pressure.; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [22180/24]

Mental Health Services

Mairéad Farrell

255. Deputy Mairéad Farrell asked the Minister for Health if there are any plans to close the Galway training centre in Merlin Park hospital or to reduce its hours or functions; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [22186/24]

Tobacco Control Measures

John Paul Phelan

256. Deputy John Paul Phelan asked the Minister for Health if the detailed results of the public consultation on Further Regulation of Tobacco and Nicotine Inhaling Products, which his Department conducted from 25 November 2023 to 5 December 2024, will be published in full before proposals for new legislation on raising the legal age for smoking are brought to the Government. [22192/24]

Tobacco Control Measures

John Paul Phelan

257. Deputy John Paul Phelan asked the Minister for Health if a detailed regulatory impact assessment will be prepared and published at the same time as the general scheme of proposed new legislation on raising the legal age for smoking. [22193/24]

Tobacco Control Measures

John Paul Phelan

258. Deputy John Paul Phelan asked the Minister for Health if he has consulted with retailers on the workability of raising the legal age for smoking, particularly given that differing age limits could apply to the purchase of alcohol and tobacco products; and if this matter will be assessed thoroughly in the regulatory impact assessment on the legislation proposing a change in the age for smoking. [22194/24]

Tobacco Control Measures

John Paul Phelan

259. Deputy John Paul Phelan asked the Minister for Health if the current legislative provision for test-purchasing of tobacco by persons under the current age limit would be extended to allow 18-, 19- and 20-year-olds to be used for test-purchasing if the legal age for smoking is raised to 21. [22195/24]

Tobacco Control Measures

John Paul Phelan

260. Deputy John Paul Phelan asked the Minister for Health if he has consulted with the Irish Human Rights and Equality Commission on the civil liberty and equality implications of his proposal to remove the right to smoke, which currently extends to all adults from over 190,000 Irish adults on the basis of age. [22196/24]

Healthcare Policy

John Paul Phelan

261. Deputy John Paul Phelan asked the Minister for Health the plans he has to address alcohol consumption by children, noting that the Irish Health Behaviour in School-Aged Children (HBSC) Study 2022 found 31% of children have consumed alcohol, compared with 9% of children who have smoked cigarettes. [22197/24]

Medical Cards

Louise O'Reilly

262. Deputy Louise O'Reilly asked the Minister for Health if he will update the medical card to cover weekly lymph drainage massage for persons with lymphoedema; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [22202/24]

Health Services

Brendan Smith

263. Deputy Brendan Smith asked the Minister for Health if he will consider a request for improved services (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [22203/24]

Public Sector Pensions

Michael Healy-Rae

264. Deputy Michael Healy-Rae asked the Minister for Health his views on a matter in relation to the annual pension allowance declaration form (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [22207/24]

Health Services

John Paul Phelan

265. Deputy John Paul Phelan asked the Minister for Health the reason a service (details supplied) that was suspended during the Covid lockdown has not recommenced; if there is a timeline for reopening the service; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [22239/24]

Medical Cards

Carol Nolan

266. Deputy Carol Nolan asked the Minister for Health the estimated cost to the health service of providing medical cards, including GP visit cards, to international protection applicants from 2019 to date; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [22258/24]

Health Services

Francis Noel Duffy

267. Deputy Francis Noel Duffy asked the Minister for Health if funding will be provided to continue the pathfinder programme in Tallaght and other areas; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [22259/24]

Hospital Equipment

Denis Naughten

268. Deputy Denis Naughten asked the Minister for Health when the existing DEXA scanner at Portiuncula University Hospital will be replaced; the number of patients who have had their appointment transferred to another hospital; the interim measures in place and the expected timelines; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [22260/24]

Mental Health Services

Denis Naughten

269. Deputy Denis Naughten asked the Minister for Health when the vacancy for a community nursing position for psychiatry of later life, based at St. Brendan's CNU, Ballinasloe, will be filled; if the post has been advertised; the period of time this position is vacant; the number of patients on the caseload of the previous nurse prior to the post being vacated; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [22261/24]

Ambulance Service

Denis Naughten

270. Deputy Denis Naughten asked the Minister for Health the plans to either relocate or refurbish the existing ambulance station in Roscommon town; if he is aware of the poor structural condition of the existing station; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [22262/24]

Primary Care Services

Mattie McGrath

271. Deputy Mattie McGrath asked the Minister for Health the length of time the ophthalmologist post is vacant in south Tipperary primary care services; the actions that have been taken to address this vacancy; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [22270/24]

Health Services Waiting Lists

Mattie McGrath

272. Deputy Mattie McGrath asked the Minister for Health the reason no alternative arrangements have been made for the 1,500 or so children waiting on the ophthalmology service, some of whom have been waiting for some time now; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [22271/24]

Medicinal Products

Éamon Ó Cuív

273. Deputy Éamon Ó Cuív asked the Minister for Health whether it is intended to approve a drug (details supplied) for reimbursement by the HSE, given the value of this drug in treating a rare disease is recognised; the stage in the process the consideration of this drug is at; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [22277/24]

Hospital Staff

Paul Donnelly

274. Deputy Paul Donnelly asked the Minister for Health if there is a CNS in dementia in each acute hospital in Ireland; and if he will outline the situation in each hospital, in tabular form. [22282/24]

Dental Services

Pat Buckley

275. Deputy Pat Buckley asked the Minister for Health the reason a person (details supplied) will have to wait for more than two years to get broken dentures replaced; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [22284/24]

Medical Cards

Bernard Durkan

276. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Health when a medical card might be provided in the case of a person (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [22304/24]

Health Services

Bernard Durkan

277. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Health when a social worker might be appointed to address the needs of a person (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [22309/24]

Public Sector Pay

Marc Ó Cathasaigh

278. Deputy Marc Ó Cathasaigh asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science further to Parliamentary Question No. 1695 of 9 April 2024, to report on the progress made with respect to outstanding backdated payments under the section 39 WRC pay agreement; when he expects that any payments still outstanding will be made; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [22246/24]

Departmental Funding

Carol Nolan

279. Deputy Carol Nolan asked the Minister for Rural and Community Development if she will prioritise an application by a school (details supplied) under the local enhancement programme 2024; when the funding will be announced; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [22273/24]

Departmental Funding

Brendan Smith

280. Deputy Brendan Smith asked the Minister for Rural and Community Development if she will introduce specific funding provision in her Department's Estimates for the local improvement scheme in view of the long delays in having such roads brought up to a proper standard for local residents; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [22080/24]

Departmental Strategies

Neasa Hourigan

1. Deputy Neasa Hourigan asked the Taoiseach if he will provide an update on the newly established Dublin city task force, and details of the membership of the task force. [21985/24]

Departmental Strategies

Neasa Hourigan

2. Deputy Neasa Hourigan asked the Taoiseach if he will ensure representatives from the LGBTQI+ community are a part of the newly established Dublin city task force. [21986/24]

Middle East

Paul Murphy

3. Deputy Paul Murphy asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs if he is aware of the reported torture and death of a Palestinian doctor (details supplied) in an Israeli prison, given that with their death, Gaza’s Ministry of Health reports the total number of medical personnel who have been killed since Israel’s war on Gaza broke out in October 2023 has reached 496; and if the Government will publicly condemn these actions and impose sanctions on Israel. [21962/24]

Passport Services

Richard Boyd Barrett

4. Deputy Richard Boyd Barrett asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs if he will ensure passport applicants are informed immediately if there is a problem with their application (details supplied) to allow applicants to rectify the problem earlier; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [21983/24]

Passport Services

Matt Carthy

5. Deputy Matt Carthy asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs if he is aware of the passport service contacting witnesses to passport applications on weekends when the persons commonly used as witnesses, such as GPs, may be inaccessible; his proposals to ensure this does not unnecessarily result in new witness forms being sought, thereby unduly delaying the processing of applications; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [22053/24]

Passport Services

Matt Carthy

6. Deputy Matt Carthy asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs if he is aware of the new Garda roster resulting in members who witness passport applications being unavailable over multiple subsequent days and that this is leading to applicants being obliged to submit new witness forms and unduly delaying the processing of applications; his proposals to address the matter; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [22054/24]

Election Monitoring Missions

Matt Carthy

7. Deputy Matt Carthy asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs further to Parliamentary Question No. 52 of 14 February 2024, if Irish election monitors observed the 2023 Turkish general election; the related findings; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [22059/24]

Foreign Birth Registration

Pa Daly

8. Deputy Pa Daly asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs if an application to the foreign births register (details supplied) will be expedited. [22094/24]

Passport Services

James Lawless

9. Deputy James Lawless asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs if an issue in relation to two passport applications (details supplied) will be examined; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [22099/24]

Passport Services

James Lawless

10. Deputy James Lawless asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs if he will expedite a passport application (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [22120/24]

Climate Change Policy

Paul Murphy

11. Deputy Paul Murphy asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications if he will take legislative action to close the policy gap by prohibiting SRM geoengineering, providing penalties and enforcement for violations; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [21916/24]

Recycling Policy

Brendan Griffin

12. Deputy Brendan Griffin asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications the provisions in place for people with disabilities and elderly people to access the deposit return scheme (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [22135/24]

Defence Forces

Matt Carthy

13. Deputy Matt Carthy asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Defence his proposals to support veterans' associations; the progress made implementing related recommendations of the Commission on the Defence Forces; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [22055/24]

Commemorative Medals

Matt Carthy

14. Deputy Matt Carthy asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Defence if he will report on the work of the working group established to review the process of awarding medals; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [22056/24]

Defence Forces

Matt Carthy

15. Deputy Matt Carthy asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Defence the establishment figure of the Defence Forces; the number of personnel required under level of ambition 2 of the Commission on the Defence Forces; the total current number of personnel in the Permanent Defence Force; his targets for net recruitment; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [22057/24]

Defence Forces

Matt Carthy

16. Deputy Matt Carthy asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Defence his plans to meet the capital allocation required to meet level of ambition 2 as outlined by the Commission on the Defence Forces; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [22058/24]

Defence Forces

Aindrias Moynihan

17. Deputy Aindrias Moynihan asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Defence the up-to-date position on risk assessments carried out on the safety impact to Irish peacekeeping troops serving in Lebanon on their monitoring of the blue line between Lebanon and Israel; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [22106/24]

Emergency Planning

Aindrias Moynihan

18. Deputy Aindrias Moynihan asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Defence the measures being taken to ensure the protection of submarine communication cables in Irish waters; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [22107/24]

Electric Vehicles

Aindrias Moynihan

19. Deputy Aindrias Moynihan asked the Minister for Transport his views on a survey (details supplied) and the recently announced figure of a decrease in new car registrations of 16% compared with March 2023; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [22102/24]

Road Safety

Aindrias Moynihan

20. Deputy Aindrias Moynihan asked the Minister for Transport the measures being taken to deal with wild deer on public roads and the increased prevalence of traffic incidents due to their increased numbers; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [22103/24]