Parliamentary questions

International Protection

Paul Murphy

455. Deputy Paul Murphy asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth in relation to correspondence received by his office (details supplied), if he agrees that arrangements must be put in place to help these vulnerable people; if he will ensure that measures are put in place to house asylum-seekers from Palestine (West Bank and Gaza) in appropriate accommodation; and if a person can be accommodated in Blackrock House. [20488/24]

Disability Services

Seán Canney

456. Deputy Seán Canney asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth if he is aware of the lack of services available in the CDNT7 area in 2024 due to the shortage of staff and specialists; to provide a schedule of staff in place and the staff levels required to run the service property; when the full complement of staff will be in place; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [20499/24]

Asylum Seekers

Michael Ring

457. Deputy Michael Ring asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth the number of asylum seekers that are resident here, per county, on 1 January 2024, in tabular form. [20503/24]

Ukraine War

Michael Ring

458. Deputy Michael Ring asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth the number of Ukrainian refugees that are resident here, per county, on 1 January 2024, in tabular form. [20504/24]

International Protection

Marian Harkin

459. Deputy Marian Harkin asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth when a contract to accommodate international protection applicants (details supplied) was signed; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [20511/24]

Child and Family Agency

Thomas Pringle

460. Deputy Thomas Pringle asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth if he will direct that the CEO of Tusla accedes to a request for a meeting from a not-for-profit children's health advocacy group (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [20516/24]

Ukraine War

Éamon Ó Cuív

461. Deputy Éamon Ó Cuív asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth the average number of Ukrainian refugees provided with accommodation in each of the years from 2020 to 2023 and to date in 2024; the total cost of this accommodation in each year; the average rate been paid per person per night for full board accommodation and for self-catering accommodation; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [20517/24]

Disability Services

Michael McNamara

462. Deputy Michael McNamara asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth if he will expedite a residential service for a person (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [20592/24]

Freedom of Information

Peadar Tóibín

463. Deputy Peadar Tóibín asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth the reason why a freedom of information request (details supplied) has not yet received a decision; if he will detail when a decision will be made on the request; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [20600/24]

Departmental Data

Paul Donnelly

464. Deputy Paul Donnelly asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth the estimated full-year cost to increase the intake of graduate social workers to 400 throughout the graduate programme, in tabular form. [20652/24]

Child Detention Centres

Paul Donnelly

465. Deputy Paul Donnelly asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth the number of persons admitted to Oberstown detention centre in each month of 2023 and to date in 2024, in tabular form. [20653/24]

Childcare Services

Marian Harkin

466. Deputy Marian Harkin asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth for a list of closures of all childcare services including the name of the service, location and number of childcare places for the years 2022 and 2023, in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [20678/24]

Childcare Services

Marian Harkin

467. Deputy Marian Harkin asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth for a list of all new childcare services including the name of the service, location and number of childcare places for the years 2022 and 2023, in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [20679/24]

International Protection

Pa Daly

468. Deputy Pa Daly asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth for a breakdown, in tabular form, of the amount paid by IPAS to private security firms for the years 2020 to date in 2024; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [20681/24]

Departmental Budgets

Pádraig Mac Lochlainn

469. Deputy Pádraig Mac Lochlainn asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth if he will make available the total budgeted amount allocated to each CDNT area in County Donegal (details supplied) from 1 January 2023 to 31 December 2023; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [20685/24]

Departmental Budgets

Pádraig Mac Lochlainn

470. Deputy Pádraig Mac Lochlainn asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth if he will make available the total expenditure of the allocated budget spent for each children's disability network team, CDNT, area in County Donegal (details supplied) from 1 January to 31 December 2023; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [20686/24]

Disability Services

Pádraig Mac Lochlainn

471. Deputy Pádraig Mac Lochlainn asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth the current staff vacancy rates in each of the CDNT areas in Donegal; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [20687/24]

Disability Services

Duncan Smith

472. Deputy Duncan Smith asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth his plans to increase and expand respite services in Waterford and west Cork; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [20745/24]

Mother and Baby Homes

Marian Harkin

473. Deputy Marian Harkin asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth if he will clarify a matter in regard to the mother and baby institutions payment scheme (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [20756/24]

Departmental Expenditure

Carol Nolan

474. Deputy Carol Nolan asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth the amount of fees incurred for transporting beneficiaries of temporary protection to their accommodation centres from March 2022 to date; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [20784/24]

Legislative Measures

John Brady

475. Deputy John Brady asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth if, in relation to amendments to the Maternity Protection Act 2004 allowing for the postponement of maternity leave in the case of a cancer diagnosis, he still supports his public commitment to this policy; what actions he is taking to ensure this legislation passes through the relevant stages of the Oireachtas during the term of this Government; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [20897/24]

Direct Provision System

Jennifer Whitmore

476. Deputy Jennifer Whitmore asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth if he will extend the exemption for those people with status and-or leave to remain in direct provision centres who have been issued transfer letters to lone parents and their children, like has been done for those who are over the age of 65 or with significant medical or welfare needs; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [20923/24]

Rights of People with Disabilities

Thomas Pringle

477. Deputy Thomas Pringle asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth to report on the cost to ratify the Optional Protocol to the UNCRPD; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [20930/24]

Rights of People with Disabilities

Thomas Pringle

478. Deputy Thomas Pringle asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth to report on the cost to fully implement, resource and operate the UNCRPD; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [20931/24]

Departmental Strategies

Thomas Pringle

479. Deputy Thomas Pringle asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth to report on the cost to fully resource the new national disability inclusion strategy; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [20933/24]

Departmental Data

Thomas Pringle

480. Deputy Thomas Pringle asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth to report on the cost to maintain a junior ministry for disability; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [20934/24]

Home Care Packages

James Lawless

481. Deputy James Lawless asked the Minister for Health for an update on the home care package (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [20107/24]

Health Services

John Lahart

482. Deputy John Lahart asked the Minister for Health his views that audiology waiting lists for a first appointment and for a review appointment are too long; his further views that there is a significant postcode lottery involved; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [20109/24]

Health Services Staff

John Lahart

483. Deputy John Lahart asked the Minister for Health the current number of audiologist wholetime equivalents, WTEs, in post per 100,000 population in each community healthcare organisation or CHO area; his views that there is a wide variation of audiology staff between CHO areas; and if he accepts that this contributes to inequitable waiting lists between CHO areas. [20110/24]

Health Services

John Lahart

484. Deputy John Lahart asked the Minister for Health the current waiting period for children aged over two years attending audiology services to receive a review appointment, by CHO area; his views that in many areas this is well outside recommended guidelines; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [20111/24]

Health Services Staff

Martin Browne

485. Deputy Martin Browne asked the Minister for Health the staffing numbers for the Cashel minor injuries unit for the years 2020 to 2023, inclusive, and to date in 2024, broken down by profession; to confirm whether the recruitment ban is resulting in departing staff not being replaced; if all departing staff are being replaced; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [20113/24]

Health Services

Darren O'Rourke

486. Deputy Darren O'Rourke asked the Minister for Health the average waiting times for genetic testing services for rare diseases in Ireland; and the measures the HSE is taking to improve access and speed of results for patients in need of genetic testing services. [20153/24]

Care of the Elderly

Darren O'Rourke

487. Deputy Darren O'Rourke asked the Minister for Health if the HSE funds daycare centres within CHO 8 for older persons’ services that are opened on the weekends; and if so, the locations of same, in tabular form. [20154/24]

Departmental Programmes

Fergus O'Dowd

488. Deputy Fergus O'Dowd asked the Minister for Health the funding requirements of the seeking safety Ireland programme, a vital and very successful programme that supports women who have experienced trauma and addiction; if a funding request has been received and reviewed; when he expects to sign off the funding to allow the programme to continue to provide the services and expand the programme; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [20170/24]

Hospital Appointments Status

Brendan Griffin

489. Deputy Brendan Griffin asked the Minister for Health when a person (details supplied) in County Kerry should expect to be called for an appointment; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [20172/24]

Hospital Appointments Status

Pearse Doherty

490. Deputy Pearse Doherty asked the Minister for Health when a person in County Donegal (details supplied) can expect to receive a date for an operation; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [20176/24]

Departmental Funding

Denis Naughten

491. Deputy Denis Naughten asked the Minister for Health the plans he has, if any, to provide immediate funding to an organisation (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [20178/24]

Medical Cards

Bernard Durkan

492. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Health if and when a medical card will be renewed in the case of a person (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [20180/24]

Disability Services

Darren O'Rourke

493. Deputy Darren O'Rourke asked the Minister for Health if the HSE funds adult disabilities day care centres within CHO8 that are opened on the weekends; and if so, the location of same, in tabular form. [20181/24]

Departmental Funding

Darren O'Rourke

494. Deputy Darren O'Rourke asked the Minister for Health the amount of funding allocated to psycho-oncology services in 2022, 2023 and 2024, in tabular form. [20182/24]

Health Services Staff

Darren O'Rourke

495. Deputy Darren O'Rourke asked the Minister for Health the impact of the recruitment embargo on cardiology services; the number of positions that cannot be filled; and if services have been affected. [20183/24]

Health Services Staff

Brendan Griffin

496. Deputy Brendan Griffin asked the Minister for Health if the HSE will explain a reduction in travel expenses for a HSE home help worker (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [20187/24]

Health Services

James Lawless

497. Deputy James Lawless asked the Minister for Health to examine an issue (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [20189/24]

Medical Cards

Jennifer Murnane O'Connor

498. Deputy Jennifer Murnane O'Connor asked the Minister for Health the reason patients with medical cards are continuing to be charged for services (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [20192/24]

Health Services Waiting Lists

Carol Nolan

499. Deputy Carol Nolan asked the Minister for Health the total number of persons awaiting assessment nationally; the duration of the waiting time for speech and language therapists; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [20200/24]

Health Services Waiting Lists

Carol Nolan

500. Deputy Carol Nolan asked the Minister for Health the total number of persons awaiting assessment nationally; the duration of the waiting time for occupational therapists; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [20201/24]

Health Services Waiting Lists

Carol Nolan

501. Deputy Carol Nolan asked the Minister for Health the total number of persons awaiting assessment nationally; the duration of the waiting time for HSE contracted psychologists; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [20202/24]

Health Services Waiting Lists

Carol Nolan

502. Deputy Carol Nolan asked the Minister for Health the total number of persons awaiting assessment nationally; the duration of the waiting time for HSE contracted psychiatrists; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [20203/24]

Health Services Waiting Lists

Carol Nolan

503. Deputy Carol Nolan asked the Minister for Health the total number of persons awaiting assessment nationally; the duration of the waiting time for HSE contracted social workers; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [20204/24]

Health Services Staff

Carol Nolan

504. Deputy Carol Nolan asked the Minister for Health the total number of vacancies within the HSE for speech & language therapists, occupational therapists, psychologists, psychiatrists, and social workers; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [20205/24]