Ceisteanna Parlaiminte

Medical Research and Training

Colm Burke

584. Deputy Colm Burke asked the Minister for Health if greater research will be undertaken by his Department into the quality of life of people living with epidermolysis bullosa in Ireland; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [53570/23]

Health Services Waiting Lists

Colm Burke

616. Deputy Colm Burke asked the Minister for Health when a child (details supplied) who, as part of a class that was on an orthodontic test scheme, was placed on routine fixed waiting list in 2019, will receive treatment under this scheme, given that it is over four years since they were placed on the scheme; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [53837/23]

Bus Services

Colm Burke

37. Deputy Colm Burke asked the Minister for Transport what action his Department is taking to deal with recruitment and retention challenges of bus drivers in the bus service, given the ongoing capacity issues across services nationally; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [52789/23]

School Transport

Colm Burke

96. Deputy Colm Burke asked the Minister for Education what action her Department is taking to deal with recruitment challenges of bus drivers under the school transport scheme; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [52791/23]

School Staff

Colm Burke

135. Deputy Colm Burke asked the Minister for Education what progress has been made to date by her Department in relation to the establishment of a transfer or relocation scheme for post-primary school teachers to stem the teacher retention crisis; to outline in detail her Department's plans going forward to address this issue; if engagement is taking place with stakeholders (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [52790/23]

Foreign Policy

Colm Burke

149. Deputy Colm Burke asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs to outline in detail what steps the Government is taking to strengthen trade and diplomatic ties with European Union member states in light of recent global political developments. [49713/23]

Flood Risk Management

Colm Burke

46. Deputy Colm Burke asked the Minister for Public Expenditure, National Development Plan Delivery and Reform the actions his Department will take in order to help expedite current flood relief projects, in view of the fact that the average flood relief project is taking 10-12 years to reach a conclusion; if this process can be made more efficient to ensure delivery of projects in a faster timeframe; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [52141/23]

Flood Risk Management

Colm Burke

50. Deputy Colm Burke asked the Minister for Public Expenditure, National Development Plan Delivery and Reform the current position of the Blackpool flood relief scheme; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [52140/23]

Flood Risk Management

Colm Burke

213. Deputy Colm Burke asked the Minister for Public Expenditure, National Development Plan Delivery and Reform to arrange for Cork City Council to put in place temporary flood defence barriers in an estate (details supplied) in view of the fact that over 25 houses recently suffered severe flooding and this is the second occasion on which it occurred; if the necessary funding will be put in place; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [51912/23]

Departmental Meetings

Colm Burke

353. Deputy Colm Burke asked the Minister for Social Protection to arrange for her Department to appoint a liaison person to deal with the residents in an area in County Cork (details supplied) which suffered severe flooding recently; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [51911/23]

Air Quality

Colm Burke

29. Deputy Colm Burke asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications if he will take the necessary steps to ensure the adoption of the 2021 World Health Organisation (WHO) Air Quality Guidelines as legally binding targets; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [51491/23]

Climate Change Policy

Colm Burke

40. Deputy Colm Burke asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications if he will establish an inter-departmental working group with a specific focus on the health co-benefits of working towards the GHG emission targets for 2030, as specified in the Climate Action and Low Carbon Development Act 2021; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [51492/23]

Climate Change Policy

Colm Burke

41. Deputy Colm Burke asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications to add public health to the list of relevant areas of expertise to be considered by him in making appointments to the Climate Advisory Council; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [51495/23]

Air Quality

Colm Burke

42. Deputy Colm Burke asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications to allocate additional resources to local authorities for the monitoring and enforcement of existing air quality legislation and to take the necessary steps to increase penalties for breaches of the forgoing legislation; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [51496/23]

Air Quality

Colm Burke

43. Deputy Colm Burke asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications if he will liaise with hiscounterpart in Northern Ireland to develop an all-island air strategy in order to further establish a statutory alignment of air quality legislation; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [51497/23]

Departmental Policies

Colm Burke

66. Deputy Colm Burke asked the Minister for Finance to give due consideration to establishing an expert group to advise the Government on the implementation of the Commission on Taxation and Welfare Report, recommending Government to develop fiscal measures to encourage a reduction in the consumption of ultra processed foods, to reduce the harms of such foods and to promote healthier eating; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [51500/23]

School Transport

Colm Burke

88. Deputy Colm Burke asked the Minister for Education when a replacement taxi driver will be put in place for a taxi service (details supplied) given that it is now over three weeks since the service ceased; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [51443/23]

Hospital Appointments Status

Colm Burke

208. Deputy Colm Burke asked the Minister for Health when a child (details supplied) will be contacted and scheduled to have surgery; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [51448/23]

General Practitioner Services

Colm Burke

209. Deputy Colm Burke asked the Minister for Health if he if he will give due consideration to the creation of GP referral guidance for suspected childhood, adolescent and young adult cancers; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [51449/23]

General Practitioner Services

Colm Burke

210. Deputy Colm Burke asked the Minister for Health if he will take the necessary steps to promote awareness raising of childhood, adolescent and young adult cancer symptoms among the public; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [51450/23]

Departmental Policies

Colm Burke

212. Deputy Colm Burke asked the Minister for Health if he will give due consideration to publishing a new cardiovascular health policy, as the current Changing Cardiovascular Policy (2010-2019) requires updating; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [51483/23]

Health Services Staff

Colm Burke

213. Deputy Colm Burke asked the Minister for Health if he will set aside funding to invest in training and career development for non-clinical public health staff within public health departments and other agencies for the purposes of planning future health and social care needs and to respond to a wide range of public health emergencies; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [51484/23]

Pharmacy Services

Colm Burke

214. Deputy Colm Burke asked the Minister for Health to undertake the necessary research to assess the feasibility of involving pharmacists in Ireland in the management of confirmed hypertension; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [51485/23]

Departmental Reports

Colm Burke

215. Deputy Colm Burke asked the Minister for Health to provide an anticipated completion date for the Department of Health Evaluation Report of the Impact of the 2018 Sugar Sweetened Drinks Tax; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [51486/23]

Legislative Measures

Colm Burke

216. Deputy Colm Burke asked the Minister for Health if he will take the necessary steps to initiate a Public Health (Obesity) Bill to include restricting the marketing of unhealthy foods to children; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [51487/23]

Health Strategies

Colm Burke

217. Deputy Colm Burke asked the Minister for Health if he will take the necessary steps in relation to implementing mandatory upper limits relating to salt in bread and other major sources of salt in the Irish diet, in tandem with linked initiatives addressing food labelling, public service procurements and mass media campaigns; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [51488/23]

Health Promotion

Colm Burke

218. Deputy Colm Burke asked the Minister for Health if he will launch a public awareness campaign addressing the risks associated with the use of e-cigarettes and related nicotine products during pregnancy; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [51489/23]

Tobacco Control Measures

Colm Burke

219. Deputy Colm Burke asked the Minister for Health if he will allocate additional funding in respect of Ireland's tobacco control budget; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [51490/23]

Health Services

Colm Burke

220. Deputy Colm Burke asked the Minister for Health if he will set aside funding to undertake a Healthy Ireland Study to ascertain levels of hypertension awareness, treatment and control in the population; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [51493/23]

Pharmacy Services

Colm Burke

221. Deputy Colm Burke asked the Minister for Health to give due consideration to conducting cardiovascular disease screening and management within the pharmacy setting; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [51494/23]

Health Promotion

Colm Burke

222. Deputy Colm Burke asked the Minister for Health to examine action that can be taken to highlight the importance of physical movement in the workplace environment; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [51498/23]

Health Promotion

Colm Burke

223. Deputy Colm Burke asked the Minister for Health to set out a revised national food pyramid, designed to promote both human and planetary health; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [51499/23]

Defence Forces

Colm Burke

41. Deputy Colm Burke asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Defence his Departments plans to modernise the Irish Defence Forces equipment and technology; what portion of the €1.23 billion allocated to the Defence Forces in Budget 2024 will be assigned to this; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [50897/23]

Defence Forces

Colm Burke

74. Deputy Colm Burke asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Defence if Collins Barracks, Cork will be the location of the headquarters of the military formation that will control military operations in the southern region of the country, in the new Defence Forces structure that emerges as a result of the recommendations set out in the Report of the Commission on the Defence Forces; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [50898/23]

Vacant Properties

Colm Burke

294. Deputy Colm Burke asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage if consideration will be given to local authorities introducing a staged payments method for drawing down the vacant property grant which would allow for easier access to funds for those that are eligible for the grant; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [50739/23]

Harbours and Piers

Colm Burke

405. Deputy Colm Burke asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine to confirm what the funding applications were for in respect of the applications made by Cork County Council to his Department in each of the years 2017 to 2022 and 2023 for the Old Pier at Keelbeg, Union Hall, County Cork; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [50970/23]

Medicinal Products

Colm Burke

572. Deputy Colm Burke asked the Minister for Health to outline the instructions given to the HSE concerning the level of spend on new medicines as set out in the letter of determination concerning Budget 2023, Budget 2022 and Budget 2021; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [51076/23]

Medicinal Products

Colm Burke

573. Deputy Colm Burke asked the Minister for Health the reason health technology assessments for medicinal products only consider clinical effectiveness, cost effectiveness and budget impact when assessing a medicines’ value; the reason other elements of the general criteria for assessing a medicine under section 19 of the Health Act 2004 are not considered, including the health needs of the public and the clinical need for the item listed; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [51077/23]

Medicinal Products

Colm Burke

574. Deputy Colm Burke asked the Minister for Health if any health technology assessments regarding individual medicines have been subject to external review or audit, or if any international comparisons have been undertaken; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [51078/23]

Medicinal Products

Colm Burke

575. Deputy Colm Burke asked the Minister for Health if any quality adjusted life-year thresholds are being applied to medicines assessment and reimbursement currently; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [51079/23]

Medicinal Products

Colm Burke

576. Deputy Colm Burke asked the Minister for Health the level of VAT payments made by the HSE’s corporate pharmaceutical unit to the Revenue Commissioners in 2022 relating to the supply of medicinal products; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [51080/23]

Agriculture Schemes

Colm Burke

201. Deputy Colm Burke asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine what action his Department is taking to support and expand the scope of the social farming Ireland initiative, in view of its continued success and benefits to participants; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [50321/23]

Agriculture Schemes

Colm Burke

202. Deputy Colm Burke asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if his Department is engaging with key stakeholders regarding the social farming Ireland initiative to ensure continued success of the model and the potential for expansion in the future; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [50322/23]

Agriculture Schemes

Colm Burke

203. Deputy Colm Burke asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine what action his Department is taking to promote the social farming in Ireland initiative; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [50323/23]

Medicinal Products

Colm Burke

241. Deputy Colm Burke asked the Minister for Health to set out in tabular form a detailed breakdown on how the allocated budget for new medicines was spent in the years 2021, 2022 and from 1 January 2023 to 31 October 2023; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [50400/23]

Medicinal Products

Colm Burke

242. Deputy Colm Burke asked the Minister for Health to set out in tabular form a detailed breakdown of the direct savings arising from discounts, rebates or substitution of generic and biosimilar medicines in the years 2021, 2022 and from 1 January 2023 to 31 October 2023; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [50401/23]

Medicinal Products

Colm Burke

243. Deputy Colm Burke asked the Minister for Health to confirm whether direct savings arising from discounts, rebates or substitution of generic and biosimilar medicines were routed back into the medicines budget to fund other treatments, or into general HSE funding, during each of the years 2021, 2022 and from 1 January 2023 to 31 October 2023; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [50402/23]

Disease Management

Colm Burke

244. Deputy Colm Burke asked the Minister for Health further to Parliamentary Question No. 796 of 14 February 2023, if he can confirm whether the HSE will fund the inclusion of chronic kidney disease in the chronic disease management programme in 2024; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [50403/23]

Disease Management

Colm Burke

245. Deputy Colm Burke asked the Minister for Health further to Parliamentary Question No. 794 of 14 February 2023, to provide a summary of the analysis of the opportunistic case finding assessment under the chronic disease management programme in 2022, the number of patients diagnosed with asthma, type 2 diabetes, COPD or cardiovascular disease as a result of this assessment, in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [50404/23]

Schools Building Projects

Colm Burke

78. Deputy Colm Burke asked the Minister for Education when a review being undertaken by her Department in respect of a Stage 2B submission will be finalised and the school (details supplied) contacted about the outcome of this review; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [50051/23]