Ceisteanna Parlaiminte

Early Childhood Care and Education

Noel Rock

467. Deputy Noel Rock asked the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs if she has given consideration to reversing the decision to no longer accept applications for overage exemptions for the ECCE programme from the 2018/2019 programme year; if not, the reason this decision was made; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [52765/17]

Nursing Staff Recruitment

Noel Rock

435. Deputy Noel Rock asked the Minister for Health if he will request the HSE to expedite the appointment of two clinical nurses for a service (details supplied) through the community alcohol response and engagement initiative; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [50450/17]

Charitable and Voluntary Organisations

Noel Rock

436. Deputy Noel Rock asked the Minister for Health if he will review the funding for a charity (details supplied) after its recent application to the HSE for funding for an education officer and information officer was refused without formal reasoning for the decision; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [50452/17]

Education Policy

Noel Rock

99. Deputy Noel Rock asked the Minister for Education and Skills the steps he has taken to address the lack of STEM subjects available to female students in secondary schools; the barriers to entry for female students into third-level STEM courses; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [49684/17]

Prisoner Releases

Noel Rock

114. Deputy Noel Rock asked the Minister for Justice and Equality the cost to the State for the day release of prisoners from the State's prisons; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [49685/17]

Property Tax Exemptions

Noel Rock

138. Deputy Noel Rock asked the Minister for Finance his plans to introduce an exemption for old age pensioners for the payment of local property tax; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [48817/17]

Data Protection

Noel Rock

266. Deputy Noel Rock asked the Minister for Justice and Equality if public and semi-State bodies are obliged to comply with the general data protection regulation which will pass into EU law in May 2018; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [48818/17]

Medical Card Eligibility

Noel Rock

331. Deputy Noel Rock asked the Minister for Health his plans to introduce the necessary primary legislation to increase the gross income per week to €1,000 in order for persons over 70 years of age to receive a medical card; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [48819/17]

Irish Aviation Authority

Noel Rock

506. Deputy Noel Rock asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport when legislation will be in place for the Irish Aviation Authority to become the noise regulator for the State's airports; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [48820/17]

Equality Issues

Noel Rock

105. Deputy Noel Rock asked the Minister for Justice and Equality if there are standard practices in place to ensure companies and semi-State bodies do not discriminate against persons that may be computer illiterate by moving all services online; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [47419/17]

Hospital Beds Data

Noel Rock

163. Deputy Noel Rock asked the Minister for Health his plans to increase the number of beds in the stroke unit in Beaumont Hospital; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [47420/17]

Physiotherapy Provision

Noel Rock

164. Deputy Noel Rock asked the Minister for Health his plans to address the physiotherapy deficit for stroke patients in Beaumont Hospital; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [47421/17]

Stroke Care

Noel Rock

165. Deputy Noel Rock asked the Minister for Health his plans to address the early supported discharge for stroke patients in Beaumont hospital; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [47422/17]

Civil Service Staff Data

Noel Rock

272. Deputy Noel Rock asked the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform the number of civil servants on contracts post-1995 who have had their pay affected by the introduction of PeoplePoint and insisting employees show their sick pay documents despite having no legal basis and threatening that pay may be affected; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [45806/17]

School Staff

Noel Rock

402. Deputy Noel Rock asked the Minister for Education and Skills the amount saved by his Department in the past five years by not spending on substitute teachers in primary education; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [46683/17]

Sentencing Policy

Noel Rock

507. Deputy Noel Rock asked the Minister for Justice and Equality his plans to increase the maximum penalty for engaging in a sex act with a child beyond the current sentence of five years; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [46103/17]

Assisted Human Reproduction

Noel Rock

656. Deputy Noel Rock asked the Minister for Health his plans to introduce legislation regarding surrogacy allowing persons to be recognised as a child’s legal parents; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [45807/17]

Medical Aids and Appliances Provision

Noel Rock

781. Deputy Noel Rock asked the Minister for Health if there are grants to help persons with the cost of mobility scooters; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [46682/17]

Housing Policy

Noel Rock

1303. Deputy Noel Rock asked the Minister for Housing, Planning and Local Government his plans to reintroduce the key worker mortgage scheme, which was previously shelved before implementation; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [45808/17]

National Mitigation Plan Publication

Noel Rock

305. Deputy Noel Rock asked the Minister for Communications, Climate Action and Environment when the national mitigation plan is due to be published; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [44641/17]

School Staff

Noel Rock

96. Deputy Noel Rock asked the Minister for Education and Skills his plans to address the shortage of supply of substitute teachers in primary level education; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [44419/17]

General Practitioner Training

Noel Rock

163. Deputy Noel Rock asked the Minister for Health if funding for a continuing medical education tutor post for north County Dublin, which is currently vacant, will be approved in view of the fact that general practitioners in this catchment area are missing out on points needed to remain in an organisation (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [44418/17]

Legislative Programme

Noel Rock

213. Deputy Noel Rock asked the Minister for Justice and Equality when he plans to ratify the Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities which was signed by the Government on 30 March 2007; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [43375/17]

Disabled Parking Permits

Noel Rock

461. Deputy Noel Rock asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport his views on whether an organisation (details supplied) is randomly selecting elderly persons as part of the selection for renewal of disabled parking permits; if he will raise the matter with the organisation in an effort to stop same; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [43376/17]

Mortgage Schemes

Noel Rock

32. Deputy Noel Rock asked the Minister for Finance his plans to reintroduce the key worker mortgage scheme as part of Budget 2018; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [42689/17]

Civil Service Staff Data

Noel Rock

75. Deputy Noel Rock asked the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform the number of principal officer grade positions in the Civil Service; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [42679/17]

Civil Service Staff Data

Noel Rock

76. Deputy Noel Rock asked the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform the number of Secretary General, Deputy Secretary, Assistant Secretary and Principal (Higher) Officer grade positions in the Civil Service respectively; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [42680/17]

Civil Service Staff Data

Noel Rock

77. Deputy Noel Rock asked the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform the number of positions above Principal Officer grade in the Civil Service; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [42681/17]

School Staff

Noel Rock

99. Deputy Noel Rock asked the Minister for Education and Skills if he will address the request for a fifth year teacher and adequate resourcing and supports by a school (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [42555/17]

Passport Applications Fees

Noel Rock

187. Deputy Noel Rock asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade his plans to subsidise or make a grant available to persons over 70 years of age applying for passports in Budget 2018; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [42688/17]

Departmental Bodies Expenditure

Noel Rock

512. Deputy Noel Rock asked the Minister for Communications, Climate Action and Environment the costs associated with the rebranding of the Commission for Energy Regulation to the Commission for Regulation of Utilities including logo design, websites and so on; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [42554/17]

Sports Injuries Guidelines

Noel Rock

535. Deputy Noel Rock asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport if he will request organisations (details supplied) to conduct a study into a possible link between heading the ball and brain injuries, similar to that of their English counterparts; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [42556/17]

Air Services Provision

Noel Rock

536. Deputy Noel Rock asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport the cost to the economy of the cancellation of a company's (details supplied) flights to and from Dublin Airport; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [42557/17]

Housing Issues

Noel Rock

712. Deputy Noel Rock asked the Minister for Housing, Planning and Local Government if he will roll out programmes which will disincentivise property investors from purchasing houses and ensure precedence is given to first-time buyers; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [42558/17]

Wildlife Control

Noel Rock

124. Deputy Noel Rock asked the Minister for Culture, Heritage and the Gaeltacht if she has been liaising with local authorities regarding the culling of seagulls in Dublin city; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [42126/17]

Private Rented Accommodation Data

Noel Rock

229. Deputy Noel Rock asked the Minister for Housing, Planning and Local Government the use to which the statistics his office receive from the RTB and the PRTB are put; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [42125/17]

Tax Code

Noel Rock

105. Deputy Noel Rock asked the Minister for Finance the progress in discussions with the Brazilian authorities to remove the State from a blacklist of tax havens; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [41349/17]

National Botanic Gardens

Noel Rock

128. Deputy Noel Rock asked the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform if funding will be provided to the OPW to complete renovation works to the cactus house and the giant waterlily house in the National Botanic Gardens; if funding will be provided for more botanical science staff in the gardens in view of the fact that it has two members of staff, which is a low figure compared with other botanical gardens here and in the UK; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [41348/17]

SOLAS Administration

Noel Rock

150. Deputy Noel Rock asked the Minister for Education and Skills if SOLAS still owns the property on Shanliss road, Santry, which was used as a FÁS centre; if so, if it has plans for the property; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [41345/17]

Drugs Payment Scheme Coverage

Noel Rock

318. Deputy Noel Rock asked the Minister for Health the reason the drug Translarna is not being made available for persons that suffer with Duchenne muscular dystrophy; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [41347/17]

Sports Organisations

Noel Rock

519. Deputy Noel Rock asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport the progress on his call for an organisation (details supplied) to implement measures still outstanding from the 2002 Genesis report; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [41346/17]

Nursing Homes Support Scheme Administration

Noel Rock

146. Deputy Noel Rock asked the Minister for Health the position regarding extending the fair deal scheme to allow persons receive care in their own home; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [41008/17]

Hospital Staff

Noel Rock

152. Deputy Noel Rock asked the Minister for Health further to Parliamentary Question No. 444 of 14 February 2017, the public hospitals that are resourced with at least one clinical nurse specialist whole-time equivalent that is specific to the HSE’s outpatient parenteral antimicrobial therapy OPAT programme; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [40854/17]

Hospitals Data

Noel Rock

153. Deputy Noel Rock asked the Minister for Health further to Parliamentary Question No. 444 of 14 February 2017, the number of persons that were IV antibiotic inpatients in each public hospital in 2016; the number of hospital bed days that were taken up by IV antibiotic inpatients in each public hospital in 2016; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [40855/17]

Hospitals Data

Noel Rock

154. Deputy Noel Rock asked the Minister for Health further to Parliamentary Question No. 444 of 14 February 2017, the number of persons that were community-based IV antibiotic patients via the OPAT programme; the number of persons on the self-care OPAT programme; the number on the nurse led OPAT programme; the number of hospital bed days that these groups of persons accounted for in 2016, by hospital, in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [40856/17]

Public Sector Pay

Noel Rock

251. Deputy Noel Rock asked the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform the number of civil servants on contracts pre-1995 who have had their pay affected by the introduction of PeoplePoint (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [37774/17]

Immigration Policy

Noel Rock

609. Deputy Noel Rock asked the Minister for Justice and Equality if the State will be issuing an apology to a person (details supplied); his plans to review the immigration interrogation policy at the State's airports. [37771/17]

Garda Operations

Noel Rock

610. Deputy Noel Rock asked the Minister for Justice and Equality the number of gardaí in the Garda special crime task force; the number of gardaí in the task force when it was originally set up; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [37777/17]

HSE Expenditure

Noel Rock

832. Deputy Noel Rock asked the Minister for Health the amount spent by the HSE on postage and postal services; the forms of communication used by the executive; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [37025/17]

Hospital Food

Noel Rock

1074. Deputy Noel Rock asked the Minister for Health if hospital catering facilities are made aware of a person's health issues, including those patients who are diabetic, before serving food to them; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [37773/17]