Ceisteanna Parlaiminte

Financial Services

Robert Troy

175. Deputy Robert Troy asked the Minister for Finance if he can clarify which Oireachtas Committee is responsible with respect to the workings of the FSPO and the protection of consumers who have purchased financial products in the State (details supplied). [41299/23]

Financial Services

Robert Troy

176. Deputy Robert Troy asked the Minister for Finance if he will clarify who is responsible for ensuring that the changes introduced by section 51(2) of the Financial Services and Pensions Ombudsman Act 2017, extending the statute of limitations beyond six years, are implemented in the manner anticipated by the Houses of the Oireachtas when making those changes; and who is charged with ensuring that the EU Community Principle of Effectiveness is being met by Ireland and that consumers are not precluded from rights granted to them under European law. [41300/23]

Financial Services

Robert Troy

177. Deputy Robert Troy asked the Minister for Finance if he will confirm that the Financial Services and Pensions Ombudsman, FSPO, rejected or refused to investigate 2,296 consumer complaints in 2022, which represents 49% of complaints, i.e., complaints that did not go to investigation in any form; and if he is surprised at the level of rejections and refusals given, that it is also the responsibility of the FSPO to educate the consumer as to what complaints can be processed. [41301/23]

Financial Services

Robert Troy

178. Deputy Robert Troy asked the Minister for Finance of the 2,296 complaints rejected/refused by the FSPO, how many of these complainants were actually advised/directed to the FSPO in 2022, by the financial institution processing the complaint in question. [41302/23]

Financial Services

Robert Troy

179. Deputy Robert Troy asked the Minister for Finance the reason that the FSPO, when reporting under S.I. No. 343/2015, does not report the required, under EU law, statistic "(e) the average time taken to resolve disputes", and instead uses a fabricated statistic, "closed", which is a term not recognised or defined (details supplied). [41303/23]

Financial Services

Robert Troy

180. Deputy Robert Troy asked the Minister for Finance if, given that the ADR Directive recommends that "A properly functioning ADR entity should conclude online and offline dispute resolution proceedings expeditiously within a timeframe of 90 calendar days…", and that the FSPO has the option to refuse complex cases or redirect them to the Courts, he is not surprised by this statistic of 934 days versus the EU-recommended 90 days. [41304/23]

Financial Services

Robert Troy

181. Deputy Robert Troy asked the Minister for Finance if he will explain the term "closed", which is most commonly utilised by the FSPO when assessing its complaint handling performance, as it is not a term used or defined by the European Commission when assessing the performance of Alternative Dispute Resolution entities in Member States. [41305/23]

Financial Services

Robert Troy

182. Deputy Robert Troy asked the Minister for Finance if he will explain how, when reporting to the EU for the year 2021, the FSPO reported that 4,279 complaints were "accepted for handling" with only 130 identified as "refused" or "rejected" against its own published "Overview of Complaints 2021", which showed that only 2,676 complaints were handled through investigation or mediation. [41306/23]

Financial Services

Robert Troy

183. Deputy Robert Troy asked the Minister for Finance the reason that the FSPO, when rejecting/refusing consumer complaints, makes no reference to relevant European Law, such as the Unfair Terms in consumer contracts Directive (UCTD) when raising opinions on its jurisdiction to investigate. [41307/23]

Pension Provisions

Robert Troy

188. Deputy Robert Troy asked the Minister for Finance if he will adjust the cap on pension contributions in Budget 2024 (details supplied). [41438/23]

School Accommodation

Robert Troy

263. Deputy Robert Troy asked the Minister for Education if she will ensure that an application for additional accommodation by a school (details supplied) will be progressed without delay; and if she will provide an update as to the current status of same. [41322/23]

School Staff

Robert Troy

301. Deputy Robert Troy asked the Minister for Education if she will provide an update on the recruitment of a NEPS psychologist to service schools in Westmeath; if she is aware that multiple schools in south Westmeath have been informed that they will not have access to a NEPS psychologist for the foreseeable future; and if she agrees that this will have a hugely adverse impact on the possible supports and educational progression of many students in the area. [41649/23]

Social Insurance

Robert Troy

384. Deputy Robert Troy asked the Minister for Social Protection if there is an entitlement to PRSI benefits for an Hungarian national who is working part-time during the college term and full-time on holidays in order that his contribution record while here is kept up to date. [41409/23]

An Garda Síochána

Robert Troy

418. Deputy Robert Troy asked the Minister for Justice if, given the recent ballot by the GRA, she will acknowledge that morale within An Garda Síochána is low; if she will consider using the mechanism of the Workplace Relations Commission to address issues between management and rank-and-file gardaí; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [41316/23]

An Garda Síochána

Robert Troy

419. Deputy Robert Troy asked the Minister for Justice the number of serving gardaí as of 1 September 2023, in comparison to September 2021; how many retirements in that period; and how many recruitments. [41317/23]

Disability Services

Robert Troy

486. Deputy Robert Troy asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth if, as part of Budget 2024, he will ensure that sufficient funding is in place for an organisation (details supplied) opening the remaining four beds in their respite facility and ensure that all beds are open 52 weeks in the year. [41319/23]

Disability Services

Robert Troy

487. Deputy Robert Troy asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth if, as part of Budget 2024, he will ensure that sufficient funding is in place for MS to replicate the physio offering of CHO2 region across all CHO regions. [41320/23]

Medical Cards

Robert Troy

549. Deputy Robert Troy asked the Minister for Health if he will ensure the automatic provision of medical cards to people with a spinal cord injury based on certified medical needs, rather than means (details supplied); and if he will extend the review cycle for medical card holders with a spinal cord injury to ten years. [41177/23]

Hospital Appointments Status

Robert Troy

574. Deputy Robert Troy asked the Minister for Health if he will expedite an appointment for surgery for a child (details supplied).; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [41406/23]

Departmental Policies

Robert Troy

52. Deputy Robert Troy asked the Minister for Health the digital reforms he has undertaken, and those he intends to undertake; and his views on whether a greater use of digital health will improve patient outcomes, improve efficiencies and be a solution to escalating costs. [40600/23]