Ceisteanna Parlaiminte

Health Services Staff

Martin Browne

1577. Deputy Martin Browne asked the Minister for Health the measures being taken to qualify persons in the area of mental health given that the availability of skilled staff is a significant issue; the reason for much of the potential workforce availing of employment opportunities outside of Ireland; the additional cost in each of the past three years incurred through the filling of staff shortages through the work of locums, agency workers and overtime comparative to the cost of employing staff members; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [14725/21]

Occupational Therapy

Martin Browne

1676. Deputy Martin Browne asked the Minister for Health his views on the way children that are receiving CAMHS services in north County Tipperary but are unable to access occupational therapy services due to a lack of a physical room; his views on whether such a situation is acceptable; the waiting times for same in 2019, 2020 and to date in 2021, in tabular form; his views on the lack of a physical room for occupational therapy services at CAMHS in Nenagh, County Tipperary; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [15099/21]

Speech and Language Therapy

Martin Browne

1677. Deputy Martin Browne asked the Minister for Health the number of children currently on the waiting list for speech and language therapy by county in 2019, 2020 and to date in 2021; and his views on the situation of children that are in need of a multidisciplinary team approach occupational therapy, speech and language therapy and so on that cannot access them due to the Covid-19 crisis. [15100/21]

Child and Adolescent Mental Health Services

Martin Browne

1678. Deputy Martin Browne asked the Minister for Health his views on families having to access private autism spectrum disorder, ASD, assessments for children before they will be considered for treatment at CAMHS services; his views on the way one family in north County Tipperary is unable to get access for their six-year-old child with ADHD to occupational therapy services with CAMHS due to the fact they have no physical room for them to work in; the reason therapists are not in a position to provide the service to the child in question, who is in need of a multidisciplinary team approach; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [15101/21]

Covid-19 Pandemic

Martin Browne

1706. Deputy Martin Browne asked the Minister for Health his plans to reopen nursing homes for visits (details supplied); and if a framework is in place for same. [15178/21]

Environmental Schemes

Martin Browne

2027. Deputy Martin Browne asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine his views on the importance of new grass in acting as an emissions sink; if progress is being made in providing financial support in reseeding; his views on the level of support per acre that would be appropriate; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [15615/21]

Environmental Policy

Martin Browne

2028. Deputy Martin Browne asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the estimated amount of emissions such as carbon that is sequestered back into farming grassland; the way in which those figures are determined; his views on whether these figures show the actual level of sequestration; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [15617/21]

Climate Change Policy

Martin Browne

119. Deputy Martin Browne asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications if his attention has been drawn to the fact that wood pellets are being imported from Australia; his views on the carbon footprint involved in importing such products over such a distance; the level of the importation of such alternatives; his views on the way this is compatible with environmental policy; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [13076/21]

Rail Network

Martin Browne

262. Deputy Martin Browne asked the Minister for Transport if local community groups will be invited to participate in the upcoming strategic rail review; and if an estimated date for the start of this review will be provided. [13451/21]

Value Added Tax

Martin Browne

295. Deputy Martin Browne asked the Minister for Finance his plans to retain the 9% tourism VAT rate until 2025; his views on the way this would assist the recovery of the hospitality and hotel industry; his views on whether such a commitment must be made without delay as tourism contracting has commenced for 2022 and 2023; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [13236/21]

Covid-19 Pandemic Supports

Martin Browne

296. Deputy Martin Browne asked the Minister for Finance his views on increasing the Covid restriction support scheme for businesses with a 75% drop in revenue; his views on the way the hotel industry estimates that 44% of hotel bedroom stock is excluded from the scheme entirely; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [13238/21]

Wage Subsidy Scheme

Martin Browne

297. Deputy Martin Browne asked the Minister for Finance his views on extending the employment wage subsidy scheme until the end of 2021; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [13239/21]

Home Loan Scheme

Martin Browne

366. Deputy Martin Browne asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage if his attention has been drawn to the fact that a person (details supplied) in County Tipperary contacted his office regarding a Rebuilding Ireland home loan application; and if he will ensure they are not excluded from same due to their medical history. [12500/21]

Local Authority Rates

Martin Browne

400. Deputy Martin Browne asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage if he will extend the local authority commercial rates waiver until the end of December 2021; his views on the hotel sector statement that the average local authority rate is €1,500 per bedroom and is therefore a sizeable contribution to overhead costs; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [13240/21]

Social and Affordable Housing

Martin Browne

413. Deputy Martin Browne asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the average waiting times for approved housing applicants in County Tipperary by local electoral area in tabular form. [13452/21]

Housing Assistance Payment

Martin Browne

414. Deputy Martin Browne asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the cost of HAP payments in each local electoral area in County Tipperary over the past five years. [13453/21]

Cannabis for Medicinal Use

Martin Browne

979. Deputy Martin Browne asked the Minister for Health his views on the fact that the Medicinal Cannabis Access Programme does not include the prescription and funding of Dutch products for patients with specific conditions; the progress being made in resolving this issue (details supplied); his views on the need for patients to access these products; the reason Dutch products are not included under the access programme; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [13493/21]

Foras na Gaeilge

Martin Browne

60. Deputy Martin Browne asked the Minister for Tourism, Culture, Arts, Gaeltacht, Sport and Media further to Parliamentary Question No. 51 of 1 October 2020, if the revised scéim pobal Gaeilge has been launched (details supplied). [12281/21]

Special Educational Needs

Martin Browne

133. Deputy Martin Browne asked the Minister for Education if her attention has been drawn to an application by a family (details supplied) for assistive technology for their child which has been rejected despite the recommendations of their doctor; and if there is another way the required assistive technology can be provided. [12246/21]

Better Energy Communities Programme

Martin Browne

92. Deputy Martin Browne asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications his views on expanding the communities energy grant scheme to allow grants to be made available to community organisations and not-for-profit businesses who have very limited finances available to them to meet their costs under the scheme; his further views on making grants available to these organisations for standalone projects such as the installation of solar panels without the need for large projects to be undertaken; his views on whether allowing grants for standalone projects in this way would result in cost savings that could lead these organisations to be in a position to carry out larger-scale projects in the future; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [11938/21]

Rail Network

Martin Browne

106. Deputy Martin Browne asked the Minister for Transport if his Department has undertaken feasibility studies in regard to increasing the use of rail freight in Ireland. [11076/21]

Rail Network

Martin Browne

107. Deputy Martin Browne asked the Minister for Transport if his Department has examined the possibility of reinstating the rail connection between Rosslare and the Waterford to Limerick line; and his views on whether developing this line to carry rail freight would reduce traffic pressure along the N24 and improve the connectivity of the region. [11077/21]

Rail Network

Martin Browne

108. Deputy Martin Browne asked the Minister for Transport the estimated number of trucks which could be removed from the N24 on a daily, weekly, monthly and annual basis if a reasonable rail freight service was available; and the estimated reduction this would have on Ireland’s carbon emissions. [11078/21]

Taxi Data

Martin Browne

137. Deputy Martin Browne asked the Minister for Transport the number of illegal taxi operators detected in 2019 and 2020; the number of illegal operators detected in each county; the number of illegal operators prosecuted in each county in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [11549/21]

Departmental Schemes

Martin Browne

310. Deputy Martin Browne asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage his views on providing grants to community centres and community sports centres to install rainwater harvesting systems in order to reduce their usage of treated water; the reason such supports are not in place at the moment; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [11937/21]

Arts Policy

Martin Browne

493. Deputy Martin Browne asked the Minister for Education her views on giving some arts instructors such as dance teachers educational status to offer them the opportunity to open to the public when restrictions are eased. [11936/21]

Social Welfare Benefits

Martin Browne

531. Deputy Martin Browne asked the Minister for Social Protection if there are supports available for persons in receipt of social welfare payments to pay for the cost of gym memberships or fitness equipment (details supplied). [11095/21]

Nursing Home Accommodation

Martin Browne

718. Deputy Martin Browne asked the Minister for Health the estimated cost of the works to upgrade St. Anthony’s unit in Clonmel, County Tipperary; the capacity, role and specifications of the upgraded unit; the purpose the original building will serve once patents are transferred to the upgraded facility; if the establishment of the new unit will have any impact on service provision at St. Theresa’s in Clogheen, County Tipperary; and if there are plans to centralise services to St. Anthony’s. [10997/21]

Medicinal Products

Martin Browne

727. Deputy Martin Browne asked the Minister for Health his plans to approve medicines for the treatment of hyperemesis gravidarum for medical card patients and the drug payment scheme (details supplied). [11034/21]

Mental Health Services

Martin Browne

759. Deputy Martin Browne asked the Minister for Health if two premises (details supplied) that were due to be established in Clonmel and Nenagh, County Tipperary are still to go ahead; if he will clarify the comments made by the director of communications for the premises that all services for County Tipperary will be provided from the Thurles premises; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [11139/21]

Mental Health Services

Martin Browne

760. Deputy Martin Browne asked the Minister for Health when a premises (details supplied) in County Tipperary is due to open. [11141/21]

Driver Test

Martin Browne

26. Deputy Martin Browne asked the Minister for Transport if he will address the issue of the delay and cancellation of driver theory tests (details supplied). [10648/21]

Cybersecurity Policy

Martin Browne

50. Deputy Martin Browne asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications the number of additional staff that have been recruited to National Cyber Security Centre in 2020 and to date in 2021; and if further staff will be recruited later in 2021. [9774/21]

Tax Yield

Martin Browne

188. Deputy Martin Browne asked the Minister for Finance the yield from the life assurance exit tax in 2019 and 2020; and the forecasted yield in 2021. [9775/21]

Arts Council

Martin Browne

266. Deputy Martin Browne asked the Minister for Tourism, Culture, Arts, Gaeltacht, Sport and Media her views on claims by the live arts sector that the €50 million funding made available to the Arts Council excludes many artists; and her views on the case of a person within the arts sector who had to obtain a loan from a family member due to the fact they cannot afford to let the insurance on their band's van lapse. [9939/21]

Arts Policy

Martin Browne

267. Deputy Martin Browne asked the Minister for Tourism, Culture, Arts, Gaeltacht, Sport and Media her views on giving some arts instructors, such as dance teachers, educational status, to offer them the opportunity to open to the public when restrictions are eased. [9941/21]

National Parks and Wildlife Service

Martin Browne

308. Deputy Martin Browne asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the estimated cost of recruiting seven additional ecologists and wildlife inspectors at grade 3, and four district conservation officers for the National Parks and Wildlife Service, in tabular form. [9776/21]

Defence Forces Personnel

Martin Browne

379. Deputy Martin Browne asked the Minister for Defence the establishment figures for grades 5 and 6 technicians in the communication and information service corps of the Defence Forces; and the number of grade 5 and 6 technician positions in the corps not filled. [9779/21]

Special Educational Needs Staff

Martin Browne

437. Deputy Martin Browne asked the Minister for Education the estimated full-year cost of providing 860 additional special needs assistant posts. [9777/21]

School Staff

Martin Browne

438. Deputy Martin Browne asked the Minister for Education the estimated cost of permitting schools with enrolments of 535 to 730 to fill secretary vacancies providing they have fewer than three posts and schools with enrolments of 685 to 800 providing that they have fewer than four posts. [9778/21]

Covid-19 Pandemic

Martin Browne

453. Deputy Martin Browne asked the Minister for Education her views on the number of second level students who hear public health advice saying that schools are safe yet they do not feel safe; her views on the fact many students say they feel excluded from the decision on school openings; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [9942/21]

School Staff

Martin Browne

454. Deputy Martin Browne asked the Minister for Education if an additional guidance counsellor was promised to a school (details supplied); and if so, the reason the placement has not been filled. [9943/21]

Autism Support Services

Martin Browne

643. Deputy Martin Browne asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth his views on the current waiting lists for autism assistance dogs and the number of years children are left on the list; and his plans to address this issue. [10384/21]

Garda Data

Martin Browne

718. Deputy Martin Browne asked the Minister for Justice the number of gardaí by rank attached to the Tipperary protective service unit. [9781/21]

Ambulance Service

Martin Browne

855. Deputy Martin Browne asked the Minister for Health the estimated cost of providing an extra ambulance and necessary staffing at each ambulance base within County Tipperary. [9780/21]

Mental Health Services

Martin Browne

905. Deputy Martin Browne asked the Minister for Health his views on a survey carried out locally among an organisation (details supplied) which found that 66% of members have reported that their mental health has been affected by the Covid-19 crisis; and his further views on their concerns that CAMHS is not being given the funding it needs to deal with its workload effectively. [9944/21]

Mental Health Services

Martin Browne

906. Deputy Martin Browne asked the Minister for Health the additional funding that has been allocated for CAMHS since the onset of the pandemic; the overall funding provided to the service for that period of time; if he has concerns that the service may not have the capacity to deal with the demands being placed upon it; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [9945/21]

Common Agricultural Policy

Martin Browne

1106. Deputy Martin Browne asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if his attention has been drawn to the fact that six out of eight of the current farming for nature award nominees are not eligible for CAP payments despite being full-time farmers (details supplied); and the measures being proposed in the new CAP to address the matter. [10385/21]

Renewable Energy Generation

Martin Browne

61. Deputy Martin Browne asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications his plans to introduce grant funding for sport centres interested in installing solar panels to reduce running costs and the carbon footprints of the centres, given that the current SEAI grant does not fully meet the requirements of sports centres. [8779/21]

Water and Sewerage Schemes

Martin Browne

246. Deputy Martin Browne asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage his plans to introduce grants for rainwater harvesting systems in sports centres given that such a scheme would allow centres to significantly reduce their water usage. [8778/21]

Local Authority Housing

Martin Browne

289. Deputy Martin Browne asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the guidelines that local authorities must follow when contacted by a person who has had to leave their local authority home to escape domestic violence; if there are clear guidelines on their entitlement to a HAP package; if there are clear guidelines on whether they are deemed as having given up a local authority house thereby removing them from the housing list; if there are guidelines on whether the spouse should remain at home while the victim has been forced to leave; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [8492/21]

Special Educational Needs

Martin Browne

396. Deputy Martin Browne asked the Minister for Education the provisions that have been made for the special needs students who will not return to school on 11 February 2021 given that they attend mainstream schools (details supplied). [8230/21]

Covid-19 Pandemic

Martin Browne

829. Deputy Martin Browne asked the Minister for Health his views on the World Health Organisation’s determination that Ireland has been in breach of its international health regulations on contagious disease control by failing to designate a competent authority at ports and airports; the reason Ireland has been non-compliant for approximately a decade; the progress being made to address this in the long term; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [8491/21]

Covid-19 Pandemic

Martin Browne

921. Deputy Martin Browne asked the Minister for Health if persons travelling to Ireland from Brazil will be required to pay for their hotel quarantine. [8777/21]

Trade Union Recognition

Martin Browne

4. Deputy Martin Browne asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment his views on the demands by an association (details supplied) of front-line paramedics who want to be represented by another association; his plans in regard to their campaign; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [7653/21]

Bus Services

Martin Browne

24. Deputy Martin Browne asked the Minister for Transport further to Parliamentary Question No. 81 of 3 February 2021, the details of the increase in frequency of services in County Tipperary; the additional services that will be provided; when these services will become available; the basis on which the decisions to provide these services were made; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [7473/21]

Bus Services

Martin Browne

25. Deputy Martin Browne asked the Minister for Transport his plans to provide a further extension of temporary emergency support for the commercial bus sector via the commercial bus operator direct award contract, which includes Expressway services once the current three-month extension expires; and his views on the importance of this funding for the continuation of the X8 Expressway service for County Tipperary. [7474/21]

Covid-19 Pandemic

Martin Browne

264. Deputy Martin Browne asked the Minister for Health the locations identified to vaccinate persons over 70 years of age in counties Tipperary and Limerick. [7539/21]

Trade Union Recognition

Martin Browne

275. Deputy Martin Browne asked the Minister for Health his views on the demands by an association (details supplied) of front-line paramedics who want to be represented by another association; his plans in regard to their campaign; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [7654/21]

Covid-19 Tests

Martin Browne

329. Deputy Martin Browne asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the number of meat processing factories at which serial testing has taken place since its introduction; the frequency with which serial testing is being carried out at individual facilities; if there are any facilities that have not had serial testing carried out; if so, the reason; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [7540/21]

Agrifood Sector

Martin Browne

332. Deputy Martin Browne asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if he is in possession of any assessment on the impact that the EU farm-to-fork biodiversity strategies will have on production costs for farmers; the impact it will have on their output; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [7652/21]

Horticulture Sector

Martin Browne

42. Deputy Martin Browne asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications the carbon emissions of Ireland's 5,500 ha of bog used for horticultural peat harvesting per annum; and the reduction in emissions envisaged for 2021 and 2022 through the use of imported peat. [7082/21]

Water Quality

Martin Browne

286. Deputy Martin Browne asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage if his attention has been drawn to the fact that a boil water notice has been in place in the villages of Golden, Kilfeacle and Thomastown in County Tipperary for almost 12 months; and the measures taken to ensure that a usable water supply is returned as soon as possible without further delay. [6401/21]

Water and Sewerage Schemes

Martin Browne

322. Deputy Martin Browne asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage if his attention has been drawn to an issue with an estate in County Tipperary in which a leaking sewage system is causing a serious threat to health and is at risk of flowing into a river; if the EPA will investigate the issue given that it has been reported to it on multiple occasions; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [6858/21]

Water and Sewerage Schemes

Martin Browne

323. Deputy Martin Browne asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage if his attention has been drawn to a case in which Tipperary County Council has been given permission to perform urgent works on a sewerage system in an estate (details supplied) in County Tipperary by the receiver but has refused to do so, creating a situation in which residents are dealing with continuous floods of sewage that also spill onto the public road; and if there are supports available for local authorities to do the work in the interest of public health in circumstances in which a receiver refuses to do necessary maintenance work. [6859/21]

Horticulture Sector

Martin Browne

334. Deputy Martin Browne asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage if his Department has carried out an analysis of the impact of replacing Irish horticultural peat with imported peat prior to the end of peat harvesting. [7083/21]

Horticulture Sector

Martin Browne

340. Deputy Martin Browne asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage when the working group on the future role of peat in the horticulture sector will be established. [7177/21]

Child Abuse

Martin Browne

400. Deputy Martin Browne asked the Minister for Education the supports available for victims of historic abuse in day schools under the patronage of the Roman Catholic Church; and if they have been included in a redress scheme to date. [6414/21]

Mother and Baby Homes Inquiries

Martin Browne

543. Deputy Martin Browne asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth if he had prior knowledge that the audio recordings of mother and baby homes survivors’ accounts were to be deleted; if so, when he was informed; if the details of same will be provided; if there is a mechanism to recover those recordings; his views on the importance of those accounts in providing information that could lead to the resolution of questions which are thus far unanswered; if survivors, when being interviewed, were all informed of the intention to destroy the records in question; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [6753/21]

Mother and Baby Homes Inquiries

Martin Browne

544. Deputy Martin Browne asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth the reason many survivors have yet to receive their copies of the Final Report of the Commission of Investigation into Mother and Baby Homes; his knowledge of the circumstances that led to some aspects of the report being leaked to the media; his views on the detrimental impact that these issues as well as the deletion of survivors’ recorded accounts have had on the survivors’ trust in the process of attaining further clarity on their histories in the time to come; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [6754/21]

Mother and Baby Homes Inquiries

Martin Browne

545. Deputy Martin Browne asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth the number of survivors of mother and baby homes he has contacted since the publication of the Final Report of the Commission of Investigation into Mother and Baby Homes; his plans to make contact with those who have yet to be contacted; if he plans to meet with a group (details supplied) regarding further scans at Sean Ross Abbey, in County Tipperary, and other issues; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [6755/21]

Mother and Baby Homes Inquiries

Martin Browne

546. Deputy Martin Browne asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth if consideration will be given to providing free travel passes to all survivors of mother and baby homes in conjunction with medical cards and other supports. [6756/21]

Vaccination Programme

Martin Browne

921. Deputy Martin Browne asked the Minister for Health when pharmacists and pharmacy workers will receive the Covid-19 vaccine. [7260/21]

Hospital Facilities

Martin Browne

935. Deputy Martin Browne asked the Minister for Health if he will meet with concerned persons in Carrick-on-Suir, County Tipperary regarding the decision to repurpose St. Brigid’s Hospital; and the cost analysis that led to the decision to repurpose the hospital rather than invest in bringing it up to the standard it is claimed it did not meet. [7328/21]

Horticulture Sector

Martin Browne

1025. Deputy Martin Browne asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the supports available for mushroom growers and the nursery sector who will be affected by the end of horticultural peat harvesting. [7084/21]

Covid-19 Pandemic Supports

Martin Browne

32. Deputy Martin Browne asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment the plans in place to enable businesses that have been closed for extended periods of time due to Covid-19 restrictions to reopen in a manner that takes into account their changed financial situations; his plans to assist these businesses to reopen in a manner that will meet the changed business landscape that will result from the impact of the virus; his plans to avoid a cliff-edge withdrawal of supports once it becomes appropriate for them to reopen; his further plans to provide them with advice and supports on changing their business model if needed; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [5816/21]

Bus Services

Martin Browne

81. Deputy Martin Browne asked the Minister for Transport the contact he has made with Bus Éireann regarding the planned cessation of X8 expressway bus links in County Tipperary; his views on this decision in the context of plan to reduce carbon emissions; his views on this decision in view of the poor level of rural transport available to persons; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [5016/21]

Bus Services

Martin Browne

83. Deputy Martin Browne asked the Minister for Transport the contact he has made with Bus Éireann regarding the planned cessation of X12 expressway bus links in County Tipperary; his views on this decision in the context of his plan to reduce carbon emissions; his further views on this decision in view of the poor level of rural transport available; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [5047/21]

Covid-19 Pandemic

Martin Browne

146. Deputy Martin Browne asked the Minister for Transport if travellers coming into the country via ports or airports and who have to restrict their movements will be provided with secure transport from the airport to their residence or accommodation in order not to risk the spread of Covid-19 on public transport. [5960/21]

Covid-19 Pandemic Supports

Martin Browne

337. Deputy Martin Browne asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs if travellers coming into the country via ports or airports who have to restrict their movements will be provided with secure transport from the airport to their residence or accommodation in order to avoid risking the spread of Covid-19 on public transport. [5961/21]

Work Placement Programmes

Martin Browne

520. Deputy Martin Browne asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science the plans in place for social care students who undertake placements as part of their courses (details supplied). [5075/21]

Dental Services

Martin Browne

796. Deputy Martin Browne asked the Minister for Health the steps that have been taken to address the backlog in dental treatment for public patients; and his plans to clear the backlog. [5608/21]

Dental Services

Martin Browne

797. Deputy Martin Browne asked the Minister for Health if his attention has been drawn to the fact that many families are unable to get dental treatments such as braces through the public systems due to extraordinary waiting lists (details supplied); and the supports available for those facing private medical bills as a result of the failure of the public healthcare system. [5609/21]

Covid-19 Pandemic

Martin Browne

894. Deputy Martin Browne asked the Minister for Health if travellers coming into the country via ports or airports and who have to restrict their movements will be provided with secure transport from the airport to their residence or accommodation in order not to risk the spread of Covid-19 on public transport. [5959/21]

Covid-19 Pandemic

Martin Browne

902. Deputy Martin Browne asked the Minister for Health the details of the requirements for pharmacists who participate in the administration of the Covid-19 vaccine; if those whose CPR training is not up-to-date can self-declare; if provisions have been made to supply them with additional adrenaline autoinjectors for use in the event of adverse reactions; if consideration has been given to the disposal of items used during or as a consequence of the administration programme; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [5987/21]

Covid-19 Pandemic

Martin Browne

903. Deputy Martin Browne asked the Minister for Health if pharmacist assistants and other staff members who will be involved in the programme of Covid-19 vaccine administration will be vaccinated alongside pharmacists. [5988/21]

Covid-19 Pandemic

Martin Browne

904. Deputy Martin Browne asked the Minister for Health if his Department or the HSE will be providing pharmacists with a standard operation procedure for the Covid-19 administration programme; if not, if they will be asked to devise it themselves or individually; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [5989/21]

Covid-19 Pandemic

Martin Browne

905. Deputy Martin Browne asked the Minister for Health the storage provisions that will have to be made available to the pharmacists involved in administering the Covid-19 vaccine. [5990/21]

General Practitioner Services

Martin Browne

906. Deputy Martin Browne asked the Minister for Health his views on the cost of going to the doctor for persons who do not qualify for the medical or general practitioner visit cards. [5991/21]

Covid-19 Pandemic Supports

Martin Browne

45. Deputy Martin Browne asked the Minister for Finance the reason he has no plans to extend the types of businesses that are eligible for the Covid restrictions support scheme; his views on the effect this is having on businesses that are omitted from this scheme; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [4651/21]

Special Educational Needs

Martin Browne

153. Deputy Martin Browne asked the Minister for Education the supports that have been put in place to help children with special and additional needs through the period of school closures; the supports in place to assist children who are reliant upon having a routine and for whom online services are not sufficient or suitable; the plans being drawn up to address the level of regression many parents have drawn their attention to; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [4648/21]

Covid-19 Pandemic

Martin Browne

239. Deputy Martin Browne asked the Minister for Health the reason carers fall into different levels when it comes to the Covid-19 vaccination programme; the reason it was decided to treat them differently to others in the healthcare system; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [4650/21]

Hospital Facilities

Martin Browne

240. Deputy Martin Browne asked the Minister for Health if the cost of bringing St. Brigid’s Hospital, Carrick-on-Suir up to the standard the HSE says it does not meet was identified before the decision to repurpose it was made; if so, if the relevant documents will be provided in relation to same; and if not, the reason a cost estimate was not compiled before it was deemed too costly to address. [4652/21]

Covid-19 Pandemic

Martin Browne

246. Deputy Martin Browne asked the Minister for Health when childcare workers will receive the Covid-19 vaccine; and if they are classed as essential workers.. [4676/21]

Health Services

Martin Browne

263. Deputy Martin Browne asked the Minister for Health the status of the roll-out of a premises (details supplied) in County Tipperary; if the commitment to open it after Christmas has been realised; if the seven staff positions advertised have been selected and staff taken on; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [4776/21]

Mental Health Services

Martin Browne

264. Deputy Martin Browne asked the Minister for Health if he has considered a mental health support plan aimed at business owners who face an uncertain future given the impact of the Covid-19 restrictions on their livelihoods; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [4777/21]

Mental Health Services

Martin Browne

265. Deputy Martin Browne asked the Minister for Health the measures being taken to ensure that a possible increase in persons developing mental health issues due to the Covid crisis is being adequately catered for given the pressure the health service is under; his views on the likelihood that there is an increased need for services at a time when the ability to provide those services is reduced; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [4778/21]

Greenhouse Gas Emissions

Martin Browne

49. Deputy Martin Browne asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications his views on the carbon emissions of Ireland's 5,500 ha of bog used for horticultural peat harvesting; and the reduction in emissions envisaged for 2021 and 2022 through the use of imported peat. [4004/21]

Just Transition Fund

Martin Browne

50. Deputy Martin Browne asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications the amount of horticultural peat exported in each of the past ten years; and the alternative employment envisaged for those employed in the export horticultural peat and root stock sectors. [4006/21]

Just Transition Fund

Martin Browne

51. Deputy Martin Browne asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications the measures that have been taken to assist the horticultural peat sector under the just transition fund. [4007/21]