Ceisteanna Parlaiminte

Mother and Baby Homes

Éamon Ó Cuív

618. Deputy Éamon Ó Cuív asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth when payments under the mother and baby institutions payment scheme will commence; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [24939/24]

Mother and Baby Homes

Éamon Ó Cuív

619. Deputy Éamon Ó Cuív asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth when a decision will be made on an application to the mother and baby institutions payment scheme (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [24940/24]

Mother and Baby Homes

Richard Boyd Barrett

620. Deputy Richard Boyd Barrett asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth if those in receipt of redress through the mother and baby homes redress scheme will have their associated medical cards be assured for the recipients’ lifetime, or be subject to intermittent review; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [24942/24]

Departmental Funding

Willie O'Dea

621. Deputy Willie O'Dea asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth if he will review the decision to refuse transport for three days per week to a person (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [24943/24]

Health Service Executive

Pádraig O'Sullivan

622. Deputy Pádraig O'Sullivan asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth if he will engage with the estates section of the HSE regarding a proposal (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [24951/24]

Early Childhood Care and Education

Seán Haughey

623. Deputy Seán Haughey asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth the number of early years educators who have completed continuous professional development under quality training from city/county childcare committees; in particular diversity, equality and inclusion training, the Always Children First training and the Introduction to Aistear, in tabular form;; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [24960/24]

Early Childhood Care and Education

Seán Haughey

624. Deputy Seán Haughey asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth the cost of providing continuous professional development under quality training from city/county childcare committees; in particular diversity, equality and inclusion training, the Always Children First training and the Introduction to Aistear, in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [24961/24]

Early Childhood Care and Education

Seán Haughey

625. Deputy Seán Haughey asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth the number of early years educators who have completed continuous professional development under quality training from Better Start, in particular Hanen, Lámh, SPEL and Aistear and Play; the annual cost, in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [24962/24]

Early Childhood Care and Education

Seán Haughey

626. Deputy Seán Haughey asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth the cost of providing continuous professional development under quality training from Better Start, in particular Hanen, Lámh, SPEL and Aistear and Play, in tabular form;; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [24963/24]

Early Childhood Care and Education

Seán Haughey

627. Deputy Seán Haughey asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth the number of referrals into the Better Start Quality Development Service from city/county childcare committees, by CCC area, Tusla and self-referrals, in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [24964/24]

Early Childhood Care and Education

Seán Haughey

628. Deputy Seán Haughey asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth the number of early years services who have completed their Better Start QDS, by geographical area, in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [24965/24]

Early Childhood Care and Education

Seán Haughey

629. Deputy Seán Haughey asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth the administration cost for the provision of Better Start and the administration cost of city/county childcare committees; in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [24966/24]

Early Childhood Care and Education

Seán Haughey

630. Deputy Seán Haughey asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth the tasks performed by Better Start and the city/county childcare committees on behalf of his Department’s early years division, in tabular from; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [24967/24]

Early Childhood Care and Education

Seán Haughey

631. Deputy Seán Haughey asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth the costs associated with preforming the tasks carried out on behalf of his Department by Better Start and the city/county childcare committees, in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [24968/24]

International Protection

Fergus O'Dowd

632. Deputy Fergus O'Dowd asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth the number of BOTS recipients and IPA applicants, by Dáil constituency from January 2023 to date, in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [24976/24]

Ukraine War

Joe Flaherty

633. Deputy Joe Flaherty asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth the status of an accommodation offer (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [24984/24]

Ukraine War

Cathal Crowe

634. Deputy Cathal Crowe asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth if he will provide details of all hotels and accommodation providers in Lisdoonvarna, County Clare who are contracted to supply accommodation to Ukrainian war refugees and international protection applicants; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [24987/24]

Disability Services

Pádraig Mac Lochlainn

635. Deputy Pádraig Mac Lochlainn asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth if long-term care can be provided for a person in County Donegal (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [24995/24]

Ukraine War

Mairéad Farrell

636. Deputy Mairéad Farrell asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth the current accommodation supports and the rates of payment that Ukrainian refugees are entitled to, broken down by accommodation type that is, hotels, those staying with families, and so on and the dates that any reductions are set to take effect, in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [24996/24]

Disability Services

Pádraig Mac Lochlainn

637. Deputy Pádraig Mac Lochlainn asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth what full-time care facilities are available for a person with intellectual disabilities (details supplied) in her locality; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [25059/24]

Disability Services

Catherine Murphy

638. Deputy Catherine Murphy asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth if there are plans to provide an occupational therapist service for those with mild intellectual disability in County Kildare. [25103/24]

Freedom of Information

Ged Nash

639. Deputy Ged Nash asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth when a decision will be made on an FOI request (details supplied); if he is aware that the delays in receiving the initial response from his Department and also the additional information requested based on an agreed amendment to the original terms of the request represent breaches of the Act in respect of statutory timelines; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [25121/24]

International Protection

Ged Nash

640. Deputy Ged Nash asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth the date on which his Department first received an offer from the owners/operators of a hospitality business (details supplied) for possible use of the premises as either accommodation for international protection applicants and/or beneficiaries of temporary protection; if he will provide details in terms of the nature and extent of the offer made to the Department; the reasons his Department did not take up the offer of accommodation; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [25122/24]

Departmental Funding

John McGuinness

641. Deputy John McGuinness asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth what state supports and benefits are paid to foster families who have cared for a special needs person for over 20 years from childhood to adulthood; if there are ongoing care payments that they are entitled to; if the individual that requires the care is automatically entitled to some form of payment and/or a social welfare payment in their own right. [25157/24]

Early Childhood Care and Education

Kathleen Funchion

642. Deputy Kathleen Funchion asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth the number of the 7,922 children enrolled in the access inclusion model who are also enrolled in the national childcare scheme. [25168/24]

Early Childhood Care and Education

Kathleen Funchion

643. Deputy Kathleen Funchion asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth the full and first year cost to increase funding to the access inclusion model by 50% and 100% to facilitate children who remain in an early years and childcare setting; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [25169/24]

International Protection

Pa Daly

644. Deputy Pa Daly asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth the number of State-owned buildings that have been built or acquired for the purposes of accommodating beneficiaries of temporary protection, with a breakdown of the number of units delivered by county, the bed capacity per building delivered, the capital cost per building and per bed delivered, in each of the years 2022 to 2023 and to date in 2024, in tabular form. [25206/24]

International Protection

Pa Daly

645. Deputy Pa Daly asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth to specify the occupancy of IPAS accommodation at the end of each month from January 2023 to May 2024; and to provide a breakdown of new entrants to IPAS accommodation and the number of persons exiting IPAS by month from January 2023 to May 2024, in tabular form [25207/24]

International Protection

Pa Daly

646. Deputy Pa Daly asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth to specify the average duration spent in IPAS accommodation by persons that applied for international protection from January 2023, with a breakdown of the duration spent in IPAS accommodation by applicants processed under the standard and accelerated procedure respectively from January 2023 to April 2024, in tabular form [25208/24]

International Protection

Pa Daly

647. Deputy Pa Daly asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth to specify the average duration spent in IPAS accommodation by international protection beneficiaries following the grant of status and the duration spent in IPAS accommodation by persons denied protection status post-decision for applications in which a final decision was made from January 2023. [25209/24]

International Protection

Pa Daly

648. Deputy Pa Daly asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth the total number of people in State-funded accommodation both Ukrainian and International Protection Applicants each month since January 2023 not including those in receipt of the accommodation recognition payment; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [25210/24]

Direct Provision System

Michael McNamara

649. Deputy Michael McNamara asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth if he will outline his plans and provide a timeline for the closure of Direct Provision accommodation by the end of 2024; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [25215/24]

Disability Diagnoses

Paul Murphy

650. Deputy Paul Murphy asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth how a parent would get an appropriate handwriting assessment for a child with dyspraxia that would be accepted by a school in order to recognise that they need to use a laptop in primary school. [25239/24]

Disability Services

Bernard Durkan

651. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth to indicate if residential care can be facilitated as soon as possible in the case of (details supplied), who both have moderate intellectual disabilities and whose case is known to the HSE; if an update can be provided in respect of their case; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [25253/24]

Mother and Baby Homes

Éamon Ó Cuív

652. Deputy Éamon Ó Cuív asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth when a decision will be made on an application to the mother and baby institutions payment scheme (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [25267/24]

Disability Services

James Lawless

653. Deputy James Lawless asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth if he will advise on the application process for permanent residential care for a person (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [25289/24]

Childcare Services

Bernard Durkan

654. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth when ECCE funding will issue for a person (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [25299/24]

Early Childhood Care and Education

Rose Conway-Walsh

655. Deputy Rose Conway-Walsh asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth the number of children availing of the universal National Childcare Scheme subsidy; and the number of children availing of the means-tested National Childcare Scheme subsidy. [25306/24]

Early Childhood Care and Education

Rose Conway-Walsh

656. Deputy Rose Conway-Walsh asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth the total amount spent on the Universal National Childcare Scheme subsidy; and the total amount spent on the means-tested National Childcare Scheme subsidy in 2023 and the profile for 2024. [25307/24]

Adoption Services

Paul Murphy

657. Deputy Paul Murphy asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth whether there is any expedited process available to facilitate the adoption of orphaned children in Gaza. [25316/24]

Ukraine War

Patricia Ryan

658. Deputy Patricia Ryan asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth the measures that can be taken to provide a transport link/bus stop for the people currently accommodated at Bert House, Athy, as there are is no bus stop outside the location, and the residents must walk some distance up a very busy rural road to reach public transport, which is necessary to get these people to school/nursery school, local amenities, and so on. [25324/24]

Ukraine War

Patricia Ryan

659. Deputy Patricia Ryan asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth the measures in place to provide doctor/GP services to the people currently accommodated in Bert House, Athy; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [25325/24]

Maternity Leave

Jennifer Whitmore

660. Deputy Jennifer Whitmore asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth what measures are being put in place to ensure that women who fall ill whilst on maternity leave can avail of their full entitlement of leave for the timeframe for the implementation of those measures; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [25343/24]

Mother and Baby Homes

Marc MacSharry

661. Deputy Marc MacSharry asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth if he will explain the basis for the 180 days' residency requirement in a scheduled institution as a child in order to be eligible for benefits under the mother and baby institutions payment scheme (details supplied); if, in the interest of fairness, he will review this requirement with a view to removing same, given that all former residents went through the same suffering regardless of the number of days; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [25356/24]

International Protection

Paul Murphy

662. Deputy Paul Murphy asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth if a site (details supplied) has been considered as a location to house International Protection applicants; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [25371/24]

Departmental Schemes

Paul Kehoe

663. Deputy Paul Kehoe asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth if he will provide the increases made to the mobility allowance over the past ten years, in tabular form; to provide a statement on the payment; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [25395/24]

Early Childhood Care and Education

James Lawless

664. Deputy James Lawless asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth to examine the case (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [25454/24]

Departmental Contracts

Catherine Murphy

665. Deputy Catherine Murphy asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth if he will provide a schedule of all contracts they have and/or had with a company in the past 25 years to date (details supplied); the agreed contract cost; the ultimate contract cost including extras, design changes, conciliation, claims etc; project name/title; and the name of the body responsible for the delivery of projects where responsibility has been devolved. [25469/24]

International Protection

Michael Ring

666. Deputy Michael Ring asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth further to Parliamentary Question No. 501 of 21 May 2024, the reason no response has issued yet (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [25513/24]

Disability Services

Patrick Costello

667. Deputy Patrick Costello asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth for an update on a matter (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [25526/24]

Disability Services

Patrick Costello

668. Deputy Patrick Costello asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth the total number of vacant whole-time equivalent posts across the 91 CDNTs; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [25527/24]

Disability Services

Bríd Smith

669. Deputy Bríd Smith asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth his views on the case of a child (details supplied) who has been diagnosed with autism, a global speech delay and a developmental delay by a psychiatrist who advises early intervention and access to a range of therapies; if he is aware that parents are being told that there is a five-year waiting list for these services; if he will outline his plans to address this unacceptable delay and a timeframe for ensuring timely access to these much needed services; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [25544/24]

After-School Support Services

Catherine Murphy

670. Deputy Catherine Murphy asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth the funding currently available to afterschool service providers and creches for the provision of services to children with additional needs; if additional funding and/or resources are provided on a once off and/or by way of application to the department as these settings require additional adult to child ratio and his plans to develop a funding scheme in this regard. [25585/24]

Health Services Staff

Francis Noel Duffy

671. Deputy Francis Noel Duffy asked the Minister for Health if he is aware of the HSE recruitment embargo impacting the speech therapy unit in school (details supplied) which will result in children waiting 12 months for necessary services; if he is aware of the detrimental impact this will have on early intervention supports; if his Department will seek recruitment of the speech therapists as soon as possible; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [25025/24]

Departmental Funding

Mary Lou McDonald

672. Deputy Mary Lou McDonald asked the Minister for Health to confirm that the operational funding for the critical and much-needed development (details supplied) for adults who find themselves with complex needs and who want to transition out of homelessness, as committed to by Cabinet in February 2019 supported by the Taoiseach himself as Minister for Health, and agreed to by the Departments of Housing and Health, will be in place prior to the expected opening of the facility in June 2024; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [25504/24]

Addiction Treatment Services

Richard Boyd Barrett

673. Deputy Richard Boyd Barrett asked the Minister for Health if, with regard to St. Columcille’s Hospital, Loughlinstown, he is aware of reports that the hospital’s MRI machine has broken and has not yet been replaced; when he expects the machine to be replaced so the hospital can resume its full suite of services; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [24581/24]

Addiction Treatment Services

Patrick Costello

674. Deputy Patrick Costello asked the Minister for Health if he will give a formal commitment to an organisation (details supplied) in relation to the Usher's Island development that there will be a commitment to multiannual funding agreements, that a commitment for operational costs for 100 beds per annum is secured and that an increase in health and addiction care services beyond the existing €1.8 million core funding is secured. [24587/24]

Health Services

Richard Boyd Barrett

675. Deputy Richard Boyd Barrett asked the Minister for Health if, with regard to a non-habitual Irish citizen who has returned to Ireland for health reasons in order to avail of their family’s support, considering the habitual residence requirement for the medical card and supports where the individual is seriously ill, unable to work, and does not have savings, he will outline what payments, grants, supports and loans are available for application for non-habitual citizens in Ireland; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [24590/24]

Hospital Appointments Status

James Lawless

676. Deputy James Lawless asked the Minister for Health if he will examine an issue (details supplied). [24607/24]

Medical Cards

Duncan Smith

677. Deputy Duncan Smith asked the Minister for Health when a decision will be made in respect of an appeal against a decision to remove a medical card from a person (details supplied), given there was just a €5 increase in income; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [24634/24]

Covid-19 Pandemic

James Lawless

678. Deputy James Lawless asked the Minister for Health if a case (details supplied) will be examined; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [24636/24]

Hospital Services

Michael Fitzmaurice

679. Deputy Michael Fitzmaurice asked the Minister for Health the procedures used for the allocation of beds in the cancer care centre at University Hospital Galway; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [24638/24]

Hospital Services

Michael Fitzmaurice

680. Deputy Michael Fitzmaurice asked the Minister for Health the measures being taken to urgently remediate the systemic problem at the cancer care centre at University Hospital Galway, where patients are regularly experiencing delays in cancer treatment, to fulfil its mandate to operate as a centre of excellence; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [24639/24]

General Practitioner Services

Martin Browne

681. Deputy Martin Browne asked the Minister for Health if there are plans to increase the availability of the GP in Cappawhite, County Tipperary, from three days a week to five days a week, in light of demand and the difficulty some people experience in accessing the GP in Doon, County Limerick, on the days the Cappawhite service is closed; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [24642/24]

Covid-19 Pandemic

David Stanton

682. Deputy David Stanton asked the Minister for Health to outline the entitlement to the Covid-19 pandemic recognition payment for the staff of a hospital (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [24643/24]

Covid-19 Pandemic

Brian Stanley

683. Deputy Brian Stanley asked the Minister for Health when the nurses who worked during Covid with frontline community intervention teams and with CareDoc (Section 39) will receive the €1,000 Covid pandemic bonus. [24644/24]

Health Services Staff

Róisín Shortall

684. Deputy Róisín Shortall asked the Minister for Health the impact of the HSE recruitment freeze on the National Ambulance Service; when candidates on the recruitment panel can expect further engagement or offers; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [24646/24]

Health Services Staff

Róisín Shortall

685. Deputy Róisín Shortall asked the Minister for Health the number of people on the National Ambulance Service primary and supplementary recruitment panels; and the number of offers issued to those on these panel since September 2023, by month and role. [24647/24]

Health Services

Róisín Shortall

686. Deputy Róisín Shortall asked the Minister for Health to provide an update on the Counsellors and Psychotherapists Registration Board; the timeline for opening the register; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [24648/24]

Health Services

Róisín Shortall

687. Deputy Róisín Shortall asked the Minister for Health the engagements he has had with the Minister for Finance in respect of VAT exemption for counsellors and psychotherapists; his views on same; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [24649/24]

Primary Care Centres

Fergus O'Dowd

688. Deputy Fergus O'Dowd asked the Minister for Health the total number of primary care centres operating within the counties of Louth and Meath, in tabular form, by location, itemised services, and the areas that they serve; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [24653/24]

Medicinal Products

Mark Ward

689. Deputy Mark Ward asked the Minister for Health if brincidofovir can be used alongside a bone marrow transplant treatment; how patients can apply for this; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [24656/24]

Hospital Services

Paul Murphy

690. Deputy Paul Murphy asked the Minister for Health the number of first-time spinal appointments that have taken place in CHI over the past three years, broken down by month, in tabular form. [24657/24]

Hospital Services

Mairéad Farrell

691. Deputy Mairéad Farrell asked the Minister for Health if he is aware of the situation, owing to the recruitment embargo, whereby children in Galway who are suffering from Prader-Willi syndrome are having to travel to Tallaght hospital in Dublin, however the paediatric dietitian in Tallaght is now currently not working; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [24658/24]

Departmental Data

Carol Nolan

692. Deputy Carol Nolan asked the Minister for Health Minister to provide details of any anti-racism or unconscious bias training and presentations made available to staff in his Department during the period 2021 to date; the content of such training and presentations; the provider of any such training and presentations and the costs incurred for each event; if attendance at such training and presentations is mandatory or voluntary for staff; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [24672/24]

Health Services

Mattie McGrath

693. Deputy Mattie McGrath asked the Minister for Health the future plans for the health centre at a location (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [24685/24]

Departmental Data

Carol Nolan

694. Deputy Carol Nolan asked the Minister for Health the reported rate of elder abuse incidences in each community healthcare organisation, CHO, area; the total national reported incidence rate; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [24693/24]

Legislative Measures

Carol Nolan

695. Deputy Carol Nolan asked the Minister for Health if his Department will be prioritising the progression of any specific pieces of legislation prior to the Dáil summer recess; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [24704/24]

Covid-19 Pandemic Supports

Kathleen Funchion

696. Deputy Kathleen Funchion asked the Minister for Health if he will report on the fund for those suffering from the long-term effects of Covid; if this fund is currently in operation; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [24722/24]

Medical Cards

Éamon Ó Cuív

697. Deputy Éamon Ó Cuív asked the Minister for Health the reason the medical card section is not accepting notices of assessment for couples, that shows both the taxpayer and spouse’s income as proof of self-employment income; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [24732/24]

Medical Cards

Éamon Ó Cuív

698. Deputy Éamon Ó Cuív asked the Minister for Health the reason the medical card section is not accepting an applicant’s notices of assessment, that shows both the taxpayer and spouse’s income as proof of self-employment income (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [24733/24]

Health Services Waiting Lists

Pat Buckley

699. Deputy Pat Buckley asked the Minister for Health the reason a 68-year-old lady (details supplied) has been on a waiting list for breast surgery for over two years; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [24735/24]

Covid-19 Pandemic Supports

Brendan Smith

700. Deputy Brendan Smith asked the Minister for Health the existing policies to support medical staff who have contracted long-Covid and are now unable to work; his plans to introduce such a scheme; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [24736/24]

Childcare Services

James Lawless

701. Deputy James Lawless asked the Minister for Health to sanction pay increases to child care employees (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [24747/24]

Vaccination Programme

Bernard Durkan

702. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Health if he will provide an update on his Department's request to HIQA to carry out a health technology assessment examining the cost benefits of an enhanced vaccine for the over-65s; when the formal consultation with interested stakeholders will be announced; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [24750/24]

Cancer Services

Jennifer Whitmore

703. Deputy Jennifer Whitmore asked the Minister for Health if plans exist to make bowel cancer screening available to all persons aged 70 years and over; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [24751/24]

Health Services

Peadar Tóibín

704. Deputy Peadar Tóibín asked the Minister for Health when a child (details supplied) will be supplied with an insulin pump. [24758/24]

Health Services

Peadar Tóibín

705. Deputy Peadar Tóibín asked the Minister for Health to provide a breakdown of the number and current waiting times for insulin pumps at each diabetes clinic, including children’s hospitals; and the actions being taken to speed up the provision of pumps, in tabular form. [24759/24]

Health Services

John Paul Phelan

706. Deputy John Paul Phelan asked the Minister for Health the services that exist for patients with complex immune deficiencies, auto-immune diseases and allergic disorders given that demands for clinical immunology and allergy services are increasing; his plans to develop these services in line with demand; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [24763/24]

Medicinal Products

Pat Buckley

707. Deputy Pat Buckley asked the Minister for Health if his attention has been drawn to the exorbitant prices being charged for melatonin which has been prescribed for adolescents, as much as €60 per month, but is not covered by the drugs payment scheme, DPS, or medical card; the reason for this; and the steps he will take to resolve the hardship being caused. [24775/24]

Medicinal Products

Pat Buckley

708. Deputy Pat Buckley asked the Minister for Health if his attention has been drawn to the fact that children who are prescribed fluoxetine under 30mg are not covered by the DPS or medical card scheme; the reason for this, considering 30mg tablets are not available; and the steps he will take to resolve the hardship this is causing people in mental health distress. [24776/24]

Medicinal Products

Pat Buckley

709. Deputy Pat Buckley asked the Minister for Health his plans to reduce the cost of medicines related to the treatment or management of autism and ADHD given increasing diagnosis at adult ages and the prohibitive costs of treatment for many adults who do not have medical cards, given the fact that the drugs payment scheme, DPS, may not cover any of their monthly costs or only a small part. [24777/24]

Dental Services

Robert Troy

710. Deputy Robert Troy asked the Minister for Health if he will ensure orthodontal surgery is expedited for a patient (details supplied). [24788/24]

Hospital Appointments Status

Michael Healy-Rae

711. Deputy Michael Healy-Rae asked the Minister for Health the status of a hospital appointment for a person (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [24796/24]

Health Services

Seán Crowe

712. Deputy Seán Crowe asked the Minister for Health the number of children accessing speech and language therapy in community healthcare organisation, CHO 7; the number of children awaiting assessment for therapy; the number of children who have been assessed and await therapy; and the average waiting time for both assessment and post-assessment access. [24806/24]

Health Services

Seán Crowe

713. Deputy Seán Crowe asked the Minister for Health the number of adults accessing speech and language therapy in community healthcare organisation, CHO 7; the number of adults awaiting assessment for therapy; the number of adults who have been assessed and await therapy; and the average waiting time for both assessment and post-assessment access. [24807/24]

Health Services Staff

Paul Murphy

714. Deputy Paul Murphy asked the Minister for Health if he will lift the HSE's recruitment embargo, considering the negative impact it is having on the already lengthy waiting lists within the HSE, and specifically speech therapy for children; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [24813/24]

Healthcare Policy

Mark Ward

715. Deputy Mark Ward asked the Minister for Health to outline the medical trials in which a person (details supplied) was involved in the Eastern Health Board between 1981 and 1998; to outline the uses of several medications and trials; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [24837/24]

Health Services

Patrick Costello

716. Deputy Patrick Costello asked the Minister for Health further to Parliamentary Question No. 130 of 28 February 2024, what proportion of autistic people start on hormone therapy with the National Gender Service. [24847/24]

Medical Inquiries

Patrick Costello

717. Deputy Patrick Costello asked the Minister for Health further to Parliamentary Question No. 130 of 28 February 2024, what medical literature underpins the National Gender Service's statement that unsupported autism can lead an increase the risk in a decline in the context of a medical transition. [24848/24]