Ceisteanna Parlaiminte

Health Services Waiting Lists

Colm Burke

588. Deputy Colm Burke asked the Minister for Health to outline the steps that he will take to address the growing numbers on waiting lists within the CAMHS services, considering that there was an almost 60% increase in waiting list numbers between 2020-2022; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [49873/23]

Mental Health Services

Colm Burke

589. Deputy Colm Burke asked the Minister for Health to ensure that additional resources are put in place to facilitate the changes that will be brought about by the upcoming reform of the Mental Health Act 2001; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [49874/23]

Departmental Funding

Colm Burke

590. Deputy Colm Burke asked the Minister for Health to give due consideration to set aside dedicated funding for National Clinical Programmes in relation to Women’s Mental Health, Eating Disorders, and Dual Diagnosis (self-harm/suicide and homelessness). [49875/23]

Social Welfare Benefits

Colm Burke

262. Deputy Colm Burke asked the Minister for Social Protection to arrange for jobseeker’s allowance to be restored to a person (details supplied) who is currently unemployed, has applied for carer’s allowance and as a result the jobseeker’s allowance was immediately removed, even though 4.5 months later no decision has been made on their carer’s allowance application; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [49133/23]

Childcare Services

Colm Burke

36. Deputy Colm Burke asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth to outline the measures in budget 2024 to support childcare facilities and crèches; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [48539/23]

Childcare Services

Colm Burke

59. Deputy Colm Burke asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth to outline the reductions in pre-primary childcare fees for parents and guardians as proposed in budget 2024; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [48538/23]

Environmental Schemes

Colm Burke

135. Deputy Colm Burke asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications to allocate dedicated funding within the warmer homes scheme towards the retrofitting of 1,000 homes for people with asthma; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [48599/23]

Flood Risk Management

Colm Burke

366. Deputy Colm Burke asked the Minister for Public Expenditure, National Development Plan Delivery and Reform when the final public consultation on the Blackpool flood relief scheme will take place; what format it will take, particularly in light of recent flooding; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [47942/23]

Work Permits

Colm Burke

390. Deputy Colm Burke asked the Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment if he will take the necessary steps to ensure that the employment permit process and the employment visa process are streamlined under the jurisdiction of one Government Department; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [47630/23]

Business Supports

Colm Burke

425. Deputy Colm Burke asked the Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment what funding and supports are available to women entrepreneurs looking to start agricultural businesses or agrifood enterprises; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [48840/23]

Schools Building Projects

Colm Burke

468. Deputy Colm Burke asked the Minister for Education when a school (details supplied) that completed a Stage 2B submission on 2 June 2023 to the building unit of her Department under the additional accommodation scheme, may be permitted proceed to tender for this project; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [47597/23]

School Transport

Colm Burke

556. Deputy Colm Burke asked the Minister for Education when an appeal (details supplied) submitted to the School Transport Appeals Board will be processed and a decision reached, in view that it has been over seven weeks since the appeal was submitted; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [48676/23]

School Staff

Colm Burke

565. Deputy Colm Burke asked the Minister for Education if her Department is engaging with stakeholders (details supplied) with regard to the establishment of a nationwide teacher transfer system for post primary teachers; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [48785/23]

Waterways Issues

Colm Burke

692. Deputy Colm Burke asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage when the third River Basin Management Plan for Ireland, to cover the EU Water Framework Directive third cycle, will be published; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [48836/23]

Social Welfare Benefits

Colm Burke

707. Deputy Colm Burke asked the Minister for Social Protection to confirm that a person (details supplied) will be awarded the full rate of disability allowance; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [47384/23]

Social Welfare Eligibility

Colm Burke

720. Deputy Colm Burke asked the Minister for Social Protection the qualifying criteria for people with epilepsy and other medical conditions who cannot drive but are not in receipt of a social welfare payment for free travel as per Budget 2024; whether such support will be means tested; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [47599/23]

Social Welfare Benefits

Colm Burke

778. Deputy Colm Burke asked the Minister for Social Protection if she will consider a free travel card for a person (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [48621/23]

Social Welfare Eligibility

Colm Burke

785. Deputy Colm Burke asked the Minister for Social Protection what action her Department is taking to ensure that women engaged in full-time agricultural activities have access to social protection measures, such as maternity benefits; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [48837/23]

Visa Applications

Colm Burke

789. Deputy Colm Burke asked the Minister for Justice when a decision is likely to be reached on a visa extension application (details supplied) in view that the visa is due to expire on 30 October 2023; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [47272/23]

Naturalisation Applications

Colm Burke

811. Deputy Colm Burke asked the Minister for Justice to confirm the status of an application for Irish citizenship by naturalisation (details supplied); when a decision is likely to be reached; when the applicant will be notified of the outcome of the vetting application in view that disclosure was made available to the Irish Naturalization and Immigration Service on 9 October 2023; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [47759/23]

Departmental Policies

Colm Burke

937. Deputy Colm Burke asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if he and his Department will continue to advocate at European Union Parliament level to address the barriers faced by young farmers to access agricultural activity including access to land, access to finance, access to markets and fair remuneration for work, access to knowledge and training, and the need of public policies to address these issues; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [48238/23]

Departmental Policies

Colm Burke

938. Deputy Colm Burke asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine what action his Department is taking to ensure going forward a fair and dignified income, a proper quality of life for farmers and their families and to attract young and new people into the Irish farming sector; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [48239/23]

Departmental Policies

Colm Burke

939. Deputy Colm Burke asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if he will consider the inclusion and participation of young farmers and young people wishing to enter the Irish farming sector in the democratic processes, policy making and budgetary decisions in Irish and European agriculture, and to take fully into account the young farmer's point of view in the design of policies and funding instruments; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [48240/23]

Departmental Policies

Colm Burke

940. Deputy Colm Burke asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine what action his Department is taking to promote generational renewal in the Irish farming sector in view of the findings in a recent report (details supplied) which found that the CAP is not sufficient for meeting the challenges of generational renewal; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [48241/23]

Departmental Policies

Colm Burke

941. Deputy Colm Burke asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine what action his Department is taking to ensure that generational renewal remains a high priority in the future programming period, in particular for the next CAP, under which it must receive increased, mandatory support to meet the challenges for generational renewal; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [48242/23]

Departmental Policies

Colm Burke

942. Deputy Colm Burke asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if he will consider the recommendations and pathways set out in a report (details supplied) in the future development and implementation of policy and budgetary measures in the Irish Agri sector; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [48243/23]

Land Issues

Colm Burke

949. Deputy Colm Burke asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine what action his Department is taking to address land accessibility issues for young farmers, given that this is one of the largest barriers for young farmers, especially for those who are entering the activity from outside a family context; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [48398/23]

Agriculture Industry

Colm Burke

956. Deputy Colm Burke asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if he will consider establishing an Irish vegetable marketing body (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [48797/23]

Teagasc Activities

Colm Burke

957. Deputy Colm Burke asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if he will consider expanding the role of Teagasc to establish a register of Irish vegetable growers and a specific marketing body through which Irish vegetable growers would supply to and from which Irish supermarkets would be obliged to purchase from, and the Teagasc body would have first-hand information on the cost of vegetable production; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [48798/23]

Teagasc Activities

Colm Burke

958. Deputy Colm Burke asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if he will consider allowing Teagasc farm advisors and other independent farm advisors to conduct visits to vegetable farms on a more regular basis to give advice and update growers on research findings which Teagasc conduct at present (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [48799/23]

Bord Bia

Colm Burke

959. Deputy Colm Burke asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if he will consider a review of the current Bord Bia criteria and requirements of Irish vegetable growers registered with the food body (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [48800/23]

Horticulture Sector

Colm Burke

960. Deputy Colm Burke asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine what action his Department is taking to ensure that the Irish horticulture sector is a viable option for Irish vegetable growers (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [48801/23]

Horticulture Sector

Colm Burke

961. Deputy Colm Burke asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine what financial support schemes and incentives are in place to support Irish vegetable growers in the horticulture sector; if he will consider the provision of additional financial supports in view of increased fuel, fertiliser, seed and labour costs; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [48802/23]

Horticulture Sector

Colm Burke

962. Deputy Colm Burke asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine what action his Department is taking to increase the production of vegetables in the Irish horticulture sector for the Irish market and to reduce dependence on imports of vegetables from other countries; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [48803/23]

Horticulture Sector

Colm Burke

963. Deputy Colm Burke asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine what action his Department is taking to support the Irish horticulture sector to incentivise Irish vegetable growers to remain in the sector and for new vegetable growers to enter the sector; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [48804/23]

Teagasc Activities

Colm Burke

964. Deputy Colm Burke asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if he will consider, in conjunction with Teagasc and other independent farm advisors, conducting a review of the current Irish vegetable exports area, given that vegetable imports which could be grown successfully here are increasing as Irish growers exit the horticulture sector; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [48805/23]

Agriculture Industry

Colm Burke

965. Deputy Colm Burke asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine to list all current agricultural research and development initiatives in Ireland; the status of these initiatives; the details of plans to boost agricultural innovation and technology adoption in accordance with EU initiatives; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [48833/23]

Agriculture Industry

Colm Burke

966. Deputy Colm Burke asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine what action his Department is taking to address the under-representation of women in the Irish agriculture sector, in particular at management level; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [48834/23]

Agriculture Industry

Colm Burke

967. Deputy Colm Burke asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine what action is being taken by his Department to challenge and change cultural stereotypes and biases that may discourage women from pursuing agricultural careers; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [48835/23]

Disability Services

Colm Burke

994. Deputy Colm Burke asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth if he will consider the implementation of a disability home support scheme; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [47631/23]

Medical Aids and Appliances

Colm Burke

1148. Deputy Colm Burke asked the Minister for Health when a child (details supplied) who is currently attending Crumlin Children's Hospital will be provided with a wheelchair, as it is urgently required by them; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [47606/23]

State Bodies

Colm Burke

1151. Deputy Colm Burke asked the Minister for Health if he will provide a status update regarding the anticipated opening date of the National Home Support Office; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [47626/23]

Healthcare Infrastructure Provision

Colm Burke

1152. Deputy Colm Burke asked the Minister for Health to provide a status update regarding the rollout of the new ICT system for HSE Home Support Services; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [47627/23]

Home Help Service

Colm Burke

1153. Deputy Colm Burke asked the Minister for Health to outline the steps that he has taken to date to address delays in the Statutory Home Support Scheme; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [47628/23]

Home Help Service

Colm Burke

1154. Deputy Colm Burke asked the Minister for Health if he will take the necessary steps to ensure that future tender invitations for home support services will include mileage payments to homecare workers (as is the case for HSE employed carers); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [47629/23]

Home Help Service

Colm Burke

1155. Deputy Colm Burke asked the Minister for Health if he will engage with representatives of homecare providers and homecare workers for the purposes of developing career structures and pathways for homecare workers; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [47638/23]

Home Help Service

Colm Burke

1156. Deputy Colm Burke asked the Minister for Health if he will take the necessary steps to ensure that homecare workers continue to receive the living wage for the duration of Authorisation Scheme 2023; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [47632/23]

Care Services

Colm Burke

1157. Deputy Colm Burke asked the Minister for Health to provide a status update regarding the establishment of a Commission on Care; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [47633/23]

Home Care Packages

Colm Burke

1158. Deputy Colm Burke asked the Minister for Health if he will take the necessary steps to enable hospitals to block book home care hours, in order to enable providers to plan strategically and ensure that there are carers available to support timely discharge of patients; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [47634/23]

Home Care Packages

Colm Burke

1159. Deputy Colm Burke asked the Minister for Health if he will take the necessary steps to ensure that homecare providers are paid for a month when a client pauses receiving care to ensure that the homecare workers remain assigned to the client; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [47635/23]