Ceisteanna Parlaiminte

Medical Conditions

Gino Kenny

143. Deputy Gino Kenny asked the Minister for Health if he will designate myalgic encephalomyelitis as a reportable health condition in order to obtain robust official collection of data on the number of children, young persons and adults with the condition and the degrees of severity of the condition; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [22168/19]

Medical Conditions

Gino Kenny

144. Deputy Gino Kenny asked the Minister for Health if he will direct the HSE to update its diagnostic and treatment procedures for persons with myalgic encephalomyelitis to reflect best international practice; if he will address the lack of specialist support within the health service for those suffering with ME; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [22169/19]

Aftercare Services

Gino Kenny

196. Deputy Gino Kenny asked the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs the way in which afterschool services which focus on providing services to children from disadvantaged communities whose parents are unemployed will be provided in the future if the cuts planned under the new national childcare scheme proceed; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [22153/19]

Special Educational Needs Service Provision

Gino Kenny

261. Deputy Gino Kenny asked the Minister for Education and Skills if his attention has been drawn to the fact that a child (details supplied) with Down's syndrome and a mild learning disability has been excluded from availing of the July provision; if this is standard practice; the eligibility criteria for the July provision; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [21801/19]

Medicinal Products Reimbursement

Gino Kenny

29. Deputy Gino Kenny asked the Minister for Health if his attention has been drawn to the wait that families of children with SMA have been facing while the approval of Spinraza has yet to be resolved; if he will intervene on behalf of children such as a child (details supplied); if he will deliver a positive outcome for all children with SMA and their families by announcing the approval of Spinraza; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [20497/19]

Cannabis for Medicinal Use

Gino Kenny

37. Deputy Gino Kenny asked the Minister for Health the date for the commencement of the cannabis access programme; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [20843/19]

Medicinal Products Reimbursement

Gino Kenny

146. Deputy Gino Kenny asked the Minister for Health the status of the decision on the approval of Spinraza; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [20844/19]

Special Educational Needs

Gino Kenny

180. Deputy Gino Kenny asked the Minister for Education and Skills if he will meet a union (details supplied) to address the many questions that special needs assistants have regarding the 13 recommendations of the NCSE before roll-out begins; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [20707/19]

Special Educational Needs Staff

Gino Kenny

181. Deputy Gino Kenny asked the Minister for Education and Skills his views on the lack of job security for special needs assistants; if he will consider establishing a SNA panel modelled on the supplementary panels for primary school teachers; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [20708/19]

Special Educational Needs Staff

Gino Kenny

182. Deputy Gino Kenny asked the Minister for Education and Skills if information regarding to the way in which special needs assistants' bank of 72 hours should be used and on which tasks could be circulated immediately to schools nationally; and if these hours can be brought into line with those of teachers; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [20709/19]

Special Educational Needs Staff

Gino Kenny

183. Deputy Gino Kenny asked the Minister for Education and Skills if certain entitlements such as breastfeeding breaks, days off for children's college graduations, bereavement leave, assault and health and safety leave could be introduced for special needs assistants; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [20710/19]

Cannabis for Medicinal Use

Gino Kenny

359. Deputy Gino Kenny asked the Minister for Health the number of the ministerial licences for medicinal cannabis granted that have been reimbursed for the cost of the medication; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [20846/19]

Health Services Funding

Gino Kenny

649. Deputy Gino Kenny asked the Minister for Health the steps he will take to provide funding of €200,000 per year to an association (details supplied) to enable it to provide a five-day per week helpline, cover core costs and employ a full-time specialist nurse; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [18563/19]

Services for People with Disabilities

Gino Kenny

691. Deputy Gino Kenny asked the Minister for Health if the creation of an additional position for a cognitive behavioural therapy practitioner in the city north-east sector (details supplied) will be considered; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [18675/19]

Assisted Human Reproduction Legislation

Gino Kenny

724. Deputy Gino Kenny asked the Minister for Health his plans to introduce legislation in relation to surrogacy that is inclusive of same-sex male couples (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [18824/19]

Cannabis for Medicinal Use

Gino Kenny

938. Deputy Gino Kenny asked the Minister for Health the details of all those participating or involved in the cannabis working group; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [19612/19]

VAT Exemptions

Gino Kenny

55. Deputy Gino Kenny asked the Minister for Finance if his attention has been drawn to the precedent set by his predecessor (details supplied) in which his predecessor intervened in a decision by the Revenue Commissioners to impose VAT on herbal teas in 2014 which resulted in the abandonment of the proposed VAT imposition; if he has given consideration to intervening in the proposed imposition of 23% VAT on food supplements planned to commence on 1 March 2019; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [17646/19]

VAT Exemptions

Gino Kenny

63. Deputy Gino Kenny asked the Minister for Finance his plans to intervene to defer the planned imposition of 23% VAT on food supplements until a review of the impact of same on small businesses and employees has taken place, in view of the impending effect of Brexit in addition to the VAT hike; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [17647/19]

Cannabis for Medicinal Use

Gino Kenny

301. Deputy Gino Kenny asked the Minister for Health if there are several medicinal cannabis licence holders who avail of a third party to collect and deliver their prescription to the licensed home address of the holder; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [14975/19]

Crime Data

Gino Kenny

152. Deputy Gino Kenny asked the Minister for Justice and Equality the number of persons arrested for cannabis-related offences in each of the years 2013 to 2018; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [14385/19]

Crime Data

Gino Kenny

153. Deputy Gino Kenny asked the Minister for Justice and Equality the number of cannabis grow house seizures in each of the years 2013 to 2018; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [14386/19]

Crime Data

Gino Kenny

154. Deputy Gino Kenny asked the Minister for Justice and Equality the number of persons imprisoned for cannabis-related offences in each of the years 2013 to 2018; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [14387/19]

Crime Data

Gino Kenny

155. Deputy Gino Kenny asked the Minister for Justice and Equality the number of persons with no previous convictions that were imprisoned for cannabis-related offences in each of the years 2013 to 2018; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [14388/19]

Legal Aid Service Data

Gino Kenny

156. Deputy Gino Kenny asked the Minister for Justice and Equality the number of persons tried for cannabis-related offences that sought free legal aid in each of the years 2013 to 2018; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [14389/19]

Legal Aid Service Data

Gino Kenny

157. Deputy Gino Kenny asked the Minister for Justice and Equality the cost of free legal aid for those tried for cannabis-related offences in each of the years 2013 to 2018; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [14390/19]

Crime Data

Gino Kenny

158. Deputy Gino Kenny asked the Minister for Justice and Equality the average sentence for those imprisoned for cannabis-related offences in each of the years 2013 to 2018; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [14391/19]

Crime Data

Gino Kenny

159. Deputy Gino Kenny asked the Minister for Justice and Equality the number of cannabis-related offences before the Court of Appeal in each of the years 2013 to 2018; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [14392/19]

Crime Data

Gino Kenny

160. Deputy Gino Kenny asked the Minister for Justice and Equality the street value of cannabis seized by An Garda Síochána in each of the years 2013 to 2018; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [14393/19]

Cannabis for Medicinal Use

Gino Kenny

4. Deputy Gino Kenny asked the Minister for Health the steps he will take to address the issue of those with a licence to use cannabis medicinally having to travel to the Netherlands regularly to obtain their prescription; if the establishment of a distributive system similar to that in the UK and Northern Ireland (details supplied) will be considered; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [12082/19]

Mental Health Services Provision

Gino Kenny

17. Deputy Gino Kenny asked the Minister for Health if his attention has been drawn to the fact that adult community mental health services in Clondalkin may be lost as a result of a lack of suitable premises; if his attention has been further drawn to the fact that organisations such as a task force (details supplied) are extremely concerned about the impact this will have on service users who benefit from having access to local services; if his attention has been further drawn to the fact that Clondalkin has one of the highest levels of referrals for mental health services in the country and the detrimental impact the loss of local mental health services will have on the community; the measures he will take to urge the HSE to ensure that services are kept in the locality; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [12399/19]

Cannabis for Medicinal Use

Gino Kenny

66. Deputy Gino Kenny asked the Minister for Health if his attention has been drawn to, and his plans to address, the contradiction in granting licences for the prescription of THC products for children with intractable epilepsy but they are then omitted from the cannabis access programme; the steps he will take to include children with intractable epilepsy, with the recommendation of their consultant, in the cannabis access programme; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [12398/19]

Long-Term Illness Scheme

Gino Kenny

96. Deputy Gino Kenny asked the Minister for Health if he will implement a review of the long-term illness scheme in view of the fact that it is almost 50 years since it has been updated; if he will consider the addition of fibromyalgia and ME to the scheme; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [12400/19]

Departmental Budgets

Gino Kenny

310. Deputy Gino Kenny asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport if a list of projects and their respective costs which were funded under the heading of walking and cycling (details supplied) between 1 January and 31 December 2018 will be published; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [12669/19]

Schools Building Projects Status

Gino Kenny

141. Deputy Gino Kenny asked the Minister for Education and Skills the stage the building project at a school (details supplied) is at; and the timeframe for construction to commence at the school. [11708/19]

Equality Proofing of Budgets

Gino Kenny

45. Deputy Gino Kenny asked the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform if consideration will be given to disability proofing the next budget and all budgets thereafter; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [7147/19]

Child and Adolescent Mental Health Services

Gino Kenny

293. Deputy Gino Kenny asked the Minister for Health if his attention has been drawn to the fact that a publicly funded youth mental health organisation (details supplied) plans to amalgamate its services which will result in the eventual removal of access to local mental health services for youth in Clondalkin and the surrounding area; the impact this will have on young persons in the Dublin mid-west area which has the second highest number of referrals to mental health services nationally; if the HSE, as funder, can intervene to insist that local services remain in place; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [10416/19]

Medicinal Products

Gino Kenny

323. Deputy Gino Kenny asked the Minister for Health if his attention has been drawn to the statement by the HSE regarding Spinraza, which contains figures that are at least six months out of date (details supplied); the steps he will take to request the HSE takes the updated information into account; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [10605/19]

Medicinal Products Reimbursement

Gino Kenny

324. Deputy Gino Kenny asked the Minister for Health the reason Spinraza has yet to be approved here in view of the fact it has been approved for reimbursement in 25 other European countries (details supplied); if he will request the HSE to re-enter discussions with a company; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [10606/19]

Driver Licence Renewals

Gino Kenny

478. Deputy Gino Kenny asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport his views on the issue of drivers' licences being renewed and issued before their expiry dates have passed causing applicants to miss out on up to three months of validity if they choose to renew their licences early. [10658/19]

Middle East Issues

Gino Kenny

16. Deputy Gino Kenny asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade the steps he will take to have the Temporary International Presence in Hebron reinstated as a matter of urgency (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [8900/19]

Departmental Expenditure

Gino Kenny

201. Deputy Gino Kenny asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport the code or heading under which the expenditure for cycling and-or walking appear in the accounts of his Department; the cycling and walking projects and the allocation to each which were funded between 1 January and 31 December 2018; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [9953/19]

Cannabis for Medicinal Use

Gino Kenny

390. Deputy Gino Kenny asked the Minister for Health the progress made to date on the proposed cannabis access programme; if potential suppliers have been identified; and the timeframe for the implementation of the programme. [9540/19]

Cannabis for Medicinal Use

Gino Kenny

391. Deputy Gino Kenny asked the Minister for Health the number of licences issued to date for medical cannabis. [9541/19]

Cannabis for Medicinal Use

Gino Kenny

392. Deputy Gino Kenny asked the Minister for Health if an importation licence has been granted to a company that will supply cannabis for the cannabis access programme. [9542/19]

Wildlife Protection

Gino Kenny

25. Deputy Gino Kenny asked the Minister for Culture, Heritage and the Gaeltacht if consideration will be given to commissioning a report into the environmental impact of the Heritage Act 2016, particularly the provisions in the Act which concern the extension of the cutting and burring season of hedge rows; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [8501/19]

Schools Building Projects

Gino Kenny

203. Deputy Gino Kenny asked the Minister for Education and Skills if his attention has been drawn to the escalating problem of the lack of school places for children in an area (details supplied) in County Dublin; if a new school will open by 2020 as promised; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [7739/19]

National Disability Strategy Implementation Plan

Gino Kenny

63. Deputy Gino Kenny asked the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs her plans to disability proof the policies of her Department in the future; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [6746/19]

Disabilities Data

Gino Kenny

59. Deputy Gino Kenny asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport his plans to disability-proof policies of his Department; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [6514/19]

Disabilities Assessments

Gino Kenny

91. Deputy Gino Kenny asked the Minister for Health his views on the fact that the new standard operating procedure for the assessment of need does not require the HSE to diagnose a child at the assessment of need stage (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [52346/18]

Disabilities Assessments

Gino Kenny

93. Deputy Gino Kenny asked the Minister for Health the steps he will take to ensure that the HSE rectifies the undue and excessive delays in completing proper and lawful assessment of needs for children with disabilities in view of the fact that the ongoing failure to provide these services is perceived to be a failure to respect children’s rights under Article 8 of the European Convention of Human Rights; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [52342/18]