Ceisteanna Parlaiminte

Disabilities Assessments

Gino Kenny

403. Deputy Gino Kenny asked the Minister for Health his views on the failure of the HSE to complete assessment of needs for children with disabilities within a reasonable timeframe (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [52343/18]

Disabilities Assessments

Gino Kenny

404. Deputy Gino Kenny asked the Minister for Health the mode of operation in relation to assessment of needs in view of the fact that parents are reporting mixed messages from his Department (details supplied) in relation to procedure; if the new standard operating procedure remains suspended; the measures being taken to clear the substantial waiting lists for an assessment of needs; the reason some assessments are being outsourced to private contractors while other parents are being informed that there is no budget to do so; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [52344/18]

Disabilities Assessments

Gino Kenny

405. Deputy Gino Kenny asked the Minister for Health if his attention has been drawn to the fact that some parents are being refused an assessment of need following the parent questionnaire stage in view of the fact that English is not their first language or there may be literacy difficulties and they may not have the necessary skills to recognise the red flags of disability; if his attention has been further drawn to the need for professionals to review the child as best practice; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [52345/18]

Services for People with Disabilities

Gino Kenny

406. Deputy Gino Kenny asked the Minister for Health the steps he will take to prevent the closure of a society (details supplied); his views on the potential loss to the deaf community of the only national representation and advocacy organisation should the society close; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [4170/19]

Human Rights Cases

Gino Kenny

48. Deputy Gino Kenny asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade the steps he will take to request that the authorities of a prison (details supplied) lift the ban on freedom of prisoner movement and association within the prison; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [3899/19]

Human Rights Cases

Gino Kenny

90. Deputy Gino Kenny asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade if his attention has been drawn to the recent attacks on prisoners in a prison (details supplied) by Israeli prison administration and military forces, including the use of rubber bullets, tear gas, sound grenades and police dogs; if he will raise the attacks with the Israeli authorities and request they cease; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [3898/19]

Departmental Funding

Gino Kenny

196. Deputy Gino Kenny asked the Minister for Education and Skills the status of the provision of emergency funding for remedial works at a centre (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [3792/19]

Vaccination Programme

Gino Kenny

154. Deputy Gino Kenny asked the Minister for Health if his attention has been drawn to the high cost for persons from low income backgrounds in accessing the meningitis B vaccine whose children were born before 2016; his plans to address this; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [3267/19]

Medical Waste Disposal

Gino Kenny

195. Deputy Gino Kenny asked the Minister for Communications, Climate Action and Environment the status of the provision of €75 to households in which a member has adult incontinence towards the disposal of dressings and pads; and when this will be provided. [3191/19]

Departmental Expenditure

Gino Kenny

229. Deputy Gino Kenny asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport the capital expenditure to the end of December 2018 under the heading of walking and cycling; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [1821/19]

Medicinal Products Reimbursement

Gino Kenny

604. Deputy Gino Kenny asked the Minister for Health if his attention has been drawn to the distress the parents of children with SMA are experiencing due to the delay in making the drug Spinraza available (details supplied); the steps he will take to ensure that this matter is resolved at the drugs meeting in January 2019; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [54321/18]

Departmental Funding

Gino Kenny

179. Deputy Gino Kenny asked the Minister for Education and Skills the status of the emergency funding for repair work at a centre (details supplied); the reason his Department has not replied to the Dublin and Dún Laoghaire Education and Training Board report that was submitted in October 2018; when funding will be approved and provided; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [52724/18]

Special Educational Needs Service Provision

Gino Kenny

240. Deputy Gino Kenny asked the Minister for Education and Skills his views on the lack of special needs units in schools in the Lucan area; his plans to address this shortage in view of the number of families with children with special needs in the area; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [53289/18]

Cancer Screening Programmes

Gino Kenny

405. Deputy Gino Kenny asked the Minister for Health his views on the fee of €2,000 that patients who want to determine if they are suitable for the cancer treatment drug pembrolizumab are charged; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [53073/18]

Military Aircraft Landings

Gino Kenny

14. Deputy Gino Kenny asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport his views on the recently released figures which show that there has already been an increase in applications to allow civil flights carrying weapons to land in Irish airports; his further views on the impact on Ireland’s neutrality; his views on the need for more transparency regarding the items being taken through Shannon Airport and the locations the troops and weapons are going to; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [48013/18]

Consular Services

Gino Kenny

106. Deputy Gino Kenny asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade if his attention has been drawn to the plight of a person (details supplied); the steps he has taken to investigate and assist in this case; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [51710/18]

School Accommodation

Gino Kenny

191. Deputy Gino Kenny asked the Minister for Education and Skills the details regarding the lease of a school (details supplied) by his Department from a trust; the reason for the decision not to renew the current lease held by a scout group; his plans to rent the building out at market rent in 2019; if there are stipulations in the lease that the building should only be used for community purposes; the way in which the lease has been terminated; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [51768/18]

Substance Misuse

Gino Kenny

131. Deputy Gino Kenny asked the Minister for Health if his attention has been drawn to the crisis level of opioid addiction and death by overdose in the United States of America according to data from the Centres for Disease Control and Prevention (details supplied); if his attention has been further drawn to its increasing misuse here; if a specific public health campaign on management of the use and misuse of fentanyl has been put in place; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [50599/18]

National Maternity Hospital

Gino Kenny

147. Deputy Gino Kenny asked the Minister for Health the steps he will take to ensure that the national maternity hospital will be taken into public ownership as a condition of public funding; the further steps he will take to ensure that the €350 million earmarked for the new build will be conditional on the change of ownership and will be governed by a new secular charter; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [49917/18]

Schools Building Projects Status

Gino Kenny

62. Deputy Gino Kenny asked the Minister for Education and Skills his views on the building extension for a college (details supplied) which is stalled at stage 3 following an 11-year wait for a promised state-of-the-art extension and refurbishment; the steps being taken to advance this development in order that the tendering process can commence and contractors can be appointed; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [49226/18]

Public Sector Pay

Gino Kenny

64. Deputy Gino Kenny asked the Minister for Education and Skills his views on a union's (details supplied) rejection of the proposed agreement on new entrant pay for teachers; his further views on the exclusion of 2011 to 2014 entrants who, under the proposed agreement, would still suffer a significant pay loss; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [49227/18]

Foreign Conflicts

Gino Kenny

118. Deputy Gino Kenny asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade the steps he will take to ensure that Ireland increases its diplomatic efforts through the EU to ensure that South Sudan’s fragile peace deals holds; the further steps he will take to support the humanitarian efforts in South Sudan that are addressing the root causes of the conflict; if funding and support will continue in order to support the vital conflict resolution and peacebuilding efforts at community level; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [48979/18]

Charitable and Voluntary Organisations

Gino Kenny

403. Deputy Gino Kenny asked the Minister for Health his views on the recent occupation of a charity's head offices by members of an organisation (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [49081/18]

Charitable and Voluntary Organisations

Gino Kenny

416. Deputy Gino Kenny asked the Minister for Health his views on the recent occupation of a charity's (details supplied) head offices by members of a group; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [49244/18]

Middle East Issues

Gino Kenny

123. Deputy Gino Kenny asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade his views on the recent raid by Israeli covert special forces which resulted in the killing of seven Palestinians in the Gaza Strip and the destruction of a six storey residential building which housed a kindergarten; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [48012/18]

Special Educational Needs Staff

Gino Kenny

155. Deputy Gino Kenny asked the Minister for Education and Skills his views on the recent cuts to the number of special needs assistants at a school (details supplied); his plans to fund the restoration of an adequate level of SNAs within the school; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [47280/18]

Deportation Orders

Gino Kenny

394. Deputy Gino Kenny asked the Minister for Justice and Equality if his attention has been drawn to the immense danger that asylum seekers are placed in when they are deported back to the country from which they originally fled in search of refuge; his views on the recent rise in such deportations; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [44907/18]

Ambulance Service Staff

Gino Kenny

602. Deputy Gino Kenny asked the Minister for Health if he will direct the HSE to engage with the ambulance personnel branch of a union (details supplied) that is asserting its fundamental employee rights to representation by their union of choice and to facilitate the payroll deduction of union subscriptions from members of a union in order to prevent an escalation in industrial action and to ultimately resolve this dispute; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [45090/18]

Departmental Operations

Gino Kenny

17. Deputy Gino Kenny asked the Taoiseach if he will report on the work of the international, European Union and Northern Ireland division of his Department. [41802/18]

Hospital Consultant Contracts

Gino Kenny

68. Deputy Gino Kenny asked the Minister for Health the steps he will take to restore the services of a paediatric consultant that previously provided clinical paediatric oversight to the services in the National Rehabilitation Hospital but is now on long-term leave; the impact this has had in terms of closure of in-patient services for children; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [43452/18]

Cannabis for Medicinal Use

Gino Kenny

145. Deputy Gino Kenny asked the Minister for Health the proposed timeframe for the establishment of the medical cannabis access programme; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [43453/18]

DEIS Eligibility

Gino Kenny

81. Deputy Gino Kenny asked the Minister for Education and Skills the criteria applied when designating a school for DEIS status; if he will reconsider including a school (details supplied) in the programme; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [42041/18]

Racial Profiling

Gino Kenny

15. Deputy Gino Kenny asked the Minister for Justice and Equality his views on racial profiling used by the Garda National Immigration Bureau to identify persons it believes to be in the country illegally; the irresponsible reporting of these cases in the media and the impact it has on the lives and work of Irish nationals who fit the profiling; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [40271/18]

Cannabis for Medicinal Use

Gino Kenny

263. Deputy Gino Kenny asked the Minister for Health if the medical cannabis expert reference group has concluded its report on guidelines for the proposed medical cannabis access programme; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [40792/18]

Middle East Issues

Gino Kenny

13. Deputy Gino Kenny asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade if he will call on the EU to seek the suspension of Israel from the Kimberley process and introduce a ban on Israeli diamond exports in view of the fact that diamonds generate $1 billion annually for the Israeli military; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [40272/18]

Irish Prisoners Abroad

Gino Kenny

23. Deputy Gino Kenny asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade if he has had communications with the Prime Minister of Greece with regard to the detention of a person (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [40269/18]

Middle East Peace Process

Gino Kenny

46. Deputy Gino Kenny asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade if he will report on his meeting with President Abbas; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [40268/18]

Defence Forces Remuneration

Gino Kenny

72. Deputy Gino Kenny asked the Taoiseach and Minister for Defence if his attention has been drawn to the hardship experienced by members of the Defence Forces as a result of poor pay and conditions; if he will recognise and engage with a group (details supplied) as a trade union; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [39912/18]

Medicinal Products Reimbursement

Gino Kenny

431. Deputy Gino Kenny asked the Minister for Health his plans to use a drug approval and reimbursement system for MS drugs similar to that in Germany (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [39943/18]

Cabinet Committee Meetings

Gino Kenny

7. Deputy Gino Kenny asked the Taoiseach when Cabinet committee E, health, will next meet. [37536/18]

Broadcasting Service Provision

Gino Kenny

177. Deputy Gino Kenny asked the Minister for Communications, Climate Action and Environment his plans to have all of Ireland's UEFA nations league games shown on terrestrial television in view of the fact that these games are competitive and will affect Ireland's ranking; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [38149/18]

Medicinal Products Reimbursement

Gino Kenny

402. Deputy Gino Kenny asked the Minister for Health his plans to fund the drug Spinraza; if his attention has been drawn to the fact that there are persons with spinal muscular atrophy who are experiencing financial hardship as a result of trying to cover the costs themselves; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [37091/18]

Services for People with Disabilities

Gino Kenny

441. Deputy Gino Kenny asked the Minister for Health if his attention has been drawn to the fact that the paediatric unit in the National Rehabilitation Hospital has suspended its services due to a key member of staff being on extended leave (details supplied); and if the paediatrician will be replaced in the near future in order for children to avail of the service. [37218/18]

Medicinal Products Prices

Gino Kenny

770. Deputy Gino Kenny asked the Minister for Health his plans to fund the drug Spinraza, which has been approved here; if his attention has been drawn to the fact that there are persons with spinal muscular atrophy who are experiencing financial hardship as a result of trying to cover the costs themselves; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [36053/18]

Hospital Procedures

Gino Kenny

1424. Deputy Gino Kenny asked the Minister for Health the steps he is taking to address the issue of women who have developed severe adverse effects following transvaginal mesh devices and vaginal mesh implant procedures (details supplied); his plans to ban mesh as occurred in England and Northern Ireland recently; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [32867/18]

Animal Welfare

Gino Kenny

449. Deputy Gino Kenny asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the steps he will take to ensure that veterinary inspectors visit mink farms to ensure that the conditions in which the animals are being kept have been adequately adapted or improved to take account of the heatwave; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [31452/18]

Stardust Fire

Gino Kenny

12. Deputy Gino Kenny asked the Minister for Justice and Equality his views on the call for a new inquest into the deaths of 48 persons in the Stardust fire on 14 February 1981; his further views on the victims' families' long campaign for justice for their loved ones; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [29596/18]

Cyberbullying Issues

Gino Kenny

18. Deputy Gino Kenny asked the Minister for Justice and Equality if section 5 of the Non-Fatal Offences Against the Person Act 1997 will be amended to include cyberbullying, persistent bullying and threats against a person as an offence; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [29511/18]

Special Education Review

Gino Kenny

106. Deputy Gino Kenny asked the Minister for Education and Skills if a full consultation with a union (details supplied) will be conducted before implementing the recommendations contained in the NCSE special needs assistant review; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [29222/18]

Special Educational Needs Staff

Gino Kenny

129. Deputy Gino Kenny asked the Minister for Education and Skills the reason a school (details supplied) has lost the service of a full-time teacher due to being assessed on 2014-15 student numbers for learning support and resource allocation; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [28853/18]