Ceisteanna Parlaiminte

Hospital Staff

Matt Shanahan

1184. Deputy Matt Shanahan asked the Minister for Health the oversight mechanism for approving hospital group CEO expenses across all hospital groups; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [47837/23]

Hospital Staff

Matt Shanahan

1185. Deputy Matt Shanahan asked the Minister for Health what mechanisms are in place to administer conflicts of interest for all hospital group CEOs; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [47838/23]

Further and Higher Education

Matt Shanahan

1415. Deputy Matt Shanahan asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science further to Parliamentary Question No. 268 of 18 October 2023, to provide a detail of the date of each decision gate, the project budget at each decision gate, the overall cost of any completed projects and the overall financial disbursement from voted expenditure from the Department in respect of each completed project; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [48251/23]

Technological Universities

Matt Shanahan

1416. Deputy Matt Shanahan asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science to advise what cut-off date is being discussed within his Department to end formal consideration of the phase two PPP capital delivery including the proposed engineering building to the WIT campus; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [48252/23]

Technological Universities

Matt Shanahan

1417. Deputy Matt Shanahan asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science understanding that design plans have been obviously completed considering formal negotiation of PPP delivery of engineering building to WIT campus and understanding that the PPP process appears unable to be fulfilled, the other pathways his Department is reviewing in order to separate this construction and tender for direct build; how advanced any such discussions are; the timeline to separate and tender this building for construction award; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [48253/23]

Third Level Reform

Matt Shanahan

1418. Deputy Matt Shanahan asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science the ongoing process that decides approval for the provision of pharmacy and veterinary faculties and course development (details supplied); the reason for the delay in providing approval to these applications; if he will commit to providing an end-date by which a decision will be concluded and publicly communicated; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [48254/23]

Student Accommodation

Matt Shanahan

1419. Deputy Matt Shanahan asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science when a framework for the university sector to develop student accommodation will be agreed; the quantum of capital funding his Department plans to make available to the technological university sector, and specifically SETU, to advance student accommodation builds; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [48255/23]

Third Level Education

Matt Shanahan

1420. Deputy Matt Shanahan asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science the status of higher education in the southeast region, given that unlike other regions, there is no National University; how this deficit in regional higher level provision is being considered by his Department with respect to the development of SETU; the actions he has taken to date and the funding provision he has made available that demonstrates his and his Departments understanding of this exceptional situation in terms of trying to stem the southeast brain drain and its consequent economic impacts on families and the wider south east economy; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [48256/23]

Regional Development

Matt Shanahan

17. Deputy Matt Shanahan asked the Minister for Public Expenditure, National Development Plan Delivery and Reform to outline where the balanced regional spend to the south east has been accomplished since the formation of the Thirty-third Dáil (details supplied). [46935/23]

Tax Appeals Commission

Matt Shanahan

146. Deputy Matt Shanahan asked the Minister for Finance for a breakdown of the number of determinations arrived at for the years 2020 to 2022, by each individual tax appeals commissioner. [47173/23]

Departmental Bodies

Matt Shanahan

118. Deputy Matt Shanahan asked the Taoiseach if he will direct that an organisation (details supplied) be invited to become a participatory member of the Labour Employer Economic Forum (LEEF); and if so, when an invitation might be forthcoming. [46575/23]

Departmental Budgets

Matt Shanahan

618. Deputy Matt Shanahan asked the Minister for Health to detail the full service acute hospitals budget allocated at the beginning of 2023 to each of the nine ‘model 4’ hospitals nationally; the indicative and individual forecast overspend being guided by his Department for each of these hospitals up to 31 December 2023; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [46683/23]

Hospital Services

Matt Shanahan

619. Deputy Matt Shanahan asked the Minister for Health the financial rewards his Department is planning to give to the budget of University Hospital Waterford in recognition for the five months' additional capacity management this hospital delivered while the emergency department of Wexford Hospital was closed due to fire damage (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [46684/23]

Hospital Staff

Matt Shanahan

620. Deputy Matt Shanahan asked the Minister for Health if any of the hospital group CEOs hold other remunerated positions (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [46685/23]

Hospital Staff

Matt Shanahan

621. Deputy Matt Shanahan asked the Minister for Health the oversight mechanism for approving hospital group CEO expenses; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [46686/23]

Hospital Staff

Matt Shanahan

622. Deputy Matt Shanahan asked the Minister for Health the mechanisms that are in place to administer conflicts of interest for hospital group CEOs; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [46687/23]

Disability Services

Matt Shanahan

223. Deputy Matt Shanahan asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth the revised capital ceilings under the National Development Plan for his Department given the transfer of specialist disability services to the Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth, in tabular form. [45919/23]

Public Procurement Contracts

Matt Shanahan

242. Deputy Matt Shanahan asked the Minister for Health to provide a detailed explanation of the processes, milestones and timelines that led to the recently released tender for Cork University Hospital Clinical Medical School; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [45626/23]

Public Procurement Contracts

Matt Shanahan

243. Deputy Matt Shanahan asked the Minister for Health to provide a detailed timeline of the recent tender for Cork University Hospital clinical medical school progress through the public spending code and associated processes; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [45631/23]

Public Procurement Contracts

Matt Shanahan

275. Deputy Matt Shanahan asked the Minister for Health to provide a detailed explanation of the processes, milestones and timelines that led to the recently released HSE tender for Cork University Hospital Clinical Medical School; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [45661/23]

Public Procurement Contracts

Matt Shanahan

276. Deputy Matt Shanahan asked the Minister for Health to detail the source of funding for the recently released tender for Cork University Hospital Clinical Medical School; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [45662/23]

Technological Universities

Matt Shanahan

292. Deputy Matt Shanahan asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science if his attention has been drawn to the significant lack of parking availability at the Waterford campus of South East Technological University with students who are commuting by day having their cars clamped for parking on the access roads around the Waterford Campus; if he will provide a hardcore area for overflow parking at this site to alleviate the present parking issues given that he has declared that the former Waterford Crystal site purchase is almost complete; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [45558/23]

Technological Universities

Matt Shanahan

293. Deputy Matt Shanahan asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science if he will make funding available to South East Technological University to provide overflow parking for Waterford campus students, given the general understanding that capital developments through public procurement will take some years to deliver student accommodation and teaching buildings on the newly acquired Waterford Crystal site; when this funding can be approved; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [45559/23]

Third Level Costs

Matt Shanahan

294. Deputy Matt Shanahan asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science further to Parliamentary Question No. 1008 of 21 March 2023, if his Department can provide a copy of any response issued; if none issued, to provide an update on when further information may issue; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [45627/23]

Greenways Provision

Matt Shanahan

121. Deputy Matt Shanahan asked the Minister for Transport to detail the latest costs total under consideration by his Department for the construction of the Dungarvan to Mallow greenway; within these costs outline if he will highlight the variance cost percentages being offered for issues such as construction inflation, environmental impact assessments and planning delays due to judicial appeals; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [44743/23]

Insurance Industry

Matt Shanahan

116. Deputy Matt Shanahan asked the Minister for Finance the steps she and her Department are taking to pressure insurance companies to pass on savings, following the publication of an article (details supplied) outlining how the implementation of judicial guidelines has caused a slump in the number of personal injury cases being taken to the courts; if she will consider supporting a windfall tax gain on insurance companies that are failing to pass on considerable savings; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [43836/23]

Healthcare Infrastructure Provision

Matt Shanahan

482. Deputy Matt Shanahan asked the Minister for Health the status of a HSE tender (details supplied); if he will give a guarantee that the Waterford surgical hub will be nominated first to be constructed and awarded the highest priority, given the high level of surgical activity at University Hospital, Waterford and in its subsidiary unit in Kilcrene, County Kilkenny; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [43565/23]

Tillage Sector

Matt Shanahan

93. Deputy Matt Shanahan asked the Minister for Finance if his Department is reviewing any support package for the farm tillage sector, understanding the importance of the sector and the decimation to many farm family incomes as a result of the worst harvest losses in living memory for many in the sector; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [42857/23]

Forestry Sector

Matt Shanahan

461. Deputy Matt Shanahan asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine further to Parliamentary Question Nos. 740, 744, 748, 754, 760, 772, 773, 776 and 778 of 20 September 2023, the reason that the farmer definition, as defined by his Department, only applies to the afforestation scheme; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [42149/23]

Forestry Sector

Matt Shanahan

462. Deputy Matt Shanahan asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine further to Parliamentary Question Nos. 740, 744, 748, 754, 760, 772, 773, 776 and 778 of 20 September 2023, in stating that “my Department currently does not have the figures available for the number of new farmers for 2023, these figures will not be known until the Department make final approvals In November 2023” if he will commit to answering the original question once the figures are known in November (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [42150/23]

Departmental Expenditure

Matt Shanahan

584. Deputy Matt Shanahan asked the Minister for Health to detail, in tabular form, the remuneration packages in place for each of the hospital group CEOs presently in position; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [42225/23]

Departmental Policies

Matt Shanahan

585. Deputy Matt Shanahan asked the Minister for Health to outline his Department's position on CEOs of hospital groups undertaking other paid work activity or employment; if there are any limits or disbarments to additional earning activity outside of recognised group CEO activity; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [42226/23]

Departmental Policies

Matt Shanahan

586. Deputy Matt Shanahan asked the Minister for Health if, given that the advisory board of Southwest Hospital Group has been disbanded for some time, he can outline what oversight and governance is in place at SSWHG to decide performance and remuneration parameters applying to the executive management, roles and functions; if he is comfortable that relevant governance is in place; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [42227/23]

Departmental Policies

Matt Shanahan

587. Deputy Matt Shanahan asked the Minister for Health if, given the recent media revelations regarding various benefit in-kind payments allocated to senior public-funded roles including the reimbursement of motor car BIK, he can give undertakings that the chief executive roles of hospital groups are not receiving any such like or additional benefits; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [42228/23]

Departmental Data

Matt Shanahan

726. Deputy Matt Shanahan asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science if he will provide the numbers by college/course location attendance that comprise the reported 21% dropout rate figure (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [42769/23]

Third Level Education

Matt Shanahan

727. Deputy Matt Shanahan asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science if he will provide a timeline for when the engineering building in Waterford will be sanctioned (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [42770/23]

Rural Recreation Policy

Matt Shanahan

49. Deputy Matt Shanahan asked the Minister for Rural and Community Development if she will outline the present and proposed spending in outdoor recreation measures in relation to Waterford city and county; and what future projects are under consideration by her Department. [41578/23]

Rural Schemes

Matt Shanahan

621. Deputy Matt Shanahan asked the Minister for Rural and Community Development if she will consider any initiatives by her Department to support rural and community security and home living, such as disbursements to text alert and home security areas. [41579/23]

Vacant Properties

Matt Shanahan

185. Deputy Matt Shanahan asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the number of local authority void housing units for the cities Dublin, Cork, Galway, Limerick and Waterford recycled per annum within each 12-month period for the years 2019 to 2022, in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [40827/23]

Vacant Properties

Matt Shanahan

186. Deputy Matt Shanahan asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the average cost and average turnaround time of local authority void housing units for the cities Dublin, Cork, Galway, Limerick and Waterford per annum within each 12-month period for the years 2019 to 2022, in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [40828/23]

Tax Appeals Commission

Matt Shanahan

155. Deputy Matt Shanahan asked the Minister for Finance for a breakdown by the Appeals Commissioner of the total number of determinations arrived at by the Tax Appeals Commission for the years 2020 to 2022; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [39986/23]

Visa Applications

Matt Shanahan

716. Deputy Matt Shanahan asked the Minister for Justice to review a hardship case (details supplied) of a person whose travel plans faced significant disruption because of the sudden decision of the Department of Justice to implement a visa requirement for Bolivian nationals travelling to Ireland, effective 12 September 2023; if she will assess this particular situation and determine whether any exceptions or alternative solutions can be provided to mitigate the hardship faced by individuals caught unaware of this sudden change; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [40644/23]

Forestry Sector

Matt Shanahan

758. Deputy Matt Shanahan asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine in relation to the afforestation scheme 2023-2027 document, section 6.8, to clarify and detail the percentage of persons who commenced farming in 2023, who are recognised as carrying out a farming activity by his Department, who will qualify as a farmer for farmer rate of premiums under the forestry programme 2023 to 2027, in 2024, 2025, 2026 and 2027, in tabular form, particularly given the requirement to be a member of BISS or BPS for the previous four years; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [39892/23]

Forestry Sector

Matt Shanahan

759. Deputy Matt Shanahan asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if the deer tree shelter, hare and deer fencing schemes are currently available to applicants about to commence afforestation projects who without such supports are at a serious financial disadvantage; if he will agree to providing the deer tree shelter, hare and deer fencing scheme grant retrospectively for applicants who erect tree shelters during the afforestation process; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [39981/23]

Forestry Sector

Matt Shanahan

760. Deputy Matt Shanahan asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine in relation to the afforestation scheme 2023-2027 document, specifically section 6.8, is this definition of a farmer confined to the afforestation programme only or does it apply to any other schemes or conditionality across his Department; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [39984/23]

Recycling Policy

Matt Shanahan

97. Deputy Matt Shanahan asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications the proposed workings of the new bottle and can deposit return initiative; where vending machines will be situated to collect the returns and pay out the redemption deposit; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [37830/23]

Recycling Policy

Matt Shanahan

98. Deputy Matt Shanahan asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications if research has been conducted to understand whether the proposed policy in relation to the bottle and can deposit retention scheme will favour large brand retailers as opposed to small owner operator businesses which will likely not have the financial capacity to contribute to purchase and maintenance of redemption vending machines; what concerns this gives rise to within his Department in terms of competitive advantage favouring the large scale multiples; how his Department proposes to level the playing field in terms of this policy; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [37831/23]

Departmental Contracts

Matt Shanahan

336. Deputy Matt Shanahan asked the Minister for Transport as the Minister is aware of the new national SAR contract awarded to a company (details supplied) in recent days, if he will confirm that the takeover of the contract by the company will be subject to TUPE (transfer undertakings and protecting employment) legislation and will therefore guarantee that the present employment roles and remuneration will be observed within the new contract; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [38313/23]

Departmental Contracts

Matt Shanahan

337. Deputy Matt Shanahan asked the Minister for Transport as part of the newly awarded SAR contract if he will confirm that the company (details supplied) will not seek to introduce aeronautical agency or temporary recruitment measures in an effort to renegotiate, existing remuneration and staffing levels at the Waterford R117 base; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [38314/23]

Departmental Contracts

Matt Shanahan

338. Deputy Matt Shanahan asked the Minister for Transport if he will confirm that as part of the new SAR contract (details supplied), that the existing servicing and maintenance teams based at Waterford Regional Airport will remain employed at this facility into the future; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [38315/23]