Ceisteanna Parlaiminte

Covid-19 Pandemic

Seán Crowe

54. Deputy Seán Crowe asked the Minister for Health the measures his Department is considering implementing to support those who may suffer medium or long-term after-effects of Covid-19 commonly referred to as long Covid given that the health effects impact on a wide range of aspects of daily life including increased medical needs. [25421/21]

Vaccination Programme

Seán Crowe

96. Deputy Seán Crowe asked the Minister for Health the supports his Department is considering implementing to support those who have suffered negative reactions to the Covid-19 vaccines such as vaccine-induced prothrombotic immune thrombocytopenia. [25420/21]

Driver Test

Seán Crowe

63. Deputy Seán Crowe asked the Minister for Transport the waiting lists for driver tests by test centre in tabular form; and the breakdown by the centres in which the additional 40 testers were deployed as promised in Dáil Éireann on 24 March 2021. [35050/21]

Special Educational Needs

Seán Crowe

153. Deputy Seán Crowe asked the Minister for Education if a review will be undertaken into the pilot of the school inclusion model including the in-school therapy demonstration project now that the 2020-2021 school year has ended; and when she expects such a review to be completed. [33735/21]

Heritage Sites

Seán Crowe

276. Deputy Seán Crowe asked the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform if consultation was undertaken with private car park operators at national monuments to provide free parking in concert with free access to OPW heritage sites. [29336/21]

School Meals Programme

Seán Crowe

155. Deputy Seán Crowe asked the Minister for Social Protection the funding available for the school meals scheme in the 2021-2022 academic year; the number of schools that applied to the scheme for the coming 2021-2022 academic year; the number of those schools that applied in the lunch and dinner funding categories; and the number of those schools that were awarded funding in each category. [26753/21]

School Meals Programme

Seán Crowe

156. Deputy Seán Crowe asked the Minister for Social Protection her views on whether the lottery system that has been implemented in the school meals scheme is a blunt instrument that does not adequately recognise the individual needs of schools and the areas that they serve; if her attention has been drawn to two schools (details supplied) that both applied for funding to provide hot meals to students only for the senior school to be awarded such funding while the junior school was not; her views on whether this is acceptable; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [26754/21]

Schools Building Projects

Seán Crowe

138. Deputy Seán Crowe asked the Minister for Education the status of a new building project for a school (details supplied); the latest construction timetable of the project; the reason for the delays in the planning process for the project including that of the temporary structure that was to be in place by August 2021; and if her commitment that the school will remain on the present site for the coming academic year is still the case. [24877/21]

Vaccination Programme

Seán Crowe

409. Deputy Seán Crowe asked the Minister for Health the rationale for not vaccinating members of An Garda Síochána as front-line workers. [25245/21]

Passport Services

Seán Crowe

133. Deputy Seán Crowe asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs the current number of all passport applications that have not been processed. [24806/21]

Passport Services

Seán Crowe

134. Deputy Seán Crowe asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs the specific measures being put in place to eliminate the backlog of outstanding passport applications. [24807/21]

School Accommodation

Seán Crowe

155. Deputy Seán Crowe asked the Minister for Education the current status of construction of the permanent accommodation for a school (details supplied); the cause of delay in installing temporary accommodation on the site; and if a commitment will be given to provide temporary accommodation on site for the coming academic year. [24808/21]

Covid-19 Pandemic

Seán Crowe

123. Deputy Seán Crowe asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment the position of the Government in relation to the Covid-19 vaccine patent waiver proposal put forward by South Africa and India. [22588/21]

Passport Applications

Seán Crowe

56. Deputy Seán Crowe asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs the number of passports that are currently outstanding as of 26 April 2021 or the latest date available for residents by county; and the number of applications for new passports or for renewals of a passport by county in tabular form . [22550/21]

Special Educational Needs

Seán Crowe

1040. Deputy Seán Crowe asked the Minister for Education her views on whether it is reasonable for her Department to deny a school (details supplied) additional special education hours given the school has demonstrated a need for an additional 50 hours to keep up with the needs of students; her further views on whether it appropriate that her Department in spite of the refusal of additional hours is requesting that the school open a class for students with ASD; and if she will consider revising this refusal in order that students such as a person will not go without the educational support they need to fully access education on a par with their peers. [19747/21]

Hospital Services

Seán Crowe

2075. Deputy Seán Crowe asked the Minister for Health the reason for the current closure of St. Michael's unit, a ten-bed facility in Beaumont Hospital; and if his attention has been drawn to the impact this is having on rehabilitation services and waiting lists for those seeking supports. [19745/21]

Hospital Services

Seán Crowe

2076. Deputy Seán Crowe asked the Minister for Health the reason for the current closure of Keltoi rehabilitation and residential unit in the Phoenix Park and the closure of St. Michael’s unit in Beaumont Hospital in 2020; if his attention has been drawn to the effect this is causing on other services and providers throughout the city and those in the CHO7 area (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [19746/21]

Vaccination Programme

Seán Crowe

2094. Deputy Seán Crowe asked the Minister for Health the specific schemes or supports that will be put in place for those who suffer complications or side effects, such as vaccine induced prothrombotic immune thrombocytopenia after receiving a Covid-19 vaccine; and his views on whether it is important that persons who suffer such complications are not left to bear the consequences without Government support given the State indemnified the companies that manufacture the vaccines. [19804/21]

Crime Data

Seán Crowe

1249. Deputy Seán Crowe asked the Minister for Justice the financial value of cash and assets seized by An Garda Síochána as the proceeds of drug-related crime in the south-west area of Dublin in 2014. [14872/21]

Visa Waiver Programme

Seán Crowe

1260. Deputy Seán Crowe asked the Minister for Justice the criteria the decision to restrict visa free travel from South Africa and certain South American countries was based upon; and the specific criteria by which the decision will be reversed. [15201/21]

Third Level Education

Seán Crowe

669. Deputy Seán Crowe asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science the work he is undertaking with third-level institutions to develop accredited learning courses for college students with a diagnosis of autism and moderate intellectual disability; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [13571/21]

Driver Test

Seán Crowe

142. Deputy Seán Crowe asked the Minister for Transport the measures he plans to allow for workers in essential industries to sit a driver theory test. [11620/21]

Speech and Language Therapy

Seán Crowe

418. Deputy Seán Crowe asked the Minister for Education if there are plans to extend speech and language unit support to children at second-level; if there are plans to re-examine the access criteria for supports given that it has been some years since this was carried out; if it is a common requirement for parents to have to pay for private assessments in order to demonstrate their child meets the criteria; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [11230/21]

Covid-19 Pandemic

Seán Crowe

791. Deputy Seán Crowe asked the Minister for Health if any incoming international travellers have to date been housed in hotels or other rented accommodation at a cost to the State. [11300/21]

Vaccination Programme

Seán Crowe

873. Deputy Seán Crowe asked the Minister for Health if his attention has been drawn to fears that the utilisation of general practitioners to roll out the Covid-19 vaccine will have a detrimental impact on an already overstretched general practitioner service nationwide; the measures he plans to take to alleviate these fears; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [11618/21]

Dental Services

Seán Crowe

874. Deputy Seán Crowe asked the Minister for Health the number of dentists who have indicated that they will be leaving the medical card system; the impact he expects this will have on waiting lists and the dental hygiene of the population; the measures he plans to take or reverse this; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [11619/21]

Human Rights Cases

Seán Crowe

141. Deputy Seán Crowe asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs if his attention has been drawn to the arrest and detention of numerous children as young as 12 years of age in Bahrain in recent days; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [10851/21]

Vaccination Programme

Seán Crowe

929. Deputy Seán Crowe asked the Minister for Health if a company (details supplied) will be involved in the vaccination roll-out process; if so, if the contract went through the public tendering programme; and the specific responsibilities and roles the company will have. [10035/21]

Drug Treatment Programmes

Seán Crowe

930. Deputy Seán Crowe asked the Minister for Health if the HSE has issued guidelines to methadone dispensaries regarding takeaway methadone; and, if so, if the guidance issued will be provided. [10036/21]

Primary Care Services

Seán Crowe

640. Deputy Seán Crowe asked the Minister for Health the options available to a person (details supplied) who has been referred to primary care psychology services in the Tallaght south area, only to receive a subsequent letter from the HSE informing them that there are no such services in the area. [7883/21]

Covid-19 Pandemic

Seán Crowe

92. Deputy Seán Crowe asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs if Ireland plans to join and support the WHO programmes C-TAP and COVAX. [6110/21]

Vaccination Programme

Seán Crowe

317. Deputy Seán Crowe asked the Minister for Health when the Covid-19 vaccine roll-out IT records system will be fully operational; the official title of same; if he will commit that all paper records will be promptly inputted; and the body or agency that has overall responsibility for the management and operation of the system. [2999/21]

Vaccination Programme

Seán Crowe

318. Deputy Seán Crowe asked the Minister for Health the body or agency that has overall responsibility for the Covid-19 vaccine roll-out. [3000/21]

Vaccination Programme

Seán Crowe

319. Deputy Seán Crowe asked the Minister for Health the full list of duties and responsibilities that the Secretary General of the Department of Health has in the Covid-19 vaccine roll-out. [3001/21]

Vaccination Programme

Seán Crowe

333. Deputy Seán Crowe asked the Minister for Health if consideration has been given to adding full-time carers to the vaccination schedule; and the reason for their initial exclusion given the vulnerable persons who rely on them. [3034/21]

State Examinations

Seán Crowe

319. Deputy Seán Crowe asked the Minister for Education if consideration has been given to extending the January 2021 deadline for the leaving certificate design and communication graphics project, given that the majority of the project work has to be done in schools due to the software requirements and the need for teachers to sign off on the work. [2754/21]

Social Welfare Benefits

Seán Crowe

345. Deputy Seán Crowe asked the Minister for Social Protection the reason for the reinstatement of physically signing on for social protection payments such as pensions at a time of such high transmission rates of Covid-19; her views on whether this presents an unnecessarily high risk particularly to older claimants; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [2510/21]

Driver Licences

Seán Crowe

23. Deputy Seán Crowe asked the Minister for Transport if he plans to reintroduce temporary changes to the driver licence renewal system to facilitate over 70s, such as a person (details supplied) who are currently unable to supply a medical certificate as their doctors are only dealing with medical emergencies and Covid-19 cases; and the specific steps applicants may take to overcome this difficulty. [1954/21]

Driver Licences

Seán Crowe

24. Deputy Seán Crowe asked the Minister for Transport the emergency measures he plans to introduce in order that senior citizens and others can safely renew their driving licence during the Covid-19 pandemic. [1955/21]

Driver Licences

Seán Crowe

25. Deputy Seán Crowe asked the Minister for Transport the changes he has agreed at a local or European level for applicants to obtain a new or first-time Irish driver licence during the Covid-19 lockdown in view of the ongoing challenges facing those looking to renew or receive a new or first-time drivers licence in physically presenting for the test or with the form. [1956/21]

State Pension (Contributory)

Seán Crowe

563. Deputy Seán Crowe asked the Minister for Social Protection the status of an appeal for a contributory State pension by a person (details supplied). [44914/20]

Covid-19 Pandemic Supports

Seán Crowe

660. Deputy Seán Crowe asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science the number of individual laptops purchased as part of the laptop scheme for third level students announced in August 2020; the total cost of purchasing those laptops; the form of needs assessment carried out prior to purchase; if colleges or universities were consulted as part of the needs assessment; the specific colleges or universities; the number of laptops issued to each third level institution; and the number of laptops issued to students per third level institution in tabular form. [1072/21]

Covid-19 Pandemic

Seán Crowe

662. Deputy Seán Crowe asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science the specific guidance issued to education and training boards, ETBs, ahead of the scheduled reopening of Youthreach programmes in January 2021. [1150/21]

Hospital Appointments Status

Seán Crowe

818. Deputy Seán Crowe asked the Minister for Health when a person (details supplied) will be referred to the clinical genetics department of Crumlin children’s hospital, given that, through human error on the part of a consultant, the person was not added to the waiting list after an appointment in February 2020 and was only placed on the waiting list in December 2020. [44917/20]

Covid-19 Pandemic

Seán Crowe

942. Deputy Seán Crowe asked the Minister for Health the number of Covid-19 infections of direct provision centre residents recorded; and the number of outbreaks recorded in direct provision centres. [1151/21]

Covid-19 Pandemic

Seán Crowe

943. Deputy Seán Crowe asked the Minister for Health the official title of the Covid-19 case management system that records daily cases; the date on which this system was activated; the amount spent on this system in both its development and since activation; the persons and bodies that have access to this system; the daily capacity for the corroboration of positive swabs to individual cases; the way in which a backlog of approximately 10,000 cases was allowed to occur; the steps he is taking to ensure that a backlog will not occur again; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [1152/21]

Personal Public Service Numbers

Seán Crowe

364. Deputy Seán Crowe asked the Minister for Social Protection the number of persons waiting for an appointment after applying to be issued a PPS number. [43191/20]

Irish Naturalisation and Immigration Service

Seán Crowe

528. Deputy Seán Crowe asked the Minister for Justice further to Parliamentary Question No. 595 of 1 December 2020, the additional resources that will be provided to the naturalisation service to clear the backlog in cases arising from the Covid-19 pandemic and the High Court ruling of 2019; when her Department will consider the pandemic over given the advice not to submit applications during that time; and her views on whether it is acceptable that applicants are left in the dark regarding the length of time their passport will be held, given the high importance of the document in question. [42036/20]

Covid-19 Pandemic

Seán Crowe

22. Deputy Seán Crowe asked the Minister for Social Protection the guidelines that Intreo offices have been issued in relation to the sanitisation of electronic signing equipment used by the public; and the number of persons currently required to sign on for any social protection service or payment. [39924/20]

Hospital Waiting Lists

Seán Crowe

367. Deputy Seán Crowe asked the Minister for Health when he expects the third national paediatric rheumatologist position currently open for applications to be filled; if children with Down's syndrome face a four-year waiting list to be assessed for arthritis; if his attention has been drawn to the fact that parents of children with Down's syndrome were promised a reduction in this referral time to three months under the previous Government; his plans to increase the number of paediatric rheumatologists further; the status of the planned information campaign for general practitioners and other healthcare professionals on Down's syndrome-related arthritis; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [40976/20]