Ceisteanna Parlaiminte

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]

School Transport

Matt Shanahan

742. Deputy Matt Shanahan asked the Minister for Education if the bus route number D689 could be extended by approximately 167 metres to include to include four other households on this route (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [39016/23]

Departmental Funding

Matt Shanahan

1189. Deputy Matt Shanahan asked the Minister for Justice to provide in tabular form the total amount of moneys allocated by her Department to Muintír Na Tíre over the past five years; to provide a breakdown by annual year and by individual county allocation of the dispersed budget per year; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [38535/23]

Departmental Funding

Matt Shanahan

1190. Deputy Matt Shanahan asked the Minister for Justice to outline any allocation of funding to Muintír Na Tíre over the past five years, which derived from capital seizures through the proceeds of crime legislation; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [38539/23]

Departmental Funding

Matt Shanahan

1191. Deputy Matt Shanahan asked the Minister for Justice to provide a breakdown in tabular form for the total amount of spending for the past five years recorded by Muintír Na Tíre to support community alert schemes, the report to provide a breakdown by county for each of the five years; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [38540/23]

Childcare Services

Matt Shanahan

1482. Deputy Matt Shanahan asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth the steps he is taking to ensure the provision of additional crèche and childcare facilities in Waterford; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [39058/23]

Assisted Human Reproduction

Matt Shanahan

1511. Deputy Matt Shanahan asked the Minister for Health the official policy position in relation to State supported IVF treatment; the criteria for access to IVF support funding; the range and breadth of the funding possible; the number of possible cycles that can be supported; the constraints or restrictions to State supported IVF in relation to income, age, gender bias, biological donor, underlying or pre-existing illness and so on; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [37236/23]

Hospital Services

Matt Shanahan

1512. Deputy Matt Shanahan asked the Minister for Health In a recent visit to University Hospital Waterford if he will give a public commitment to seven days x 12 hours per day accessibility for emergency procedures in the UHW cath lab suite to begin in September 2023; if the appropriate staff compliment has been authorized or is in place to provide the required level of cover over the proposed seven day 12-hour schedule; if once operational the cath lab suite will be noted for seven-day semi-referral under the acute coronary syndrome programme; if the National Ambulance Service will also be immediately updated of the change in status as soon as it happens; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [37237/23]

Public Procurement Contracts

Matt Shanahan

1513. Deputy Matt Shanahan asked the Minister for Health if he will provide an explanation of a procurement process (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [37238/23]

Public Procurement Contracts

Matt Shanahan

1514. Deputy Matt Shanahan asked the Minister for Health further to the timelines already highlighted in previous a Parliamentary Question regarding the development of surgical hubs in Dublin, Cork, Limerick and Galway, the reason the design specification expedited for the Galway project was not given as a construction template for the other three projects in order that these could be expedited along with the Galway-based project; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [37239/23]

Hospital Staff

Matt Shanahan

1520. Deputy Matt Shanahan asked the Minister for Health if he will confirm that the appropriate staff complement has been authorised or is in place to provide the required level of cover over the proposed seven day 12 hour schedule at University Hospital, Waterford (details supplied); if he will also confirm that once operational, the catheterisation laboratory suite will be noted for seven day semi-referral under the acute coronary syndrome programme; if he will further confirm that the national ambulance service will also be immediately updated of the change in status as soon as it happens; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [37266/23]

Public Procurement Contracts

Matt Shanahan

1521. Deputy Matt Shanahan asked the Minister for Health to provide an explanation of the following procurement process (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [37267/23]

Public Procurement Contracts

Matt Shanahan

1522. Deputy Matt Shanahan asked the Minister for Health given the timelines already highlighted in previous Parliamentary Question regarding surgical hubs development in Dublin, Cork, Limerick and Galway, the reason the design specification, obviously expedited for the Galway project, was not given as a construction template for the other three projects so that these could be expedited along with the Galway based project; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [37268/23]

Mental Health Services

Matt Shanahan

1571. Deputy Matt Shanahan asked the Minister for Health to outline the number of legal cases in progress, or pending, in relation to GDPR breaches with respect to the national CAMHS service; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [37579/23]

Mental Health Services

Matt Shanahan

1572. Deputy Matt Shanahan asked the Minister for Health to provide an outline of the degree of integration between CAMHS services and the other HSE interfaces that exist across the HSE network; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [37580/23]

Mental Health Services

Matt Shanahan

1573. Deputy Matt Shanahan asked the Minister for Health to outline his confidence in the ICT systems and networks that allow the national and satellite CAMHS units to carry out their patient communications and follow-up functions effectively; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [37581/23]

Mental Health Services

Matt Shanahan

1574. Deputy Matt Shanahan asked the Minister for Health what robustness he has been advised of in terms of national CAMHS ICT systems and the ability of same to provide accurate data reporting, including the revision process of patient data in terms of age and domicile residence and so on; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [37582/23]

Medical Aids and Appliances

Matt Shanahan

1612. Deputy Matt Shanahan asked the Minister for Health if he plans to provide funding in budget 2024 to fund the provision of the glucose monitoring device Dexcom G7 to persons with diabetes over 21 years of age; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [37681/23]

Medicinal Products

Matt Shanahan

1636. Deputy Matt Shanahan asked the Minister for Health if his Department is currently considering including Saxenda (which is now recognised as a valuable medication in the treatment of obesity) to the drugs payment scheme for non-diabetic patients; if there are currently any plans to widen the prescription basis of Saxenda to medical card holders with a BMI over 35 as a preventative medicine; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [37811/23]

Social Welfare Eligibility

Matt Shanahan

711. Deputy Matt Shanahan asked the Minister for Social Protection if she will acknowledge the enormous amount of care being provided voluntarily by family members at home for relatives in need of very high levels of care; if she will acknowledge that if this voluntary home care were not available and responsibility transferred to the State, this would put a huge financial burden on the State; if she will acknowledge that a large number of voluntary carers are not eligible to apply for carer’s allowance as they do not satisfy the means test limit under the current legislation; and if she will consider abolishing the means test. [36457/23]

Disability Services

Matt Shanahan

1035. Deputy Matt Shanahan asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth if he will consider increasing the funding for HSE disability services in Budget 2024, as the service is completely underfunded at the moment (details supplied). [36366/23]

Tax Code

Matt Shanahan

198. Deputy Matt Shanahan asked the Minister for Finance if he intends increasing the income tax exemption of €36,000 for a married couple over 65 years of age (details supplied) ( €18,000 single person), given the proposed increase in the old age pension will push many retired people over the exemption limit; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [33848/23]

Small and Medium Enterprises

Matt Shanahan

206. Deputy Matt Shanahan asked the Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment the level of SME credit advanced in previous credit guaranteed schemes in the past 12-months, by county and sector; what that quantum of funding is, in relation to the previous year's allocation; the variance estimated in relation to the proposed new credit guaranteed SME scheme to be announced, in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [31681/23]

Departmental Schemes

Matt Shanahan

633. Deputy Matt Shanahan asked the Minister for Health if he will commit to having his Department conduct a review of the long-term illness scheme (details supplied); if he will request his Department to re-examine an application; his views on whether the long-term illness scheme which is governed by the Health Act 1970, is long overdue a review; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [30579/23]

Rail Network

Matt Shanahan

2. Deputy Matt Shanahan asked the Minister for Transport if, assuming he is very much aware of the import and export benefit opportunity that has been developed as a result of the Ballina rail corridor that connects through Waterford Port, he can outline his Department’s position on developing a Ballina-type railhead in perhaps the Kildare area to connect to Waterford Port, which would counter increasing traffic congestion in the capital and have a positive impact on national freight distribution sustainability; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [29764/23]

Rail Network

Matt Shanahan

8. Deputy Matt Shanahan asked the Minister for Transport if he will provide a timeframe in relation to the yet-to-be-published data relating to the proposed Irish rail review; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [29766/23]

Departmental Expenditure

Matt Shanahan

20. Deputy Matt Shanahan asked the Minister for Transport if he will clarify how his Department is carrying a nearly €100 million underspend in the first three months of the year; if there have been projects postponed or delayed which has led to the underspend; if so, if he will list those projects affected; if he will outline how he and his Department plan to address the situation; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [29769/23]

Driver Test

Matt Shanahan

48. Deputy Matt Shanahan asked the Minister for Transport if he will confirm what progress has been made in relation to the reduction of waiting times for those waiting to be tested, following the announcement of the addition of 75 new testers earlier in the year; when he envisages the current average wait of 21 weeks will be significantly reduced, and to what level; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [29768/23]

Road Projects

Matt Shanahan

73. Deputy Matt Shanahan asked the Minister for Transport if he will provide details of the funding allocated to the N24-N25 project for the years 2019, 2020, 2021, 2022 and 2023, in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [29767/23]

Road Projects

Matt Shanahan

175. Deputy Matt Shanahan asked the Minister for Transport if he will outline his Department’s position regarding an upgrade investment for the N24 Waterford to Limerick road; when such investment might happen; the scale of investment under consideration; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [29765/23]

Capital Expenditure Programme

Matt Shanahan

642. Deputy Matt Shanahan asked the Minister for Health to list the project expenditure and total annual quantum of capital expenditure with associated and relevant capital project name and reference details under the expenditure heading of acute, community health, mental health and each and any other relevant capital expenditure heading with details thereof on the campus in Cork University Hospital, Galway University Hospital, Limerick University Hospital and Waterford University Hospital, in each of the years 2013 to date, in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [29258/23]