Ceisteanna Parlaiminte

Hospital Services

Ciara Conway

809. Deputy Ciara Conway asked the Minister for Health if he will provide an update in relation to dermatology services in Waterford Regional Hospital, including the current staffing position in relation to consultants, recruitment and retirement of consultants; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [19048/14]

Hospital Services

Ciara Conway

810. Deputy Ciara Conway asked the Minister for Health if he will provide an update in relation to waiting lists for dermatology services at Waterford Regional Hospital; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [19049/14]

Hospital Staff

Ciara Conway

811. Deputy Ciara Conway asked the Minister for Health if he will commit to ensuring that full teams of support staff are available in the dermatology unit in Waterford Regional Hospital, including details on the number required and the number of vacancies that exist in roles such as SHOs, NCHDs, nursing and administrative staff; the measures being taken to provide a full service in the face of pending retirements; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [19050/14]

Health Services Staff

Ciara Conway

851. Deputy Ciara Conway asked the Minister for Health if his attention has been drawn to issues faced by residential health care staff working on sleepover duty in view of the fact that some residential care staff are expected to work 63 hours per week instead of the statutory 48; the reasons for same; if sleepover duty, where a member of staff is on-call while working overnight is part of the working week and if it is treated as such for pay purposes; his further views on whether these hours are in breach of EU and Irish working time legislation; his views on the low levels of hourly pay associated with sleepover duty; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [19288/14]

Child Benefit Data

Ciara Conway

19. Deputy Ciara Conway asked the Minister for Social Protection the primary purpose of letters sent recently to households regarding child benefit; the purpose of seeking information on child care provision for the children of the household; if this information will inform policy, particularly the review announced on child care costs; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [17729/14]

Pension Provisions

Ciara Conway

31. Deputy Ciara Conway asked the Minister for Social Protection if the Pensions Ombudsman has reviewed its response time to queries regarding pension complaints since its establishment, particularly regarding pension scheme closures; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [17728/14]

Taxi Regulations

Ciara Conway

175. Deputy Ciara Conway asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport the reason vehicles that are over 15 years cannot be used as taxis yet no such rule exists for buses or other public services vehicles; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [18195/14]

Taxi Regulations

Ciara Conway

176. Deputy Ciara Conway asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport the reason the vehicle age limit that was brought into legislation in relation to all taxis was subsequently abolished for wheelchair accessible taxis; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [18196/14]

Constitutional Convention Recommendations

Ciara Conway

353. Deputy Ciara Conway asked the Minister for Social Protection her response to the proposal made by the Constitutional Convention to include social and economic rights in the Constitution, including specific mention of a right to social security; if her Department is working on the implications of such incorporation for social protection; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [17743/14]

Hospital Charges

Ciara Conway

636. Deputy Ciara Conway asked the Minister for Health if his attention has been drawn to the fact that a patient who is referred to accident and emergency by an optician or optometrist is liable for a €100 charge; his views on the rationale for this; if he will look at changing this practice; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [17839/14]

Airport Development Projects

Ciara Conway

703. Deputy Ciara Conway asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport if he will provide a progress update on plans to extend the runway at Waterford Airport; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [17761/14]

Fuel Rebate Scheme

Ciara Conway

93. Deputy Ciara Conway asked the Minister for Finance if his attention has been drawn to an issue in respect of bulk purchase of diesel that is of concern to transport operators; if he will consider correspondence, details supplied, and in view of the circumstances outlined if it is possible to amend the rules and offer an alternative whereby members of the transport organisation provide invoices to the Revenue Commissioners on a quarterly basis and as the 2,000 litre minimum is achieved. [16123/14]

Water Services Provision

Ciara Conway

399. Deputy Ciara Conway asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government if Irish Water is engaging with the group water scheme sector, including the national federation of group water schemes; if he will address their concerns including setting bulk prices enabling them to take into account costs and prices for the year ahead; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [16637/14]

Water Services Provision

Ciara Conway

400. Deputy Ciara Conway asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government if Irish Water has taken on board the fact that the group water scheme sector has ten times greater lengths of watermains per consumer connection to operate and maintain when compared with the public mains now operated by Irish Water, but that this rural sector has ten times fewer customers on which to levy charges; if this will be considered in any review of funding requirements for the rural group water scheme sector; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [16638/14]

Water Services Provision

Ciara Conway

401. Deputy Ciara Conway asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government in view of the existing legislation for taking charge of group water schemes, if his Department is aware of the need for, and is working to address the immediate need to develop policies and procedures around drinking water provision outlining in detail the roles and responsibilities of various entities including his Department, local authorities, Health Service Executive, EPA, Irish Water, GWS and NFGWS, regarding function and how they should interact to ensure efficient take over when the need arises; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [16639/14]

Child and Family Agency Establishment

Ciara Conway

517. Deputy Ciara Conway asked the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs if she will provide an update on the way the Child and Family Agency has been rolled out in County Waterford; her views on the changes that have been implemented or are planned in relation to infrastructure, including an update on the buildings that are being used and by whom; her views on whether these premises belong to the Health Service Executive, her Department or if rents are being paid in respect of same and at what cost; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [16008/14]

Child and Family Agency Establishment

Ciara Conway

518. Deputy Ciara Conway asked the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs if she will provide an update on the way the Child and Family Agency, CFA, has been rolled out in County Waterford; the number of staff now employed by the CFA in Waterford and the region; the number of these employees that have been transferred from the Health Service Executive; the numbers of new staff that have been recruited and to what roles; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [16009/14]

Community Services Programme

Ciara Conway

519. Deputy Ciara Conway asked the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs her views on relocating residential staff into community services; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [16010/14]

Child Protection

Ciara Conway

520. Deputy Ciara Conway asked the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs if the out of hours services of her Department in County Waterford will be extended as per the mission statement of the new agency; the way this will be achieved; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [16011/14]

Community Services Programme

Ciara Conway

549. Deputy Ciara Conway asked the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs the vision for relocation of residential staff in Waterford into community services; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [16627/14]

Health Services Provision

Ciara Conway

571. Deputy Ciara Conway asked the Minister for Health if chiropody care is available in the community free of charge to persons over the age of 70 anywhere in the State; where this is the practice; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [16005/14]

Accident and Emergency Services Provision

Ciara Conway

572. Deputy Ciara Conway asked the Minister for Health if his attention has been drawn to the fact that a patient who is referred to accident and emergency from an ophthalmologist is liable for the €100 charge; his views on the rationale for this; if he will look at changing this practice; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [16006/14]

Haulage Industry Regulation

Ciara Conway

692. Deputy Ciara Conway asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport the action his Department is taking to help Irish hauliers avoid the introduction of a heavy goods vehicle road user levy in the United Kingdom which will have a significant impact on Irish hauliers; particularly in Border areas; if he has spoken to his British counterpart regarding this levy; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [15992/14]

Hospital Charges

Ciara Conway

138. Deputy Ciara Conway asked the Minister for Health if he has given consideration to setting up a mechanism whereby accident and emergency fees could be paid via the local post office; if he will commit to examining this as a means of paying accident and emergency bills; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [14703/14]

Departmental Bodies

Ciara Conway

323. Deputy Ciara Conway asked the Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources to whom EirGrid is responsible; the way this structure operates in practice; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [14951/14]

Electricity Transmission Network

Ciara Conway

324. Deputy Ciara Conway asked the Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources when those who made submissions to EirGrid will receive detailed responses to their specific queries; the level of response EirGrid is required to supply; if a timescale is associated with same; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [14952/14]

Garda Operations

Ciara Conway

415. Deputy Ciara Conway asked the Minister for Justice and Equality if it is the practice of Garda stations nationwide to record incoming and outgoing phone calls; the reason this is so; where the information is stored; the person who has access to it; the length of time for which it is stored; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [15101/14]

Probate Applications

Ciara Conway

438. Deputy Ciara Conway asked the Minister for Justice and Equality if he will confirm the current waiting period for the grant of probate in Waterford court; the reasons for this delay; the measures being taken to tackle the waiting period; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [15314/14]

Probate Applications

Ciara Conway

439. Deputy Ciara Conway asked the Minister for Justice and Equality if he will provide, in tabular form, the current waiting period in weeks for the granting of probate in each county; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [15315/14]

Flood Prevention Measures

Ciara Conway

407. Deputy Ciara Conway asked the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform if he will provide an update on progress on supplying structural and physical infrastructure to avoid future flooding in places such as Passage East and Cheekpoint in County Waterford; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [13855/14]

Garda Recruitment

Ciara Conway

763. Deputy Ciara Conway asked the Minister for Justice and Equality the selection criteria used to determine the progression of candidates from phase two to three of the most recent Garda recruitment campaign; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [13360/14]

Harbours and Piers Funding

Ciara Conway

909. Deputy Ciara Conway asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if he will prioritise funding for dredging the harbour in Dunmore East; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [13854/14]

Accident and Emergency Services Provision

Ciara Conway

1000. Deputy Ciara Conway asked the Minister for Health the amount owed to the Health Service Executive in upaid accident and emergency bills for each of the past five years; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [13005/14]

Accident and Emergency Services Provision

Ciara Conway

1001. Deputy Ciara Conway asked the Minister for Health if he will provide a list in tabular form the amounts outstanding in unpaid accident and emergency bills to each of the country's hospitals for each of the past five years; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [13006/14]

Water Fluoridation

Ciara Conway

1004. Deputy Ciara Conway asked the Minister for Health his plans to review or re-examine the practice and merits of adding fluoride to the public water supply; the amount this practice costs annually; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [13008/14]

National Driver Licensing Service

Ciara Conway

1236. Deputy Ciara Conway asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport the position regarding the national driver licence service and its operation to date, particularly in the context of the waiting time relating to the processing of applications. [12993/14]

National Driver Licensing Service

Ciara Conway

1237. Deputy Ciara Conway asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport the way the current operators of the national driver licence service will hold responsibility for the service; when the contract relating to the service will next be up for renewal; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [12994/14]

Driver Licence Applications

Ciara Conway

1238. Deputy Ciara Conway asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport if he will consider a mechanism to allow citizens to apply for their driving licences at their local post offices rather than obliging them to contend with the geographical and economic difficulties associated with travelling to national driver licence service centres; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [12995/14]

Enterprise Support Schemes

Ciara Conway

15. Deputy Ciara Conway asked the Minister for Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation the number of female entrepreneurs that have benefited from the female entrepreneurship competitive feasibility fund; the progress to date in promoting female entrepreneurship; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [12011/14]

Action Plan for Jobs

Ciara Conway

31. Deputy Ciara Conway asked the Minister for Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation the position regarding the implementation of the Action Plan on Jobs; the most recent figures from the exporting sector; if he will provide a breakdown of those sectors that are witnessing a return to growth; the number of new start-ups by region; the latest information on consumer confidence here; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [12012/14]

Electric Vehicle Grants

Ciara Conway

25. Deputy Ciara Conway asked the Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources his plans to introduce additional incentives for the purchase of electric vehicles; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [7722/14]

Water Charges Exemptions

Ciara Conway

340. Deputy Ciara Conway asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government his views on correspondence (details supplied) regarding water charges; if he will consider some scheme of financial allowance for people with medical conditions that necessitate using large volumes of water; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [11578/14]

Passport Services

Ciara Conway

148. Deputy Ciara Conway asked the Minister for Justice and Equality the number of emergency travel documents his Department had to issue over the past five years for children under one year of age; the countries from which the children were travelling; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [11115/14]

Credit Unions

Ciara Conway

40. Deputy Ciara Conway asked the Minister for Finance if he will confirm that credit unions must hold a yearly annual general meeting; if it is within the remit of the registrar of credit unions to refuse credit union members an AGM; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [10647/14]

Credit Unions

Ciara Conway

41. Deputy Ciara Conway asked the Minister for Finance in the case of a credit union (details supplied) in County Waterford, if his attention has been drawn to the fact that shareholders have been refused an annual general meeting for more than two years; the measures that can be used to appeal such an decision; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [10648/14]

Local Government Reform

Ciara Conway

271. Deputy Ciara Conway asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government if he will examine correspondence (details supplied); if he will consider re-examining the proposal to remove contracts locally; if he will consider change and reform as suggested by building and reforming local action groups, LAGs, by incorporating them into organisations such as the one mentioned rather than terminating the work they do and transferring it to local authorities; if he will engage with local groups on this issue; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [10504/14]

Local Government Reform

Ciara Conway

381. Deputy Ciara Conway asked the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs if she will examine correspondence (details supplied); if she will examine alternative means of funding for Comhairlí na nÓg in counties where local authorities are merging including counties Waterford, Tipperary and Limerick; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [10615/14]

Hospital Consultants Recruitment

Ciara Conway

467. Deputy Ciara Conway asked the Minister for Health if approval has been given in respect of a third consultant post at Waterford Regional Hospital; when is it expected that the posts in question, will be filled; if as a result of filling these positions, cataract operations will be increased in Waterford Regional Hospital; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [10793/14]

School Curriculum

Ciara Conway

112. Deputy Ciara Conway asked the Minister for Education and Skills the progress made in relation to the draft leaving certificate politics and society course; when he plans to roll it out to schools; the way it will relate to the review of the CSPE programme at junior cycle; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [9027/14]

Pension Provisions

Ciara Conway

395. Deputy Ciara Conway asked the Minister for Social Protection if there is a legal timeframe for trustees to wind up a pension scheme in the event of a company closure; what that time limit is; the penalties that are incurred by going over this timeline; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [9231/14]