Ceisteanna Parlaiminte

Health Services Waiting Lists

Seán Canney

1562. Deputy Seán Canney asked the Minister for Health what steps are being taken to reduce wait times for genetic testing in Ireland, as the current wait times of up to two years are too long and patients on waiting lists are often being treated for the wrong diseases; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [17232/23]

Primary Care Services

Seán Canney

1668. Deputy Seán Canney asked the Minister for Health if he will instruct the HSE to install mother-and-baby carpark spaces in the primary care centre, Tuam; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [17651/23]

Departmental Programmes

Seán Canney

125. Deputy Seán Canney asked the Minister for Transport if the active travel scheme has been collectively assessed under the Climate Action and Low Carbon Development (Amendment) Act 2021 to determine if the scheme complies with the Act, bearing in mind that it includes plans to build out 1,500 km of footpaths and cycleways; if he will publicise the results of the assessment; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [15973/23]

Primary Care Centres

Seán Canney

329. Deputy Seán Canney asked the Minister for Health when he expects the x-ray facility to be installed in the primary care centre in Tuam, County Galway; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [15972/23]

Hen Harriers

Seán Canney

355. Deputy Seán Canney asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine when a person (details supplied) will receive the hen harrier scheme payment; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [15979/23]

Taxi Licences

Seán Canney

225. Deputy Seán Canney asked the Minister for Transport when a decision will be made on a local area hackney licence application (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [15282/23]

Disability Services

Seán Canney

513. Deputy Seán Canney asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth if he will support an urgent matter (details supplied). [14970/23]

Health Services Waiting Lists

Seán Canney

643. Deputy Seán Canney asked the Minister for Health the longest time that a child who is classified as urgent, semi-urgent and non-urgent is waiting for an MRI scan in UHG; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [14783/23]

Pension Provisions

Seán Canney

177. Deputy Seán Canney asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications if he has given approval to a request by a company (details supplied) for pension increases for its pensioners payable from July 2022; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [14582/23]

State Pensions

Seán Canney

156. Deputy Seán Canney asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications when he will introduce a pension scheme for An Post workers employed since 1984 when An Post was changed to a semi-State company; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [12737/23]

Rental Sector

Seán Canney

421. Deputy Seán Canney asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage if he is aware that landlords whose property is located within a rent pressure zone and where the rent was historically low cannot now raise the rent to match other rented properties in the area and are being penalised; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [12874/23]

School Admissions

Seán Canney

752. Deputy Seán Canney asked the Minister for Education if she will support a person (details supplied) as a matter of urgency. [13539/23]

Social Welfare Benefits

Seán Canney

843. Deputy Seán Canney asked the Minister for Social Protection her views on whether counting gross income instead of net income in fuel allowance means assessment is fair, given that net income is a fairer representation of the actual weekly income of a person; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [13700/23]

Social Welfare Benefits

Seán Canney

845. Deputy Seán Canney asked the Minister for Social Protection her views on whether the exclusion of women born before 1 September 1946 from the total contributions approach to contributory pension, which allows for up to 20 years home caring periods, represents discrimination on the grounds of age; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [13729/23]

Social Welfare Benefits

Seán Canney

846. Deputy Seán Canney asked the Minister for Social Protection her views on whether the exclusion of people not in receipt of a social protection payment from the sale of residence disregard, particularly in circumstances in which the treatment of this disregard has resulted in a large overpayment arising against the estate of a deceased person is unfair; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [13735/23]

Social Welfare Eligibility

Seán Canney

850. Deputy Seán Canney asked the Minister for Social Protection if people who did not qualify for the fuel allowance in advance of starting a community employment scheme can now access the payment as the thresholds have changed, or if there is a mechanism in place to allow this to happen; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [13806/23]

Control of Firearms

Seán Canney

1095. Deputy Seán Canney asked the Minister for Justice if he is aware of the proposals by the Firearm Expert Committee to impose additional conditions (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [13593/23]

Data Protection

Seán Canney

1111. Deputy Seán Canney asked the Minister for Justice if he will commission a fully independent review of how to strengthen and reform the Data Protection Commission to ensure that it is fit for purpose; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [13814/23]

Hospital Facilities

Seán Canney

1149. Deputy Seán Canney asked the Minister for Health if plans exist to remove the temporary prefab buildings of the neurology unit in GUH; the plans that exist to allow neurology consultants to continue to see their patients; where this will take place; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [12316/23]

Electric Vehicles

Seán Canney

1308. Deputy Seán Canney asked the Minister for Health when the electric charging point located at unit 4, Merlin Park Hospital, Galway, which was installed in 2022, will be available for use by the public and employees; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [12854/23]

Agriculture Schemes

Seán Canney

1551. Deputy Seán Canney asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if he is aware of difficulties experienced by farmers applying for the fodder scheme who were informed online that their applications were submitted and were later told that the application had not been received (details supplied); the number of farmers that are affected by this problem; his plans to address such problems; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [12839/23]

Agriculture Schemes

Seán Canney

1572. Deputy Seán Canney asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if a person (details supplied) whose REAP scheme ended in January 2023 can apply for the ACRES scheme; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [13446/23]

Agriculture Schemes

Seán Canney

4. Deputy Seán Canney asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if he will initiate a review of cases where farmers failed to tick the areas of natural constraint, ANC, box, did not receive the payment and were subsequently unsuccessful on appeal, as this was a simple administrative error which resulted in a 100% penalty and came at a time when his Department had recently introduced the need to do applications online, and many farmers forced to do these applications online first ticked a box stating there was no change to their application and then subsequently did not receive their ANC payments; if he accepts that part of this problem stems from the change to the online system, and the poor design and phrasing of questions in the new system; if he recognises that because these payments were for marginal land, predominantly in the west of the country, the farmers affected were mostly in poorer agricultural regions and therefore more heavily reliant on these payments; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [9696/23]

Hedge Cutting

Seán Canney

10. Deputy Seán Canney asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine his views on how farmers should dispose of cuttings from hedge trimming on their land; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [9692/23]

Environmental Policy

Seán Canney

20. Deputy Seán Canney asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the influence the EPA report on targets to re-wetlands and the proposed reductions in herd numbers will have on policy in his Department; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [9694/23]

Agriculture Schemes

Seán Canney

42. Deputy Seán Canney asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if he will accept all 46,000 applicants to the current tranche of the ACRES scheme; the plans he has to introduce a gap payment to farmers locked out of the ACRES scheme in 2023; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [9693/23]

Agriculture Schemes

Seán Canney

49. Deputy Seán Canney asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if it is his intention to increase the payment for the sheep welfare scheme to €30 per ewe, as requested by the farming organisations, due to the poor prices for sheep and the increase in the cost of feedstuffs; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [9691/23]

Agriculture Industry

Seán Canney

57. Deputy Seán Canney asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the status of the proposed Wool Council; the terms of reference for this council; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [9695/23]

Wind Energy Guidelines

Seán Canney

87. Deputy Seán Canney asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage if he will suspend planning applications for onshore wind turbine developments until the planning guidelines for such developments are updated; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [11921/23]

Wastewater Treatment

Seán Canney

122. Deputy Seán Canney asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage if he will increase funding to develop water treatment plants for towns and villages; if he will provide funding to allow existing waste water treatment plants in private estates to be taken in charge; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [11923/23]

Departmental Funding

Seán Canney

127. Deputy Seán Canney asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage when he will regularise the funding to support Galway County Council to bring their local government fund in line with comparable counties; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [11922/23]

Vacant Properties

Seán Canney

139. Deputy Seán Canney asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage if he will extend the Croí Cónaithe scheme to include vacant houses that can be refurbished for rental purposes; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [11919/23]

Departmental Schemes

Seán Canney

151. Deputy Seán Canney asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage when he will publish the review of the Housing Aid for Older People Housing Adaptation Grants and Mobility Aids Grants to reflect the additional costs of the works; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [11920/23]

Healthcare Infrastructure Provision

Seán Canney

341. Deputy Seán Canney asked the Minister for Health if he is aware that the HSE has designated the purpose-built Seven Springs Day Centre in Loughrea, County Galway as part of the community nursing unit in Loughrea; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [12152/23]

Healthcare Infrastructure Provision

Seán Canney

342. Deputy Seán Canney asked the Minister for Health if he has sanctioned funding for the proposal to refurbish an existing building at the Loughrea Health Campus, Loughrea, County Galway; if so, how much funding has been allocated; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [12153/23]

Agriculture Schemes

Seán Canney

354. Deputy Seán Canney asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if it is his intention to increase the payment for the sheep welfare scheme to €30 per ewe, as requested by the farming organisations due to the poor prices for sheep and the increase in the cost of feedstuffs; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [12084/23]

Primary Medical Certificates

Seán Canney

229. Deputy Seán Canney asked the Minister for Finance if he will include Parkinson's disease as a qualifying condition for the primary medical certificate; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [11048/23]

Hospital Waiting Lists

Seán Canney

533. Deputy Seán Canney asked the Minister for Health the number of patients currently waiting for fistula surgery in UHG; the current wait time; the steps that are being taken to reduce this waiting time; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [10817/23]

Departmental Funding

Seán Canney

81. Deputy Seán Canney asked the Minister for Transport when a new tranche of funding will be made available for the safer access to schools scheme; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [2882/23]

Tax Rebates

Seán Canney

231. Deputy Seán Canney asked the Minister for Finance if he will support an urgent matter for a person (details supplied). [10151/23]

Patient Transfers

Seán Canney

660. Deputy Seán Canney asked the Minister for Health if he will support a matter (details supplied). [10154/23]

Emergency Departments

Seán Canney

662. Deputy Seán Canney asked the Minister for Health if he will provide an update on the plan for a new accident and emergency department at Beaumont Hospital, Dublin 9; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [10156/23]

Covid-19 Pandemic

Seán Canney

626. Deputy Seán Canney asked the Minister for Health when front-line workers employed by a company (details supplied) will be paid the Covid bonus payment; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [8329/23]

Waterways Ireland

Seán Canney

218. Deputy Seán Canney asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage when the graded/banded employment will be approved for workers in Waterways Ireland following the decision by Waterways Ireland to allow such grading and banding of employees for remuneration reasons; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [7981/23]

Covid-19 Pandemic

Seán Canney

405. Deputy Seán Canney asked the Minister for Health when front line workers in an organisation (details supplied) will be paid the Covid bonus payment; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [7985/23]

Covid-19 Pandemic

Seán Canney

406. Deputy Seán Canney asked the Minister for Health when front line workers in an organisation (details supplied) will be paid the Covid bonus payment; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [7986/23]

Hospital Services

Seán Canney

411. Deputy Seán Canney asked the Minister for Health when secretarial support will be provided at the neurology clinic in UHG; if he is aware that 400 patients who have been seen at the clinic have not had their letters sent to their GPs updating them on patient information; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [8035/23]

Third Level Costs

Seán Canney

59. Deputy Seán Canney asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science if he will consider amending the SUSI terms and conditions to ensure that students whose parents were working and became ill and accessed illness benefit are not discriminated against in the system, in that if the household income is low enough, they will be able to access the special rate of grant aid; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [2878/23]

Planning Issues

Seán Canney

240. Deputy Seán Canney asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage if he will clarify the status of R2-zoned residential lands; if they will be liable for the residential zoned land tax; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [6989/23]

Planning Issues

Seán Canney

243. Deputy Seán Canney asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage if he will remove the planning requirements from the short-term accommodation register given that it will have a very negative consequence as many short-term lets cannot afford the cost of the planning process (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [7095/23]

Teacher Training

Seán Canney

324. Deputy Seán Canney asked the Minister for Education if her attention has been drawn to the changes proposed by her Department to professional development courses for primary school teachers outside of school time; the impact it is having on teachers; the consultation that was had with an organisation (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [6618/23]

Teacher Training

Seán Canney

351. Deputy Seán Canney asked the Minister for Education if her attention has been drawn to the difficulty that the changes to summer courses will have for teachers as they now require online courses to have 8 hours synchronous time, increasing to 15 hours by 2025; if her attention has been drawn to the difficulties that this is causing for teachers who have childcare responsibilities during the summer; the rationale for the change; if it will result in fewer teachers being able to access summer courses; if she will reconsider the change; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [6991/23]

Medicinal Products

Seán Canney

753. Deputy Seán Canney asked the Minister for Health if he can provide clarity for pregnant women on the process of how to obtain cariban through the drugs payment scheme, given that the drug is necessary to prevent extreme nausea and vomiting; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [7138/23]

Abortion Services

Seán Canney

776. Deputy Seán Canney asked the Minister for Health the steps that his Department and or the HSE has taken to ensure all abortions carried out legally in the State are properly notified to the Minister for Health in accordance with section 20 of the Act and made publicly available in the annual report, following on from the underreported abortions in the official report issued in 2022. [7184/23]

Abortion Services

Seán Canney

777. Deputy Seán Canney asked the Minister for Health the way the cyber-attack and Covid-19 so severely impacted the collection of notifications for abortions in 2021 but not the requests for reimbursements related to abortions paid to GPs. [7185/23]

Abortion Services

Seán Canney

778. Deputy Seán Canney asked the Minister for Health when he will publish the report of the three-year review into Ireland's abortion law in view that he has now received the report. [7186/23]

Wastewater Treatment

Seán Canney

149. Deputy Seán Canney asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage if he will introduce a scheme with funding to allow local authorities to provide wastewater treatment plants in towns and villages where none exist, solely to facilitate social and affordable housing development, which will increase the locations available to provide social and affordable housing in all towns and villages; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [5705/23]

Teacher Training

Seán Canney

202. Deputy Seán Canney asked the Minister for Education if her Department will offer the same financial support to registered post-primary teachers to upskill in order to teach home economics, as is currently being offered to registered teachers to teach mathematics, physics and Spanish, given that home economics is currently the second-most difficult subject to find a teacher for, ahead of mathematics and Spanish; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [5707/23]

Social Welfare Eligibility

Seán Canney

258. Deputy Seán Canney asked the Minister for Social Protection the rationale behind only giving carer's benefit to people previously working 18 hours per week, as some applicants were working 16 hours per week at higher per hour averages and were taking home more wages and paying more in PRSI than those on the minimum wage working 18 hours per week; if she will consider amending the current criteria in view of the severe shortage of available carers; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [5633/23]

Abortion Services

Seán Canney

383. Deputy Seán Canney asked the Minister for Health the research that was carried out in consultation with women who opted not to proceed with a second appointment for termination of pregnancy following the three-day waiting period; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [5761/23]

Abortion Services

Seán Canney

384. Deputy Seán Canney asked the Minister for Health further to Parliamentary Question No. 649 of 23 November 2021, the number of live births that were registered of babies who survived the abortion procedure; and the number of death certificates that were issued between 1 January 2019 to 31 December 2022. [5762/23]

Hospital Procedures

Seán Canney

386. Deputy Seán Canney asked the Minister for Health the reason that fistula surgery is not performed in Merlin Park Hospital, Galway; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [5766/23]

School Transport

Seán Canney

78. Deputy Seán Canney asked the Minister for Education when the review of school transport will be completed; the plans that she has in place for the delivery of school transport in 2023; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [2873/23]

Educational Disadvantage

Seán Canney

99. Deputy Seán Canney asked the Minister for Education if she will review the process by which DEIS designation is given to schools to ensure that all schools that cater for students from all backgrounds, including refugees, are properly recognised; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [2881/23]

Schools Building Projects

Seán Canney

118. Deputy Seán Canney asked the Minister for Education when the new Gaelscoil national and secondary school campus for Athenry, County Galway, will be completed; the stage that it is at; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [2880/23]

Schools Building Projects

Seán Canney

136. Deputy Seán Canney asked the Minister for Education when a new school (details supplied) for Tuam, County Galway, is expected to be delivered; the stage that it is at presently; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [2879/23]

Social Welfare Benefits

Seán Canney

340. Deputy Seán Canney asked the Minister for Social Protection if she will change the rules to allow deserted wives who applied for deserted wives benefit between 3 August 1993 and 2 January 1997 be treated in respect of their income threshold similar to people who applied prior to 3 August 1992; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [5482/23]

Vacant Properties

Seán Canney

107. Deputy Seán Canney asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage if his attention has been drawn to the 75 ghost housing estates nationwide; if he will provide a breakdown of the number of houses and location of each ghost estate broken down by local authority area; the plans that are in place to bring these houses into use; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [5002/23]

Sports Funding

Seán Canney

301. Deputy Seán Canney asked the Minister for Tourism, Culture, Arts, Gaeltacht, Sport and Media if she will provide an update on grants for 2023 (details supplied). [4358/23]

Sports Funding

Seán Canney

302. Deputy Seán Canney asked the Minister for Tourism, Culture, Arts, Gaeltacht, Sport and Media the status of a matter regarding negotiations between football clubs (details supplied). [4359/23]

Sports Funding

Seán Canney

303. Deputy Seán Canney asked the Minister for Tourism, Culture, Arts, Gaeltacht, Sport and Media the amount of funding that was allocated to a sporting club (details supplied) in 2022. [4360/23]

Departmental Schemes

Seán Canney

321. Deputy Seán Canney asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage if he is satisfied with the mortgage to rent scheme; if it is working as designed; if his attention has been drawn to the fact a bank (details suppled) is withdrawing from the scheme; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [3985/23]

Legislative Measures

Seán Canney

700. Deputy Seán Canney asked the Minister for Health if he will provide an update on the transport support Bill; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [4361/23]

Schools Amalgamation

Seán Canney

350. Deputy Seán Canney asked the Minister for Education the status of the amalgamation of two primary schools (details supplied); the stage it is at; when she expects work to start on the construction of the new school; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [2864/23]

Childcare Qualifications

Seán Canney

277. Deputy Seán Canney asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth his proposals for childcare professionals in their 50s who have a level 5 qualification with up to six years practical experience who now are required to obtain a level 6 qualification to remain in the service; if he will give recognition for years of service and allow progression to level 6 without having to undergo a third level degree course; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [2622/23]

Transport Policy

Seán Canney

222. Deputy Seán Canney asked the Minister for Transport if there is any funding available to someone in receipt of social protection payments such as invalidity pension who wishes to buy an electric bike; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [1129/23]

Driver Test

Seán Canney

241. Deputy Seán Canney asked the Minister for Transport if he will consider an exemption for drivers who already have a driving licence from the need to be tested to tow a trailer with a vehicle; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [1382/23]

Rail Network

Seán Canney

242. Deputy Seán Canney asked the Minister for Transport when the freight hub at Athenry train station, County Galway, will be developed under Irish Rail plans to increase rail freight services; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [1385/23]

Water Services

Seán Canney

466. Deputy Seán Canney asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage if he will provide funding for a municipal wastewater treatment plant for Corofin, County Galway to allow for the development of the village; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [63297/22]

School Staff

Seán Canney

674. Deputy Seán Canney asked the Minister for Education if she will consider changing the current regulations in order that teachers can transfer job location in an easier fashion (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [63347/22]

Special Educational Needs

Seán Canney

682. Deputy Seán Canney asked the Minister for Education if she will support a matter (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [63406/22]

Special Educational Needs

Seán Canney

762. Deputy Seán Canney asked the Minister for Education if the case of a child (details supplied) will be examined and a second level place provided for them. [1381/23]

Disadvantaged Status

Seán Canney

773. Deputy Seán Canney asked the Minister for Education if a school (details supplied) will be included in the DEIS scheme due to the school demographic; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [1608/23]

Social Welfare Rates

Seán Canney

843. Deputy Seán Canney asked the Minister for Social Protection if she will index link all social protection payments to meet the cost of living going forward; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [63283/22]

Social Welfare Eligibility

Seán Canney

852. Deputy Seán Canney asked the Minister for Social Protection the reason that a person (details supplied) who is in receipt of domiciliary care allowance and the carer’s support grant in respect of their son did not get the carer’s support grant of €500 as part of the recently announced budget supports given that they did receive the disability bonus payment due to their being in receipt of disability allowance; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [63423/22]

Social Welfare Eligibility

Seán Canney

918. Deputy Seán Canney asked the Minister for Social Protection if participants on CE schemes and rural social schemes qualify for the €500 cost-of-living grant; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [1938/23]

Legislative Process

Seán Canney

985. Deputy Seán Canney asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth when the redress scheme will be open to applicants to apply for; the timeframe that the process is expected to take; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [1380/23]

Rights of People with Disabilities

Seán Canney

986. Deputy Seán Canney asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth when the optional protocol will be enacted to give credibility to the adoption of the UNCRPD; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [1383/23]

Dental Services

Seán Canney

1249. Deputy Seán Canney asked the Minister for Health the provisions his Department is taking to secure dental services for medical card holders in County Galway; the services available to patients who cannot find a local dentist to avail of the dental treatment services scheme; when the current dental treatment services scheme will be replaced with a fit-for-purpose scheme; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [63545/22]

Dental Services

Seán Canney

1250. Deputy Seán Canney asked the Minister for Health the number of dental practices in County Galway which have ceased providing medical card services to persons with disabilities in the past five years; the medical card dental services that are currently available to adult persons with disabilities; the provisions in place for those whose local dentist withdraws from the provision of medical card services; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [63546/22]

Dental Services

Seán Canney

1251. Deputy Seán Canney asked the Minister for Health the number of dental practices in County Galway which have ceased providing medical card services in the past five years; the medical card dental services that are currently available to medical card users; the provisions in place for those whose local dentist withdraws from the provision of medical card services; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [63547/22]

Ambulance Service

Seán Canney

1469. Deputy Seán Canney asked the Minister for Health if he will direct the National Ambulance Service to put a second ambulance in place in Tuam, County Galway, on a full 24/7 basis to deal with the demand in Tuam and the catchment area; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [1387/23]

Medical Aids and Appliances

Seán Canney

1472. Deputy Seán Canney asked the Minister for Health if he will make equipment and medications for sleep apnoea available on the long-term illness scheme; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [1392/23]

Health Strategies

Seán Canney

1494. Deputy Seán Canney asked the Minister for Health the timeline for the plan to create a population-based community neurorehabilitation team in CHO 2 or the associated new regional health area; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [1454/23]

Health Services Staff

Seán Canney

1519. Deputy Seán Canney asked the Minister for Health the progress that has been made on recruiting a permanent consultant ophthalmologist post for County Galway who will provide a service at the Tuam primary care centre; the progress that has been made on the recruitment of clinical optometry staff for Galway; when the integrated primary care eye team for County Galway will be fully in place to address the current acute capacity issues in community ophthalmology in County Galway; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [1595/23]

Assisted Human Reproduction

Seán Canney

1528. Deputy Seán Canney asked the Minister for Health the assistance that is available to persons who are in receipt of social protection payments and who are paying for IVF treatment; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [1622/23]

Dental Services

Seán Canney

1545. Deputy Seán Canney asked the Minister for Health the supports that his Department will put in place to help parents and patients of a dental practice (details supplied) that has closed or have been left without a service and are unable to access another service; if he will request the Dental Council to provide assistance and advice on the way to claim back money paid for treatments that were not provided; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [1693/23]

Hospital Waiting Lists

Seán Canney

1638. Deputy Seán Canney asked the Minister for Health the number of patients who are waiting for pain management at University Hospital Galway; the length of time that they have been waiting; his plans to address the crisis in waiting times for pain management in Galway; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [1940/23]

Grant Payments

Seán Canney

1760. Deputy Seán Canney asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if he will consider overhauling the current grants regime in order that farmers can bank the money they receive year by year and not face recoupments going back up to five years in relation to money that is long spent; if his attention has been drawn to the stress that these recoupments are placing on farmers and the fact that changes to schemes can ensure that a farmer’s payments are withheld if they do not reach targets, as opposed to recouped over many years; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [63365/22]

Agriculture Schemes

Seán Canney

1768. Deputy Seán Canney asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the reason that the areas of the Ballyboy, Cregaclare Turlough, Ballyboy, Ardrahan, County Galway, are excluded from the ACRES scheme given that they are areas of important ecological value; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [63472/22]