Ceisteanna Parlaiminte

Health Service Executive

Mattie McGrath

235. Deputy Mattie McGrath asked the Minister for Health in terms of the procurement process for the HSE, what efforts are being made to ensure best value for money where potential suppliers can demonstrate that alternative products can meet the technical requirements; the process for examining alternative solutions which can demonstrate adherence to the technical requirements; how product specification is determined; who creates the technical product data requirements for the HSE; where a company was rejected on technical points which were contradictory or hold no technical credibility, what avenue is available to have the technical requirements examined to ensure best value for money is being met and the technical requirements hold weight; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [34422/23]

School Staff

Mattie McGrath

282. Deputy Mattie McGrath asked the Minister for Education the reason there is such a large discrepancy between the pension entitlement for a primary school teacher and that of an SNA, where both staff pay the same percentage of their salary to their pension and the SNA pension entitlement is two-and-a-half times less than that of teachers; the reason for the discrepancy; if he will urgently review the matter; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [33870/23]

Healthcare Policy

Mattie McGrath

736. Deputy Mattie McGrath asked the Minister for Health who decided to go ahead with reconfiguration of the mid-west region despite the 600 beds required by the Hanly Report to offer safe patient safety not being in place; if he will launch an investigation into this decision, given that it has caused untold suffering on patients and staff in the mid-west region for 14 years; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [33755/23]

Hospital Overcrowding

Mattie McGrath

737. Deputy Mattie McGrath asked the Minister for Health if he will publish the figures he relied on when speaking on a radio station (details supplied) when he stated that trolley numbers were down at UHL while comparing trolley numbers at the same period in 2019; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [33756/23]

Healthcare Policy

Mattie McGrath

738. Deputy Mattie McGrath asked the Minister for Health following his comments that reconfiguration was not working (details supplied), if he will put an urgent plan in place to reopen Nenagh, Ennis and St. Johns accident and emergency departments, given the new 96-block bed unit will only actually realise 48-beds meaning that the mid-west region will still not be at the 600-beds needed to provide patient safety according to the Hanly Report; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [33757/23]

Healthcare Policy

Mattie McGrath

739. Deputy Mattie McGrath asked the Minister for Health if he will publish the evidence he relied upon when he stated that reopening an accident and emergency department in Ennis Hospital was inadvisable on safety grounds; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [33758/23]

Healthcare Policy

Mattie McGrath

740. Deputy Mattie McGrath asked the Minister for Health if he will commit to meeting with TDs and Health Forum members from the mid-west as requested by the HSE Mid-West Forums meeting recently; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [33759/23]

Departmental Policies

Mattie McGrath

140. Deputy Mattie McGrath asked the Minister for Justice in light of her statement that there exists a serious and genuine, present or foreseeable threat to the security of the State and that such a threat is likely to continue for at least the next 12 months, to outline the details of such threats to the security of the State; to outline the nature of her concerns in this regard; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [32895/23]

School Staff

Mattie McGrath

277. Deputy Mattie McGrath asked the Minister for Education how SNAs can contact staff working in the payroll section with queries (details supplied). [32089/23]

Third Level Education

Mattie McGrath

282. Deputy Mattie McGrath asked the Minister for Education the number of psychology students who graduate from Irish universities every year; the number of psychology placements available every year; if there are any plans to increase the number of placements considering the shortage of psychologists in the country; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [32141/23]

Social Welfare Payments

Mattie McGrath

387. Deputy Mattie McGrath asked the Minister for Social Protection to outline the clear guidelines for carers in receipt of carer’s allowance where the person being cared for must travel abroad for treatment not available in this State (details supplied); what the carer must do to ensure that they will not have their payment stopped or be threatened with having their payment stopped if they have to leave the State for treatment; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [32097/23]

Asylum Seekers

Mattie McGrath

418. Deputy Mattie McGrath asked the Minister for Justice the number of Ukrainian refugees who have transferred or sought a transfer to Ireland from another EU country having originally sought protection in that country; the country from which they have transferred or sought a transfer; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [32140/23]

Departmental Data

Mattie McGrath

424. Deputy Mattie McGrath asked the Minister for Justice the number of convictions there was between 2015 to 2023 for rape or sexual assault of children under 18 years. [32221/23]

Charitable and Voluntary Organisations

Mattie McGrath

189. Deputy Mattie McGrath asked the Minister for Finance if not-for-profit, community organisations that are not registered charities are liable for tax, or if there are any exemptions for same; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [31726/23]

Community Care

Mattie McGrath

413. Deputy Mattie McGrath asked the Minister for Health the availability of funding for the construction of adult day services within the community; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [31727/23]

National Asset Management Agency

Mattie McGrath

200. Deputy Mattie McGrath asked the Minister for Finance if he will investigate if, and the reason why, NAMA-NALM is permitted to use an Irish citizen’s personal tax number in its own interest (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [30642/23]

National Asset Management Agency

Mattie McGrath

201. Deputy Mattie McGrath asked the Minister for Finance to investigate the reason NAMA-NALM was able to use the personal tax number of a person (details supplied)); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [30643/23]

Animal Culls

Mattie McGrath

505. Deputy Mattie McGrath asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the steps that will be taken to reduce the deer population following the consultation process carried out by his Department where 86% of the persons who took part in the survey said a culling of deer is required; if he will outline the plans in place to manage the increasing deer population; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [30876/23]

Healthcare Policy

Mattie McGrath

654. Deputy Mattie McGrath asked the Minister for Health the status of the reconfiguration of the current hospital groups under new regional structures as proposed in Sláintecare; the likely implications on Tipperary University Hospital which will be removed from its current group in the South, South-West Hospital Group; the reasons TUH would be removed from the South, South-West Hospital Group; the logic behind the geographical regions when there are such large population discrepancies between the regions; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [30748/23]

National Transport Authority

Mattie McGrath

4. Deputy Mattie McGrath asked the Minister for Transport if he will urgently review the decision by the NTA to remove Ardfinnan Bridge from its 2023 list of projects, particularly given previous commitments from the Government on the matter; the reason the NTA is going against the view of the consultants engaged on the matter; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [30023/23]

Student Accommodation

Mattie McGrath

163. Deputy Mattie McGrath asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth the details of all contracts between his Department and student accommodation providers; the number of refugees or persons seeking international protection currently being housed in student accommodation facilities; if he will confirm whether all such contracts will end before the new college term in September; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [29882/23]

Public Sector Pay

Mattie McGrath

300. Deputy Mattie McGrath asked the Minister for Education the remuneration that will be provided to the link person referenced in the letter to principals on the Pilot Programme of Counselling Supports in Primary Schools; the resources that will be put in place for them; the hours that will be made available to them to co-ordinate this programme in their school; and where her Department sees capacity for a link person given the current workload on teachers and school principals. [29197/23]

Wildlife Regulations

Mattie McGrath

364. Deputy Mattie McGrath asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage to outline clearly his Department's plans regarding the open seasons Order; to outline the reason a position paper and plans by the NPWS Management Board (dated September 2022) were not referenced during the public consultation process held between March and May 2023; the reason two options were outlined in these plans and set out before the consultation process began; the reason those engaging in the consultation process were not made aware of the options as set out by the NPWS; if he will address the concerns by game hunting clubs in relation to their lack of confidence in this consultation process given the position of the NPWS; if he will outline what the "other" options being considered are as they are not referenced in the paper; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [29212/23]

Immigration Policy

Mattie McGrath

432. Deputy Mattie McGrath asked the Minister for Justice to outline the full details of the EU General Agreement on Migration and Asylum reached recently; the obligations this agreement would have on Ireland; whether or not Ireland will have the option of opt-out of this agreement; the contributions of her Department in reaching this agreement; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [29200/23]

Children in Care

Mattie McGrath

523. Deputy Mattie McGrath asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth the number of children who are currently in temporary (bridging) foster placements and/or using emergency accommodation such as hotels, youth homelessness- or hostel-type accommodation, who are approved and are awaiting a residential placement, broken down by CHO, in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [29450/23]

Hospital Closures

Mattie McGrath

680. Deputy Mattie McGrath asked the Minister for Health to outline how donors to St. Brigid's District Hospital Carrick-on-Suir can claim their money back after the hospital was closed in 2020. [29444/23]

Passport Services

Mattie McGrath

160. Deputy Mattie McGrath asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs the reason post passport applications are not being processed at the same rate as online passports applications; and if the Government plan to introduce measures to enable both applications (i.e. online and post) to be processed in similar timeframes. [29100/23]

School Funding

Mattie McGrath

84. Deputy Mattie McGrath asked the Minister for Education when the ICT grant for the school year 2022/2023 will be sent to schools. [28696/23]

Departmental Staff

Mattie McGrath

126. Deputy Mattie McGrath asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs the reason his Department is now conducting an internal closed competition for the same rank, particularly when the current list has not been exhausted; the reason the new competition is an internal closed competition when a number of external candidates are ranked higher on the current list and are now unable to apply; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [27188/23]

Departmental Data

Mattie McGrath

192. Deputy Mattie McGrath asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications the potential cost of providing every second-level student in the State with a reusable water bottle, which could be brought to school or used during sports activities to reduce the use of plastic bottles (as per the pilot project undertaken by Galway City Council); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [27539/23]

Departmental Staff

Mattie McGrath

397. Deputy Mattie McGrath asked the Minister for Public Expenditure, National Development Plan Delivery and Reform the reason the list for the filling of first secretary posts in the Department of Foreign Affairs is set to close in November 2023, six months shorter than the normal two years for which the list would be operational, March 2024; the number of candidates remaining on this list which was created in March 2022; the number remaining on the current list who came from the private sector [27188/23]

Work Permits

Mattie McGrath

460. Deputy Mattie McGrath asked the Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment if he will have the mechanics, specifically agricultural mechanics, construction plant fitters and heavy vehicle mechanics added to his Department's Critical Skills list due to the critical shortage within the industry; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [27889/23]

Departmental Programmes

Mattie McGrath

527. Deputy Mattie McGrath asked the Minister for Education the estimated full-year cost to the Exchequer associated with State funding for a practical programme of driver education and a pathway to pass the driver theory test for final-year students at all secondary level schools, aiming to equip young adults with a potential mode of transport upon completing school; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [27536/23]

Departmental Programmes

Mattie McGrath

528. Deputy Mattie McGrath asked the Minister for Education the estimated full-year cost to the Exchequer associated with State funding for a practical programme of first-aid and CPR life-saving skills for all Leaving Certificate students; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [27537/23]

Departmental Strategies

Mattie McGrath

529. Deputy Mattie McGrath asked the Minister for Education the steps, if any, that are being taken by her Department to educate and safeguard children around the potential harms and misinformation being generated by artificial intelligence; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [27540/23]

Departmental Policies

Mattie McGrath

631. Deputy Mattie McGrath asked the Minister for Tourism, Culture, Arts, Gaeltacht, Sport and Media if she will provide an indicative costing for her Department to offer a practical programme of first-aid and CPR life-saving skills to all amateur sports referees, across all sports, as specified, in 2024 (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [27538/23]

Health Services

Mattie McGrath

1139. Deputy Mattie McGrath asked the Minister for Health the reason a day care centre in County Tipperary that is facing a staffing and funding crisis was refused additional Section 39 funding to help meet the costs of permanent staff; if this matter will be reviewed urgently as the centre is at risk of a reduction of hours of service; if an additional support worker will be funded to ensure continuity of service; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [27293/23]

Departmental Reports

Mattie McGrath

41. Deputy Mattie McGrath asked the Minister for Health his views on whether it is appropriate for the secretary general of his Department to publicly reject the majority of the findings of a report regarding the abandoned secondment of a former chief medical officer, especially in light of An Tánaiste's support for the report's conclusions, which he described as conclusive and unassailable (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [19936/23]

Sports Funding

Mattie McGrath

209. Deputy Mattie McGrath asked the Minister for Tourism, Culture, Arts, Gaeltacht, Sport and Media if there is any additional funding available to recipients of the 2022 tranche of the sports capital programme in order to cover the excess costs due to inflation; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [27032/23]

Healthcare Infrastructure Provision

Mattie McGrath

375. Deputy Mattie McGrath asked the Minister for Health if the newly launched HSE capital plan for building and equipment will cover the construction of community adult day services centres; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [27031/23]

Driver Licences

Mattie McGrath

180. Deputy Mattie McGrath asked the Minister for Transport where a category has been removed from a person’s licence, how they can have the category reinstated; the reason the NDLS only holds records back to 1990; where the records are held for licences issued pre-1990; if a person held a licence category in 1972, where a record of this licence is held; the way they can access same; the reason a person would be expected to re-sit a test for a category they held previously as the NDLS removed the category from their licence; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [25615/23]

Bus Services

Mattie McGrath

195. Deputy Mattie McGrath asked the Minister for Transport the rationale for the National Transport Authority proceeding to make an application to An Bord Pleanála for the proposed Templeogue and Rathfarnham to city bus corridor, despite the dramatic impact this proposal would have on the local area (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [26267/23]

Bus Services

Mattie McGrath

196. Deputy Mattie McGrath asked the Minister for Transport the reason the National Transport Authority would proceed with a 'bus gate' as part of the proposed Templeogue/Rathfarnham to city bus corridor without considering the operational requirements of a church (details supplied), especially as the proposal poses a serious threat to the church's ability to operate effectively over time; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [26268/23]

Health Service Executive

Mattie McGrath

593. Deputy Mattie McGrath asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth the level of funding spent on providing training for clinicians in private clinics providing outsourced assessments and therapies for the HSE over the past three years; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [25732/23]

Health Services

Mattie McGrath

652. Deputy Mattie McGrath asked the Minister for Health the reason an 83-year-old with haemochromatosis cannot have their blood taken as they are over 80 years of age; the reason for this decision by the HSE; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [25603/23]

Child Abuse

Mattie McGrath

157. Deputy Mattie McGrath asked the Minister for Justice the number of reports of child sex abuse made to An Garda Síochána for each of the years 2015 to 2022 and to date in 2023. [25148/23]

Child Abuse

Mattie McGrath

158. Deputy Mattie McGrath asked the Minister for Justice the number of prosecutions for child sex abuse made by An Garda Síochána for each of the years 2015 to 2022 and to date in 2023. [25149/23]

Child Abuse

Mattie McGrath

159. Deputy Mattie McGrath asked the Minister for Justice the number of convictions in the criminal courts for child sex abuse for each of the years 2015 to 2022 and to date in 2023. [25150/23]

Energy Conservation

Mattie McGrath

165. Deputy Mattie McGrath asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications the number of applications received under the "revisit" warmer homes scheme since its announcement; the number of homes completed in the country; the number of applications received in County Tipperary; the number of homes that have been completed under the scheme in County Tipperary; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [24161/23]

Energy Conservation

Mattie McGrath

166. Deputy Mattie McGrath asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications when the low-cost loans for energy upgrades will be made available to the public; the reason for the delay; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [24163/23]