Ceisteanna Parlaiminte

Early Childhood Care and Education

Michael McNamara

564. Deputy Michael McNamara asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth if he would consider more flexibility with the ECCE hours to accommodate parents on shift work; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [22592/23]

Healthcare Policy

Michael McNamara

614. Deputy Michael McNamara asked the Minister for Health if mask-wearing in health facilities such as hospitals reduces transmission of Covid-19 and/or RSV; if he will outline any evidential basis for same; and if he will outline the rationale for the recent decision to no longer require the wearing of facemasks in such settings. [22523/23]

Disability Services

Michael McNamara

131. Deputy Michael McNamara asked the Minister for Social Protection the current situation regarding a disability allowance appeal by a person (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [21980/23]

Social Welfare Benefits

Michael McNamara

132. Deputy Michael McNamara asked the Minister for Social Protection when a decision will be made in relation to an application by a person (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [21990/23]

Social Welfare Appeals

Michael McNamara

136. Deputy Michael McNamara asked the Minister for Social Protection when a decision will be made in relation to an invalidity pension appeal by a person (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [22051/23]

Road Network

Michael McNamara

178. Deputy Michael McNamara asked the Minister for Transport the amount spent by Transport Infrastructure Ireland cutting trees beside national roads and motorway networks; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [21221/23]

Road Network

Michael McNamara

179. Deputy Michael McNamara asked the Minister for Transport the number of permits obtained for the cutting of trees beside the motorway and national roads network; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [21222/23]

Forestry Sector

Michael McNamara

476. Deputy Michael McNamara asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine his plans for legislative change in light of recent tree felling at Ryevale House and the destruction of trees in hedgerows in Clare, in particular by, and the behest of, Clare County Council, since the commencement of the Forestry Act 2014; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [21175/23]

Forestry Sector

Michael McNamara

478. Deputy Michael McNamara asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the number of hectares of forestry as defined in the Forestry Act 2014 that was logged in 2020, 2021, 2022 and 2023, respectively; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [21220/23]

Agriculture Schemes

Michael McNamara

502. Deputy Michael McNamara asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine when the targeted agricultural modernisation scheme will open to participants; his plans to extend the age limit; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [21421/23]

Hospital Services

Michael McNamara

625. Deputy Michael McNamara asked the Minister for Health the actions being taken by his Department and the HSE to reduce waiting times for genetic testing at Our Lady’s Children’s Hospital, Crumlin; the investment that is being made in diagnostic services for the estimated 300,000 people living with a rare disease in Ireland at present; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [21611/23]

Health Services

Michael McNamara

644. Deputy Michael McNamara asked the Minister for Health if he will expedite a EHIC refund for a person (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [21687/23]

Departmental Schemes

Michael McNamara

97. Deputy Michael McNamara asked the Minister for Transport the current status of a safe routes application for a school (details supplied) in County Clare; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [20514/23]

School Staff

Michael McNamara

169. Deputy Michael McNamara asked the Minister for Education if there are plans to recruit extra doctors for a company (details supplied) in the mid-west; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [20484/23]

Agriculture Supports

Michael McNamara

321. Deputy Michael McNamara asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine when moneys owing for approved actions carried out in 2022 by farmers as part of the Hen Harrier Project in breeding Hen Harrier Special Protection Areas, as agreed with his Department, will be paid; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [20615/23]

Hospital Staff

Michael McNamara

397. Deputy Michael McNamara asked the Minister for Health the length of time there has been no paediatric neurologist at UHL; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [20342/23]

Hospital Staff

Michael McNamara

398. Deputy Michael McNamara asked the Minister for Health when the position of paediatric neurologist was advertised at UHL in the past 12 months; the steps that have been taken in the past 12 months to fill the position of paediatric consultant; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [20343/23]

Hospital Staff

Michael McNamara

399. Deputy Michael McNamara asked the Minister for Health the services that have been provided to patients in need of paediatric neurology care at UHL in the past 12 months; the person or body that is clinically responsible for the care of such patients; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [20344/23]

Hospital Staff

Michael McNamara

400. Deputy Michael McNamara asked the Minister for Health when a paediatric neurologist will commence seeing patients at UHL; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [20345/23]

Health Services Staff

Michael McNamara

452. Deputy Michael McNamara asked the Minister for Health further to Parliamentary Question No. 644 of 28 March 2023, the reason for the delay in issuing a response (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [20599/23]

Turf Cutting

Michael McNamara

312. Deputy Michael McNamara asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage if there is any legal proscription on cutting turf by persons with turbary rights for one's own use in the Tullaher Lough and Bog (SAC); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [19023/23]

Covid-19 Pandemic Supports

Michael McNamara

534. Deputy Michael McNamara asked the Minister for Health further to Parliamentary Question No. 158 of 25 January 2023, the reason for the delay in issuing Covid-19 recognition payments; when he expects outstanding payments to be made to front-line workers in private nursing homes, hospices and agency healthcare assistants; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [19071/23]

Forestry Sector

Michael McNamara

104. Deputy Michael McNamara asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if he will accept certification from foresters accredited with his Department as to the status of an ash plantation for the purposes of removal of dead trees and replanting, or whether he is insisting on certification by his own Department’s officials on the matter. [18552/23]

Agriculture Schemes

Michael McNamara

132. Deputy Michael McNamara asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if he will clarify whether a reduction in the genomic rating of individual bovines in a herd during the course of the new Suckler Carbon Efficiency Programme (SCEP) will impact on the herd owner’s eligibility or whether the animal’s rating at the commencement of the scheme or, in the case of livestock bought in, the rating at the time of purchase, will be maintained throughout for the purpose of eligibility; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [18551/23]

Park-and-Ride Facilities

Michael McNamara

28. Deputy Michael McNamara asked the Minister for Transport the revenues generated, or anticipated to be generated, per annum by parking charges at Ballybrophy railway station. [18435/23]

Park-and-Ride Facilities

Michael McNamara

29. Deputy Michael McNamara asked the Minister for Transport to outline any payments or contractual obligations to pay monies for the monitoring of the payment of parking fees at Ballybrophy railway station. [18436/23]

Park-and-Ride Facilities

Michael McNamara

30. Deputy Michael McNamara asked the Minister for Transport what facilities, if any, are in place to enable persons without a bank card to pay for parking at Ballybrophy railway station. [18437/23]

Park-and-Ride Facilities

Michael McNamara

31. Deputy Michael McNamara asked the Minister for Transport what facilities, if any, are in place to enable persons who are illiterate to pay for parking at Ballybrophy railway station. [18438/23]

Park-and-Ride Facilities

Michael McNamara

32. Deputy Michael McNamara asked the Minister for Transport to outline the process by which a company (details supplied) was selected to supervise/manage the payment for parking at Ballybrophy railway station. [18439/23]

Park-and-Ride Facilities

Michael McNamara

33. Deputy Michael McNamara asked the Minister for Transport if any audit of the user friendliness of (details supplied) including for elderly persons or persons with impaired capacity, has been carried out by his Department. [18440/23]

Park-and-Ride Facilities

Michael McNamara

34. Deputy Michael McNamara asked the Minister for Transport if any audit of the user friendliness of a company (details supplied) including for elderly persons or persons with impaired capacity, has been carried out by CIE, before it was selected to operate car parking at Ballybrophy railway station. [18441/23]

Work Permits

Michael McNamara

76. Deputy Michael McNamara asked the Minister for Justice if he will outline any plans to address, by legislation or otherwise, the situation whereby persons granted a work permit, based on their suitability to fill a position that an employer cannot otherwise fill, are subsequently refused a visa by his Department on the basis that they are not suitable for the post in question; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [9421/23]

Departmental Schemes

Michael McNamara

380. Deputy Michael McNamara asked the Minister for Finance how many applications have been made to the living city initiative; how many successful claimants there have been under the initiative since the scheme was commenced on 5 May 2015; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [17068/23]

Departmental Schemes

Michael McNamara

381. Deputy Michael McNamara asked the Minister for Finance if he will outline the range of moneys paid to successful claimants under the living city initiative to date; the average amount paid; the median sum paid under the initiative since its commencement; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [17069/23]

Housing Policy

Michael McNamara

777. Deputy Michael McNamara asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage to clarify whether it will be open to owners of a vacant property or future renters/occupiers of a vacant property or both of the aforementioned categories of applicants to apply for the Croí Cónaithe vacant property refurbishment grant after 1 May 2023, pursuant to the changes recently announced; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [17061/23]

Housing Policy

Michael McNamara

778. Deputy Michael McNamara asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage to clarify whether it will be open to the owner of a vacant property or the future renters/occupiers of a vacant property to apply for the Croí Cónaithe vacant property refurbishment grant in respect of each unit in a vacant property being refurbished for use as more than one residential dwelling after 1 May 2023, pursuant to the changes recently announced; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [17062/23]

Housing Policy

Michael McNamara

779. Deputy Michael McNamara asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage to clarify whether will be open to the owner a property, occupied as a retail unit on the ground floor with the upper storeys vacant to apply for the Croí Cónaithe vacant property refurbishment grant to refurbish the upper storeys to rent out as a dwelling or dwellings; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [17063/23]

Housing Policy

Michael McNamara

780. Deputy Michael McNamara asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage to clarify what evidence, other than being included on the derelict sites register, will be accepted from applicants for the Croí Cónaithe vacant property refurbishment grant seeking an additional top-up grant of up to €20,000 in respect of a property that is derelict; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [17064/23]

An Garda Síochána

Michael McNamara

976. Deputy Michael McNamara asked the Minister for Justice the number of members of An Garda Síochána who were redeployed or retired from the Clare Garda division during 2021 and 2022; the number of members of An Garda Síochána that were assigned to the Clare Garda division for duty during both years; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [17275/23]

Forestry Sector

Michael McNamara

1113. Deputy Michael McNamara asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if he will outline the level of engagement with forestry and farmer groups regarding the reconstitution and underplanting scheme (ash dieback) since the introduction of the scheme in 2021; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [17279/23]

Forestry Sector

Michael McNamara

1114. Deputy Michael McNamara asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if he would consider the fast-track processing of all licence applications under the reconstitution and underplanting scheme (ash dieback); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [17280/23]

Disability Services

Michael McNamara

1243. Deputy Michael McNamara asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth what additional staffing resources have been provided during 2022 and to date in 2023 to the Clare children’s disability network team for the purpose of reducing waiting lists in County Clare; if he will confirm what additional measures have and will be taken to further improve service delivery in County Clare; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [17274/23]

Hospital Overcrowding

Michael McNamara

1572. Deputy Michael McNamara asked the Minister for Health the number of patients recorded on trolleys at each public hospital in the State in the period from January to March 2023, and for the same period in 2019, 2020, 2021 and 2022, in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [17273/23]

Hospital Appointments Status

Michael McNamara

1577. Deputy Michael McNamara asked the Minister for Health if he will expedite a medical appointment for a person (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [17301/23]

Medicinal Products

Michael McNamara

1669. Deputy Michael McNamara asked the Minister for Health if a person (details supplied) can be facilitated with the PCSK9 inhibitor drug; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [17662/23]

Covid-19 Pandemic Supports

Michael McNamara

1674. Deputy Michael McNamara asked the Minister for Health when a person (details supplied) in County Clare will receive their Covid-19 recognition payment; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [17684/23]

Third Level Costs

Michael McNamara

1830. Deputy Michael McNamara asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science what funding options are available for a person (details supplied) in County Clare who has been accepted to study a Masters in Physician Associate Support at the University of Sheffield; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [18123/23]

School Funding

Michael McNamara

1838. Deputy Michael McNamara asked the Minister for Rural and Community Development if she will explain the decision not to provide the community recognition grant to a school (details supplied) in County Clare; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [16497/23]

Redundancy Payments

Michael McNamara

163. Deputy Michael McNamara asked the Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment if, in light of the UK government's decision to increase the maximum amount of weekly pay for the purpose of calculating a redundancy payment from £594 to £699, with effect from 6 April 2023, he intends to increase the maximum amount of €600 which was set back in 2004. [14785/23]

National Car Test

Michael McNamara

205. Deputy Michael McNamara asked the Minister for Transport further to Parliamentary Question No. 202 of 31 January 2023, what progress has been made on locating a second NCT centre in Clare since; the number of occupiers of premises in respect of which feasibility analysis was carried out who subsequently withdrew their expressions of interest; and if he will provide an explanation for same. [14802/23]