Ceisteanna Parlaiminte

Hospital Staff Recruitment

Billy Kelleher

435. Deputy Billy Kelleher asked the Minister for Health the number of consultants recruited in 2015 to date; the full-year cost of their recruitment; and the net increase in consultant numbers resulting from this recruitment. [41803/15]

Hospital Staff Recruitment

Billy Kelleher

436. Deputy Billy Kelleher asked the Minister for Health the number of newly recruited nurses in 2015 to date; the full-year cost of their recruitment; and the net increase in nursing numbers resulting from this recruitment. [41804/15]

Medical Qualifications

Tom Fleming

437. Deputy Tom Fleming asked the Minister for Health if he will protect the titles of "physiotherapist" and "physical therapist" as the level of service physiotherapists and physical therapists provide is completely different (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [41820/15]

Health Strategies

Billy Kelleher

438. Deputy Billy Kelleher asked the Minister for Health when the Health Service Executive will publish its service plan for 2016; and when he received the first draft of it. [41829/15]

General Practitioner Services Provision

Billy Kelleher

439. Deputy Billy Kelleher asked the Minister for Health given his comments on radio that an additional 1,000 general practitioners are required for our health services, the full-year cost of providing them. [41830/15]

Medical Card Data

Billy Kelleher

440. Deputy Billy Kelleher asked the Minister for Health the number of medical cards, general practitioner cards and each type of card issued on a discretionary basis as of 1 November 2015. [41831/15]

Nursing Homes Support Scheme Applications

Billy Kelleher

441. Deputy Billy Kelleher asked the Minister for Health the number of applications under the nursing home support scheme approved and awaiting funding as of 13 November 2015. [41832/15]

Health Services

David Stanton

442. Deputy David Stanton asked the Minister for Health if occipital nerve stimulators are recognised by his Department as providing effective treatment methods for treating chronic pain in the head; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [41838/15]

Consular Services Provision

Willie Penrose

443. Deputy Willie Penrose asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade if progress has made in relation to the death of a person (details supplied); the steps he is taking to engage with the parents of the person concerned; the nature and frequency of contact; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [41328/15]

Northern Ireland Issues

Finian McGrath

444. Deputy Finian McGrath asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade if he will support the concerns victim groups have regarding the draft legislation presented by the British Government to the Stormont House implementation talks regarding their measures to deal with the past; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [41386/15]

Passport Application Refusals

Denis Naughten

445. Deputy Denis Naughten asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade the reason a passport has been issued to one person but not to another (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [41667/15]

Human Rights Issues

Seán Crowe

446. Deputy Seán Crowe asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade if he is aware of the charges which have been brought against the Colombian Senator Mr. Iván Cepeda; that the Senator is one of Colombia’s most recognised human rights defenders and has dedicated his life to helping to secure peace; that these charges have been tabled by Inspector General Alejandro Ordoñez, who is a close ally of the former President, Mr. Álvaro Uribe, and that the charges follow the Senator's highlighting of alleged links between the former President and right-wing paramilitary groups during the 1980s and 1990s; and if he believes that these charges are politically motivated and without foundation. [41720/15]

Human Rights Issues

Seán Crowe

447. Deputy Seán Crowe asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade if he is aware that around 1,000 Fuerzas Armadas Revolutionarias de Colombia, FARC, prisoners being held in 15 different prisons across Colombia have gone on hunger strike to demand an improvement in their conditions, particularly with regard to health care; that human rights organisations have long documented the cruel treatment to which FARC prisoners are subjected once they are captured; that the Constitutional Court of Colombia ruled that prison authorities must protect the basic rights of the prisoners but that, as yet, these rulings have not been met with a positive response; and if he will raise the issue with Colombian authorities. [41721/15]

Cross-Border Projects

Brendan Smith

448. Deputy Brendan Smith asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade the financial commitments signed up to by the Irish Government in the Fresh Start Agreement; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [41809/15]

Cross-Border Projects

Brendan Smith

449. Deputy Brendan Smith asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade the status of the Narrow Water Bridge in the Fresh Start Agreement; the future plans for its development; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [41810/15]

Cross-Border Projects

Brendan Smith

450. Deputy Brendan Smith asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade the status of the Ulster Canal Project in the Fresh Start Agreement; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [41811/15]

Cross-Border Projects

Brendan Smith

451. Deputy Brendan Smith asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade the financial commitments entered into for the A5 motorway in the Fresh Start Agreement; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [41812/15]

Northern Ireland Issues

Brendan Smith

452. Deputy Brendan Smith asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade if he is aware of the concerns expressed by the Wave Trauma Centre in relation to the lack of a comprehensive plan to deal with the legacy of the past in the recent agreement entitled A Fresh Start - The Stormont Agreement and Implementation Plan; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [41840/15]

Northern Ireland Issues

Brendan Smith

453. Deputy Brendan Smith asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade if he is aware of the disappointment expressed by the Commissioner for Victims and Survivors, Ms Judith Thompson, in relation to the lack of a comprehensive plan to deal with the legacy of the past in the recent agreement entitled A Fresh Start - The Stormont Agreement and Implementation Plan; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [41841/15]

Cross-Border Projects

Brendan Smith

454. Deputy Brendan Smith asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade if the level of funding available to the Northern Ireland Executive through the Block Grant from the British Government is the same as was available when the Stormont House Agreement Talks were concluded in December 2014; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [41842/15]

Cross-Border Projects

Brendan Smith

455. Deputy Brendan Smith asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade if additional funding has been committed by the British Government through the Block Grant to the Northern Ireland Executive to deal with welfare issues; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [41843/15]

Cross-Border Projects

Brendan Smith

456. Deputy Brendan Smith asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade his views on the provision in the recent A Fresh Start, The Stormont Agreement and Implementation Plan, to return the legislative powers to deal with welfare issues to the British Government, that this decision sends out the wrong message in relation to the value of Devolution and indeed the potential for further responsibilities being devolved to the Northern Ireland Executive and to the Northern Ireland Assembly; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [41844/15]

Cross-Border Projects

Brendan Smith

457. Deputy Brendan Smith asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade his views on concerns outlined by some political parties in the Northern Ireland Executive in relation to the way talks were concluded and proposals finalised prior to the publication of A Fresh Start, The Stormont Agreement and Implementation Plan; if this is an appropriate way to secure all-party agreement. [41845/15]

Cross-Border Projects

Brendan Smith

458. Deputy Brendan Smith asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade the funding to be provided for projects referred to in A Fresh Start, The Stormont Agreement and Implementation Plan, by project; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [41846/15]

Momentum Programme

Richard Boyd Barrett

460. Deputy Richard Boyd Barrett asked the Minister for Education and Skills the future of the MOMENTUM programme; what will happen to its unused budget; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [41564/15]

Teaching Qualifications

Eoghan Murphy

461. Deputy Eoghan Murphy asked the Minister for Education and Skills her views on making an exemption from compulsory Irish examinations for higher diplomas in education in the case of foreign language teachers. [41216/15]

Departmental Properties

Eoghan Murphy

462. Deputy Eoghan Murphy asked the Minister for Education and Skills the details of arrangement that allowed her to take ownership of the Office of Public Works site on Harcourt Terrace in Dublin 2. [41218/15]

Special Educational Needs Staff

Gabrielle McFadden

463. Deputy Gabrielle McFadden asked the Minister for Education and Skills if she will reconsider the decision of the National Council for Special Education to reduce the number of special need assistant posts by two at a special school (details supplied) in County Longford; the reason for the decision; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [41226/15]

Student Universal Support Ireland Administration

Gabrielle McFadden

464. Deputy Gabrielle McFadden asked the Minister for Education and Skills if she will expedite an application for a Student Universal Support Ireland Grant for a person (details supplied) in County Westmeath; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [41227/15]

Schools Building Projects Status

Terence Flanagan

465. Deputy Terence Flanagan asked the Minister for Education and Skills if much-needed additional accommodation will be provided for a school (details supplied) in Dublin 5; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [41262/15]

Schools Building Projects Status

Pearse Doherty

466. Deputy Pearse Doherty asked the Minister for Education and Skills when construction on a new school building project (details supplied) in County Donegal will commence, and will be delivered; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [41280/15]

Speech and Language Therapy Provision

Finian McGrath

467. Deputy Finian McGrath asked the Minister for Education and Skills her views on correspondence regarding a child (details supplied) in Dublin 13 with an intellectual disability, and the provision of speech and language therapy and a special needs assistant; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [41309/15]

Schools Building Projects Status

Dara Calleary

468. Deputy Dara Calleary asked the Minister for Education and Skills to outline the current position of a school (details supplied) in County Mayo on her Department's building unit list; the intended steps towards construction of this new school; and if she will outline a timeline for same. [41344/15]

Schools Building Projects Status

Dara Calleary

469. Deputy Dara Calleary asked the Minister for Education and Skills to set out how a school (details supplied) in County Mayo, which is listed as a project to go to construction during 2019 to 2021, is currently under construction; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [41345/15]

Schools Building Projects Status

Noel Coonan

470. Deputy Noel Coonan asked the Minister for Education and Skills to set out the status of a school building project (details supplied) in County Tipperary; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [41369/15]

Schools Building Projects Status

Noel Coonan

471. Deputy Noel Coonan asked the Minister for Education and Skills to set out the status of a school building project (details supplied) in County Tipperary; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [41370/15]

Schools Building Projects Status

Noel Coonan

472. Deputy Noel Coonan asked the Minister for Education and Skills to set out the status of a school building project (details supplied) in County Tipperary; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [41371/15]

Special Educational Needs Service Provision

Charlie McConalogue

473. Deputy Charlie McConalogue asked the Minister for Education and Skills to outline the provision in mainstream secondary schools in County Kildare for children with a disability, including those on the autism spectrum disorder; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [41377/15]

School Staff Appeals Mechanism

Stephen Donnelly

474. Deputy Stephen S. Donnelly asked the Minister for Education and Skills if it is acceptable for the primary staffing appeals board to remove a teacher of a junior infants class of 37 students, including several with special needs, in a school (details supplied) in County Wicklow; the actions the school can take to seek to have the teacher reinstated; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [41384/15]

Emergency Works Scheme Applications

Ciaran Lynch

475. Deputy Ciarán Lynch asked the Minister for Education and Skills if she will review the decision not to provide an emergency works grant to a school (details supplied) in County Cork, given the urgent requirement for repair and the significant concern of staff and pupils; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [41407/15]

Third Level Funding

Jonathan O'Brien

476. Deputy Jonathan O'Brien asked the Minister for Education and Skills to outline the guidelines in place for State-funded universities and institutes of technology which tender for the external delivery of courses. [41463/15]

Third Level Funding

Jonathan O'Brien

477. Deputy Jonathan O'Brien asked the Minister for Education and Skills to set down the number of students attending courses under the free fees initiative being delivered by external private providers, but accredited to State-funded universities and institutes of technology; the names of these courses and awarding institutions; and the funding being given to these external providers for delivering these courses. [41464/15]

Schools Building Projects Applications

Jerry Buttimer

478. Deputy Jerry Buttimer asked the Minister for Education and Skills if she is aware that staff, students, parents and friends at Mount Mercy College, Model Farm Road, Cork have been fundraising to build a sports hall, but this project will only be possible if she provides funding for it; if she will provide the necessary funding to facilitate the construction of a much-needed sports hall at the school; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [41481/15]

Special Educational Needs Service Provision

Charlie McConalogue

479. Deputy Charlie McConalogue asked the Minister for Education and Skills if she will review the case of a person (details supplied) in County Kildare who had attended a special autism unit in Derrinturn, but for whom there is now no place in a local secondary school. [41483/15]

Schools Building Projects Status

Noel Coonan

480. Deputy Noel Coonan asked the Minister for Education and Skills to set out the status of a school building project (details supplied) in County Tipperary; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [41492/15]

Gaelscoil Issues

Jonathan O'Brien

481. Deputy Jonathan O'Brien asked the Minister for Education and Skills if she is aware of the proven demand for a Gaelcholaíste in north Kildare; that parents are being encouraged to send their children to an Aonad in expectation that the figures from the Aonad enrolments will show a demand; and that the children from north Kildare are already taking up places in Gaelscoileanna outside of County Kildare. [41506/15]

Schools Building Projects Applications

Noel Coonan

482. Deputy Noel Coonan asked the Minister for Education and Skills to outline the status of a school building project (details supplied) in County Tipperary; the funding allocated to it, as announced in the capital building programme; if construction will commence in 2019, or if the new building will be completed by that date; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [41507/15]

Student Grant Scheme Applications

Robert Troy

483. Deputy Robert Troy asked the Minister for Education and Skills whether it is acceptable to disqualify students (details supplied) who can only supply proof of address from the Department of Social Protection, as she deems this insufficient evidence of address. [41509/15]

Gaelscoil Issues

Catherine Murphy

484. Deputy Catherine Murphy asked the Minister for Education and Skills if the recently announced establishment of a new Gaelcholáiste in Maynooth in County Kildare will require a new build; how the new build will interact with the proposed Maynooth Community College build; how the demand for the Gaelchólaiste will be measured; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [41514/15]

Gaelscoil Issues

Catherine Murphy

485. Deputy Catherine Murphy asked the Minister for Education and Skills further to the recent announcement of the establishment of a new Gaelcholáiste in Maynooth in County Kildare to set out the arrangements that will be put in place to accommodate those students outside the Maynooth catchment area who, from September 2016, will no longer have the option of attending the Gaelchólaiste in Lucan in County Dublin, or who will not have the option of attending an Aonad in Maynooth in the event of it being oversubscribed, but who will have to wait until 2019 before the proposed new Gaelchólaiste in Maynooth is scheduled to open; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [41515/15]