Parliamentary questions

Childcare Services

Martin Browne

264. Deputy Martin Browne asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth if he will provide an update on the progress in drafting new regulations for childminders; and if his Department can provide figures on the number of registered childminders it has consulted as part of the consultation process. [47180/23]

Road Projects

Martin Browne

63. Deputy Martin Browne asked the Minister for Transport his views on progressing with a sense of urgency the N24 roads project, in light of numerous collisions on the N24, on both the eastern and western sections; if he has discussed the matter with Transport Infrastructure Ireland recently; if consideration will be given to reprioritising the N24 road project as a road safety measure; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [47031/23]

Home Help Service

Martin Browne

263. Deputy Martin Browne asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth how his Department plans to address the lack of home care capacity as in the case of a person (details supplied). [45977/23]

Insurance Coverage

Martin Browne

108. Deputy Martin Browne asked the Minister for Finance if any progress has been made to make insurance for thatched properties more affordable; if he will outline the meetings that have taken place between his Department and the insurance sector on the matter; if there are any further actions his Department considers may be open to it to address the high cost of insurance apart from promoting fire prevention initiatives among thatched property owners; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [45566/23]

Budget 2024

Martin Browne

202. Deputy Martin Browne asked the Minister for Social Protection the reason for excluding invalidity benefit from the bonus announced in Budget 2024; and her views on whether this is justified, given the rising cost of living. [45433/23]

Animal Welfare

Martin Browne

218. Deputy Martin Browne asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if consideration is being given to the increased cost of running animal welfare and animal rescue organisations as preparations are made to allocate animal welfare grants to various organisations; if increases in funding in line with the additional costs incurred by these organisations are being considered; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [45565/23]

Health Services

Martin Browne

266. Deputy Martin Browne asked the Minister for Health the measures that have been taken since 2020 to improve capacity within community health services in the mid-west to take pressure off the emergency department at University Hospital Limerick; the reasons that such measures have been unable to avoid the high number of presentations at University Hospital Limerick; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [45567/23]

Health Services Waiting Lists

Martin Browne

267. Deputy Martin Browne asked the Minister for Health if research has been carried out by his Department to ascertain the impact that waiting lists are having on the effectiveness of antibiotics which in many cases are being prescribed repeatedly due to the length of such waiting lists; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [45568/23]

Eating Disorders

Martin Browne

268. Deputy Martin Browne asked the Minister for Health if the provisions of Budget 2024 will see an increase in services for people with eating disorders; if he has made any provision for the development of a specific model of care for avoidant restrictive food intake disorder; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [45569/23]

Covid-19 Pandemic Supports

Martin Browne

269. Deputy Martin Browne asked the Minister for Health if certain workers (details supplied) are to receive the pandemic bonus; the reasons for not receiving it to date; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [45570/23]

Disability Services

Martin Browne

450. Deputy Martin Browne asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth the current CDNT WTE posts vacancies across CHO5, broken down, in tabular form, according to each of the 12 teams; the number of those vacancies that are administrative posts; and the actions that are being taken to address those vacancies. [44705/23]

School Transport

Martin Browne

124. Deputy Martin Browne asked the Minister for Education if her Department plans to increase bus capacity on the route fromBirdhill to Newport, County Tipperary (details supplied). [44598/23]

Disability Services

Martin Browne

171. Deputy Martin Browne asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth the current CDNT WTE vacancies across each of the 12 teams in CHO5; the number of administrative posts vacant; and the actions that are being taken to address those vacancies, in tabular form. [44545/23]

School Transport

Martin Browne

197. Deputy Martin Browne asked the Minister for Education if she is aware of the current difficulties facing many parents in accessing school bus routes (details supplied); and if she plans to address the lack of capacity in the school bus service. [43694/23]

Health Strategies

Martin Browne

467. Deputy Martin Browne asked the Minister for Health the progress made to date in the urgent and emergency care operational plan for 2023 at University Hospital Limerick; the progress made to date in immediately addressing the overcrowding and capacity issues at University Hospital Limerick ahead of a further increase due to winter demand; if further use will be made of Nenagh, Ennis and St. John's hospitals in addition to the measures taken already; the additional measures put in place in communities across the mid-west to reduce presentations at UHL; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [43488/23]

School Staff

Martin Browne

293. Deputy Martin Browne asked the Minister for Education the reason young teachers are being told it could take up to 20 weeks to have increments acknowledged, which creates a situation where teachers face losing a significant amount of income due to the Department’s inefficiency. [42192/23]

Childcare Services

Martin Browne

517. Deputy Martin Browne asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth the steps he has taken to address the staffing crisis in the early years sector. [42190/23]

Childcare Services

Martin Browne

518. Deputy Martin Browne asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth the number of registered child minders delivering the ECCE curriculum per county. [42191/23]

Disability Services

Martin Browne

557. Deputy Martin Browne asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth the number of family forums that took place in 2022 as part of the Progressing Disability Services for Children & Young People governance process. [42654/23]

Dental Services

Martin Browne

581. Deputy Martin Browne asked the Minister for Health the number of children on the orthodontic treatment waiting list in each of the last 3 years and to date in 2023; to provide the data on 6-month incremental basis; to provide the data per CHO; to provide the data with reference to the Index of Orthodontic Treatment Need; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [42218/23]

Dental Services

Martin Browne

582. Deputy Martin Browne asked the Minister for Health the number of children who have availed of the cross-border directive scheme to receive orthodontic treatment in each of the last 3 years; to provide the data per CHO; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [42219/23]

Hospital Appointments Status

Martin Browne

137. Deputy Martin Browne asked the Minister for Health if the numerous referrals issued by GPs in the case of a person (details supplied) are being given adequate priority given their recurrent tonsillitis; his views on the fact that no appointment date has been given to the patient, despite a number of referral letters indicating the persistent and painful nature of their tonsillitis being issued to the hospital concerned; and his views on how the family concerned is faced with the prospect of having to avail of a private service in order to have the child's tonsillectomy carried out. [41753/23]

Hospital Staff

Martin Browne

25. Deputy Martin Browne asked the Minister for Health to outline the measures that are being taken to fill the 51.4 WTE vacancies across medical assessment services at model 2 hospitals at St John's, Ennis and Nenagh Hospitals; the timeline that is being considered to put staff in these posts; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [40716/23]

Mental Health Services

Martin Browne

26. Deputy Martin Browne asked the Minister for Health his views on the Mental Health Commission report into CAMHS services in each CHO, in particular the lack of out-of-hours services in CHO3 and CHO5; the shortage in the provision of in-patient beds and dedicated CAMHS specific psychiatric assessment room in CHO5; the measures that will be taken to facilitate accessible service locations that are currently unavailable; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [40715/23]

Housing Schemes

Martin Browne

527. Deputy Martin Browne asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage if his Department has any plans to review the 13-month limit on drawing down funds from croí cónaithe, in light of the current delays in getting tradespeople affecting the construction sector. [40318/23]

Banking Sector

Martin Browne

444. Deputy Martin Browne asked the Minister for Finance if he plans to engage with Irish banks on passing on interest rate increases to savers; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [37828/23]

Flood Risk Management

Martin Browne

523. Deputy Martin Browne asked the Minister for Public Expenditure, National Development Plan Delivery and Reform the progress made, if any, on developing a single competent authority to co-ordinate flood risk and management along the River Shannon; if he plans to develop such an agency; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [37829/23]

School Accommodation

Martin Browne

700. Deputy Martin Browne asked the Minister for Education the measures in place to provide temporary accommodation for students at a school (details supplied), in light of the delay in installing temporary structures due to a further delay in developing new classrooms; to provide a full synopsis of the reasons for both delays; to provide a detailed response on the measures being taken to address this with haste; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [38707/23]

School Transport

Martin Browne

701. Deputy Martin Browne asked the Minister for Education her views on the inability of some students with special educational needs at a school (details supplied) to secure school transportation; the consequences of this for the students’ education; the measures being taken to address this; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [38708/23]

Citizenship Applications

Martin Browne

1177. Deputy Martin Browne asked the Minister for Justice if a citizenship application made by (details supplied) which was submitted on 10 July 2023 is being processed, considering that a cheque for payment has not been cashed. [38354/23]

Further and Higher Education

Martin Browne

1303. Deputy Martin Browne asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if there are capital funding streams available for the development of classrooms at a college (details supplied); if his Department is aware that the college has developed a strategic plan to reinforce its position as an educator in agriculture in the Midlands and as such, has compiled a 5-year strategic plan involving the proposed development of a new classroom block; if his Department is aware that the college is registered as a charity and any monies it received from Teagasc do not extend to capital projects; and if he will consider outlining the streams of funding that would be available to the college. [38355/23]

Forestry Sector

Martin Browne

1307. Deputy Martin Browne asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the details of the element of the proposed forestry programme that remains subject to European Commission-approval; the timeline expected to complete the process; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [38470/23]

Agriculture Schemes

Martin Browne

1308. Deputy Martin Browne asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the details of delayed payments payable to farmers such as BISS and ANC; the reason for the delays; the date such payments will be made categorised by individual schemes; the measures that were taken to avoid such delays in anticipation of this; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [38471/23]

Agriculture Supports

Martin Browne

1320. Deputy Martin Browne asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine when the new fodder support scheme will open for new applicants; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [38726/23]

Medical Research and Training

Martin Browne

1748. Deputy Martin Browne asked the Minister for Health his plans to work with Trinity College with the intent of reinstating its specialist MSc in children’s mental health; to outline how the discontinuation of this course will not pose recruitment problems for CAMHS, as attributed to the HSE in recent media reports; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [38353/23]

Third Level Education

Martin Browne

2059. Deputy Martin Browne asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science his plans to work with Trinity College with the intent of reinstating its specialist MSc in children’s mental health; to identify the number of courses that have the equivalent, specialised qualification; if he is satisfied that the discontinuation of this course will not negatively impact on the recruitment of specialised staffing into CAMHS; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [38352/23]

Capital Expenditure Programme

Martin Browne

2060. Deputy Martin Browne asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science if funding is available to a college (details supplied) for capital works to develop new classrooms at its campus, considering it is a registered charity; if he will consider ascertaining if there are pathways for it to secure such funding in light of the level of agricultural education and skills; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [38357/23]

Departmental Funding

Martin Browne

2090. Deputy Martin Browne asked the Minister for Rural and Community Development the streams of finance (if any) for capital works available to a college (details supplied) which is a registered charity but provides education and job readiness in the area of agriculture; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [38356/23]

Forestry Sector

Martin Browne

39. Deputy Martin Browne asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine to outline the progress being made in his Department’s engagement with the European Commission pertaining to the forestry programme 2023 – 2027; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [34530/23]

Disability Services

Martin Browne

645. Deputy Martin Browne asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth further to Parliamentary Question No. 507 of 20 June 2023, to provide the waiting times for those children waiting for residential placement from the time they entered the system. [35458/23]

Disability Services

Martin Browne

646. Deputy Martin Browne asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth further to Parliamentary Question No. 506 of 20 June 2023, to request a full response to the question raised. [35459/23]

Hospital Facilities

Martin Browne

687. Deputy Martin Browne asked the Minister for Health to provide details of the progress made in extending the usage MAUs and LIUs at model 2 hospitals in the mid-west; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [35005/23]

School Funding

Martin Browne

121. Deputy Martin Browne asked the Minister for Education further to Parliamentary Question No. 243 of 29 June 2023, the reason schools that planned and budgeted around the ICT grant to schools as listed for payment in the FSSU schedule of grants in the 2022/2023 school year have been told that the next tranche of funding for ICT will not arrive until the 2023/2024 school year; if she aware that this effectively leaves schools without any ICT funding for the 2022/2023 school year, despite their having been led to believe otherwise and having budgeted for its arrival; if there are plans to rectify this situation; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [34596/23]

Forestry Sector

Martin Browne

187. Deputy Martin Browne asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine to provide a detailed timeline of correspondence between his Department and the European Commission concerning the proposed forestry programme and its compatibility with EU state aid rules in 2023. [34407/23]

Disabilities Assessments

Martin Browne

212. Deputy Martin Browne asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth the schemes available to provide financial assistance for families who have to engage private providers for psychology assessments for children who are waiting more than three months to be assessed; the application process involved; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [34408/23]

Mental Health Services

Martin Browne

233. Deputy Martin Browne asked the Minister for Health to outline the specific services being considered for upstream interventions in the area of youth mental health services in the community and voluntary sector; the specific ways in which it is intended to enhance services for children and young people with mild to moderate mental health difficulties who do not need access to specialist mental health services; the level of investment concerned; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [34406/23]

Departmental Meetings

Martin Browne

378. Deputy Martin Browne asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the number of times either he, his junior Ministers or departmental officials met with representatives of an organisation (details supplied) in 2021, 2022 and 2023; the purpose of each meeting; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [33767/23]

Departmental Consultations

Martin Browne

379. Deputy Martin Browne asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the number of experts' and consultants' reports his Department commissioned in 2021, 2022 and 2023; the cost of each report; to whom each consultancy was awarded; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [33768/23]

National Parks and Wildlife Service

Martin Browne

380. Deputy Martin Browne asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage how many biologists are employed by the National Parks and Wildlife Service; what areas they specialise in; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [33769/23]

Health Services

Martin Browne

705. Deputy Martin Browne asked the Minister for Health the reasons for a lack of awareness of the complaints management system as referenced in the June 2023 HIQA Report of an Inspection Against the National Standards for Safer Better Healthcare concerning UHL; the measures that will be taken to address this; his views on how this affects accuracy of complaints received; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [33618/23]