Parliamentary questions

School Curriculum

Róisín Shortall

196. Deputy Róisín Shortall asked the Minister for Education the guidance available to schools on protocols in relation to opting out of religious education in schools, and how the school should operate these protocols (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [7157/24]

School Curriculum

Róisín Shortall

197. Deputy Róisín Shortall asked the Minister for Education if she is aware of school admission policies that do not clearly outline detailed arrangements for students who wish to opt out of religious education; if an admission policy that suggests a meeting with the principal to discuss this matter instead of clearly defined arrangements is contrary to the Education (Admissions to Schools) Act 2018; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [7158/24]

School Admissions

Róisín Shortall

198. Deputy Róisín Shortall asked the Minister for Education how the Education (Admissions to schools) Act 2018 is enforced, including the processes involved and the number of times it has been enforced in the previous three years; if no such enforcement proceedings have happened to date, if she has plans to begin enforcing the requirements of the 2018 Act; if so, the timeline; the process for reporting non-compliance with the 2018 Act; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [7159/24]

Passport Services

Róisín Shortall

151. Deputy Róisín Shortall asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs the status of a passport application for a person (details supplied) in Dublin 9; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [6570/24]

Waste Management

Róisín Shortall

173. Deputy Róisín Shortall asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications if he plans to engage with local authorities to explore the possibility of local councils providing more public waste collection services, particularly in the context of private companies raising the price of bin collections for many households; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [6532/24]

Waste Management

Róisín Shortall

256. Deputy Róisín Shortall asked the Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment if he plans to engage with companies providing residential waste collection services in respect of them raising the price of bin collections for households, in some instances several times in a year; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [6531/24]

Social Welfare Benefits

Róisín Shortall

449. Deputy Róisín Shortall asked the Minister for Social Protection what supports are available for low-income households who are facing multiple price hikes by private waste collection companies; if her Department will consider additional supports for older people who may be facing these same price hikes while not being able to bring their waste to public waste collection centres; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [6533/24]

Hospital Services

Róisín Shortall

597. Deputy Róisín Shortall asked the Minister for Health the number of public hospitals that have Wi-Fi, by location, in tabular form. [6534/24]

Health Promotion

Róisín Shortall

598. Deputy Róisín Shortall asked the Minister for Health if he will respond to a media report (details supplied) on a recommendation by the HSE's national women and infants health programme that white flour should be fortified with folic acid; if he is considering initiating this proposal; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [6535/24]

Hospital Facilities

Róisín Shortall

599. Deputy Róisín Shortall asked the Minister for Health to provide further details in relation to the dedicated paediatric spinal surgery unit that he asked Children's Health Ireland to establish; the indicative timeline for operationalising this unit; his plans regarding orthopaedic waiting lists for children following his instruction to the HSE to appoint a full-time project lead to work on this issue; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [6536/24]

Hospital Procedures

Róisín Shortall

600. Deputy Róisín Shortall asked the Minister for Health the timeline for completion and publication of the independent review into spinal surgeries at Temple Street Children's Hospital, following the identification of 17 additional cases; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [6537/24]

Legislative Programme

Róisín Shortall

601. Deputy Róisín Shortall asked the Minister for Health the timeline he is working towards in drafting and publishing the Mental Health (Amendment) Bill 2023, listed for priority drafting in the Spring Government Legislative Programme; if it is his intention to begin second stage before the summer 2024 recess; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [6550/24]

Vehicle Registration Tax

Róisín Shortall

158. Deputy Róisín Shortall asked the Minister for Transport further to Parliamentary Question Nos. 459 of 21 April 2021 and 313 of 30 November 2023, the current steps being taken to address the proliferation of illegal vehicle registration plates on motor cars; whether sufficient legislation is in place for gardaí to apply a fixed charge penalty notice for this offence (details supplied);; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [5968/24]

Departmental Funding

Róisín Shortall

291. Deputy Róisín Shortall asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth to confirm if a funding application falls under the remit of his Department (details supplied); the steps he is taking to resolve this matter; the engagements he has had with the Department of Health and the HSE in respect of this issue; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [5964/24]

Health Services

Róisín Shortall

302. Deputy Róisín Shortall asked the Minister for Health to provide further details in relation to the Budget 2024 allocation to the transgender model of care; the status of plans to develop an updated model of care and appoint a clinical lead for transgender services; the timeline he is working towards; to confirm if the new model will adhere to the World Professional Association for Transgender Health (WPATH) standards; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [5846/24]

Health Services

Róisín Shortall

303. Deputy Róisín Shortall asked the Minister for Health if his attention has been drawn to reports of transgender patients resorting to self-medicating and self-administrating practices, as a result of inadequate trans healthcare services (details supplied); the steps he is taking to address issues with the National Gender Service; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [5847/24]

Health Services

Róisín Shortall

304. Deputy Róisín Shortall asked the Minister for Health the rationale for an instruction to GPs from the National Gender Service (details supplied); the evidence base for this decision; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [5848/24]

Health Services

Róisín Shortall

305. Deputy Róisín Shortall asked the Minister for Health the reason the National Gender Service continues to take the position that transgenderism is a mental health disorder, despite the Word Health Organisation's guidelines which state that it is not (details supplied); the evidence base for this position; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [5849/24]

Departmental Correspondence

Róisín Shortall

337. Deputy Róisín Shortall asked the Minister for Health to respond to correspondence (details supplied); if this funding application falls under the remit of his Department or the Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth; the engagements he has had with the Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth and the HSE in respect of this issue; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [5963/24]

Teacher Training

Róisín Shortall

159. Deputy Róisín Shortall asked the Minister for Education her plans to support and promote the provision of home economics teacher training courses in the greater Dublin area; if not, the reason; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [5264/24]

Schools Building Projects

Róisín Shortall

172. Deputy Róisín Shortall asked the Minister for Education if she will provide an update on earlier proposals for the provision of new school buildings at a site in Dublin 9 (details supplied); the stage at which these developments are; the likely timescale for the development of each building; the proposals to build two new multidenominational second-level schools at the site; the proposals to move a school to a new building located on the site in question; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [5040/24]

Water Services

Róisín Shortall

269. Deputy Róisín Shortall asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage whether he has received any reports or briefings from Uisce Éireann with regard to the timeframe for water connections to new housing developments and one-off houses; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [5263/24]

EU Directives

Róisín Shortall

82. Deputy Róisín Shortall asked the Minister for Finance if, in the interests of transparency, he will re-examine the statutory instrument that came into effect on 23 June 2023 relating to the Irish register of beneficial ownership of companies, which has effectively denied the public, including business journalists, access to public interest information; if he will consider amending this SI in line with provisions in other EU countries; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [4839/24]

Tax Code

Róisín Shortall

220. Deputy Róisín Shortall asked the Minister for Finance his views on a report (details supplied) into global wealth inequality, which included findings on Ireland; if he will consider a third rate of income tax, given the scale of wealth inequality in Ireland; the steps he is taking to address the unequal distribution of wealth in this country; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [4838/24]

Banking Sector

Róisín Shortall

223. Deputy Róisín Shortall asked the Minister for Finance his plans in respect of the State’s remaining 40.8% stake in a bank (details supplied); if he intends to recover the State’s full €20.8 billion investment in the bank; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [4845/24]

Covid-19 Pandemic

Róisín Shortall

170. Deputy Róisín Shortall asked the Minister for Health the reason the HSE website no longer has a facility for the public to record Covid-19 infections; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [4435/24]

Dental Services

Róisín Shortall

518. Deputy Róisín Shortall asked the Minister for Health the steps he is taking to reduce waiting lists for dental services, both public and private; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [3859/24]

Dental Services

Róisín Shortall

519. Deputy Róisín Shortall asked the Minister for Health the steps he is taking to prevent dentists from withdrawing from the dental treatment services scheme; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [3860/24]

Departmental Inquiries

Róisín Shortall

552. Deputy Róisín Shortall asked the Minister for Health to provide an update on the appointment of the sodium valproate inquiry chair; the timeline he is working towards; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [4138/24]

Passport Services

Róisín Shortall

150. Deputy Róisín Shortall asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs the status of a passport application for a person (details supplied) in Dublin 9; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [3544/24]

Passport Services

Róisín Shortall

151. Deputy Róisín Shortall asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs the status of a passport application for a person (details supplied) in Dublin 9; the reason for the delay; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [3545/24]

Health Service Executive

Róisín Shortall

194. Deputy Róisín Shortall asked the Minister for Health to provide an update on plans to accelerate implementation of the HSE's integrated financial management system; the timeline he is working towards for full roll-out of the new system; the role of the newly established productivity and savings taskforce in respect of this project; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [3172/24]

Foreign Birth Registration

Róisín Shortall

114. Deputy Róisín Shortall asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs the number of children of Irish citizens that were refused entry in the foreign births register in 2023 as a result of the ABC judgement; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [2955/24]

Residential Institutions

Róisín Shortall

291. Deputy Róisín Shortall asked the Minister for Education further to a formal announcement made by her in mid-2023 (details supplied), to outline the health, education, and advocacy supports and services currently available to survivors of institutional abuse after the winding down of the Caranua agency; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [2704/24]

State Examinations

Róisín Shortall

292. Deputy Róisín Shortall asked the Minister for Education if she will respond to matters raised in a correspondence (details supplied) from a teacher regarding the teaching of sraithpictiúir as part of the Leaving Certificate curriculum for Irish; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [2705/24]

Health Services

Róisín Shortall

496. Deputy Róisín Shortall asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth to provide an update on plans to provide a community neurorehabilitation team in all nine CHOs; the timeline he is working towards for each CHO; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [2422/24]

Healthcare Infrastructure Provision

Róisín Shortall

561. Deputy Róisín Shortall asked the Minister for Health the estimated timeline for delivery of each of the six surgical hubs; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [2386/24]

Vaccination Programme

Róisín Shortall

562. Deputy Róisín Shortall asked the Minister for Health the aftercare provided to people who received the incorrect formulation of a vaccine (details supplied); the information provided to those impacted; if any adverse effects were reported; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [2387/24]

Medical Aids and Appliances

Róisín Shortall

596. Deputy Róisín Shortall asked the Minister for Health if his Department or any of the other relevant bodies will issue a formal authoritative request to a representative body to issue a notification to its members regarding the recall of products (details supplied); the reason this has not been done; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [2515/24]

Nursing Homes

Róisín Shortall

4. Deputy Róisín Shortall asked the Minister for Health to respond to the recent ERSI report on the changes and challenges facing the Irish long-term residential care sector since Covid-19; his views on the consolidation of nursing home ownership, with 14 operators controlling 40% of all beds, and the increasing monetisation of elder care; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [2279/24]

Passport Services

Róisín Shortall

132. Deputy Róisín Shortall asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs the status of a passport application for a person (details supplied) in Dublin 11; the reason for the delay; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [2209/24]

Legislative Programme

Róisín Shortall

299. Deputy Róisín Shortall asked the Minister for Health to provide an update on plans to introduce a statutory right to home care, as committed to in the Programme for Government; the timeline he is working towards in publishing the necessary legislation; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [2280/24]

Work Permits

Róisín Shortall

438. Deputy Róisín Shortall asked the Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment if he or the Minister of State with responsibility for Business, Employment and Retail will meet with an organisation (details supplied) in relation to changes to the work permit scheme for non-EEA healthcare assistants; the steps he is taking to address the concerns raised in correspondence; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [1238/24]

Social Welfare Eligibility

Róisín Shortall

896. Deputy Róisín Shortall asked the Minister for Social Protection if financial supports are available for self-employed people with disabilities, similar to the wage subsidy scheme for people with disabilities; if not, if she plans to introduce such a scheme; if not, plans, the reason; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [56997/23]

Disability Services

Róisín Shortall

1416. Deputy Róisín Shortall asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth if there is any legal obligation on large retailers to provide disability trolleys in their stores; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [1224/24]

Departmental Funding

Róisín Shortall

1417. Deputy Róisín Shortall asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth if an allocation under the new youth employability scheme will be made to an organisation (details supplied), given that the special purpose grant allocated to the organisation for its Employability Support Programme expired at the end of 2023; if he will provide a timeline for the allocation of such funding; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [1248/24]

Hospital Procedures

Róisín Shortall

1509. Deputy Róisín Shortall asked the Minister for Health if he is aware of public hospitals refusing GP referrals for DEXA scans (details supplied); the reason for this policy in a number of hospitals; the steps being taken to address this; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [56579/23]

Health Services Staff

Róisín Shortall

1550. Deputy Róisín Shortall asked the Minister for Health his views on the number of doctors in HSE consultant posts that are not on the Irish Medical Council specialist register for the specialty they are practising in (details supplied); his views on the potential for patient safety issues; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [56773/23]

Primary Care Services

Róisín Shortall

1593. Deputy Róisín Shortall asked the Minister for Health the reason letters are being sent to parents informing them that their child will be removed from primary care waiting lists unless they return a form within two weeks (details supplied); the rationale for this short timeframe of two weeks; if this practice is applied consistently across the country; if there is any recourse for parents who do not see this letter in time, for example during summer or Christmas holidays; if steps will be taken to ensure that parents with additional needs are appropriately accommodated; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [57111/23]

Health Service Executive

Róisín Shortall

1689. Deputy Róisín Shortall asked the Minister for Health further to Parliamentary Question No.150 of 15 November 2023, whether the Health Service Executive pensions section in Manorhamilton is now fully staffed and in a position to process all pension matters for retired HSE workers in a swift and timely manner; if not, if he will outline the reason why and the steps being taken to address this; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [1366/24]

Departmental Schemes

Róisín Shortall

1744. Deputy Róisín Shortall asked the Minister for Health if consideration will be given to adding motor neurone disease (MND) and Kennedy's disease, which is rare but very similar to MND, to the list of medical conditions covered by the long-term illness scheme; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [1642/24]

Departmental Strategies

Róisín Shortall

1745. Deputy Róisín Shortall asked the Minister for Health to provide an update on the National Service Plan 2024; if the HSE has submitted the NSP to him for approval; the timeline he is working towards in approving the NSP; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [1643/24]

Budget 2024

Róisín Shortall

250. Deputy Róisín Shortall asked the Minister for Public Expenditure, National Development Plan Delivery and Reform to respond to the Irish Fiscal Advisory Council’s Fiscal Assessment Report, published recently; his views on their assessment of the health allocation for 2024 (details supplied); if he accepts the views of the Acting Chair; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [56155/23]

Fuel Poverty

Róisín Shortall

378. Deputy Róisín Shortall asked the Minister for Social Protection if her attention has been brought to research into energy hardship experienced by cancer patients with life-limiting diagnoses (details supplied); the steps she is taking to address this issue; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [56154/23]

Healthcare Policy

Róisín Shortall

506. Deputy Róisín Shortall asked the Minister for Health if his attention has been brought to research into energy hardship experienced by cancer patients with life-limiting diagnoses (details supplied); the steps he is taking to address this issue; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [56153/23]

Departmental Budgets

Róisín Shortall

507. Deputy Róisín Shortall asked the Minister for Health if he has engaged with the Minister for Public Expenditure, NDP Delivery and Reform regarding the Irish Fiscal Advisory Council’s Fiscal Assessment Report and their analysis of the Health allocation for 2024 (details supplied); his views on their analysis of the health allocation; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [56156/23]

Disability Services

Róisín Shortall

261. Deputy Róisín Shortall asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science if he will meet representatives of an organisation (details supplied) to discuss serious funding challenges and its role in the evolving further education and training ecosystem; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [55813/23]

Environmental Schemes

Róisín Shortall

170. Deputy Róisín Shortall asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications the supports that will be made available to small retailers to take part in the deposit return scheme; if any research has been carried out as to whether there is potential for some retailers, such as small off-licences, to be disadvantaged by the scheme; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [55091/23]

Alcohol Pricing

Róisín Shortall

731. Deputy Róisín Shortall asked the Minister for Health the steps he is taking to ensure that alcohol price reductions on the basis of a customer having a supermarket loyalty card are not in breach of the Public Health Act (Alcohol) 2018; the engagements he has had with supermarkets on this issue; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [54494/23]

Hospital Facilities

Róisín Shortall

851. Deputy Róisín Shortall asked the Minister for Health further to Parliamentary Question No. 250 of 17 May 2023, if any beds, units or buildings have been closed in the Mater Misericordia University Hospital, Dublin 7, this year; if there are any plans to do so in the near future; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [55360/23]

Health Services

Róisín Shortall

858. Deputy Róisín Shortall asked the Minister for Health the steps he is taking to address the lack of capacity in PrEP services, particularly in view of the 68% increase in HIV diagnoses in 2022; how the additional €600,000 allocated to support PrEP services in budget 2024 will be spent; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [55412/23]

Health Services

Róisín Shortall

859. Deputy Róisín Shortall asked the Minister for Health the number of staff in public PrEP services in 2020, 2021, 2022 and to date in 2023, by location, in tabular form; the number of vacancies in the service in each year; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [55413/23]

Health Services

Róisín Shortall

331. Deputy Róisín Shortall asked the Minister for Health if a company will be in a position to begin the diabetic retina screening programme in January 2024 (details supplied); if this organisation has signed its contract with the National Screening Service; the reason the National Screening Service appointed a sole bidder for all of Ireland; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [54381/23]

Constitutional Amendments

Róisín Shortall

152. Deputy Róisín Shortall asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth to respond to matters raised in correspondence regarding the wording of the proposed constitutional amendment to the definition of a family (details supplied); when an announcement will be made in respect of the proposed wording; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [54097/23]

Vaccination Programme

Róisín Shortall

158. Deputy Róisín Shortall asked the Minister for Health the status of the health technology assessment on the herpes zoster vaccine which also protects against shingles; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [53921/23]

Health Service Executive

Róisín Shortall

184. Deputy Róisín Shortall asked the Minister for Health the number of properties owned by the HSE, by location, use and value, in tabular form; and the number of these which are vacant and the length of vacancy. [54094/23]

Health Service Executive

Róisín Shortall

185. Deputy Róisín Shortall asked the Minister for Health the number of properties rented by the HSE, by location, use and annual cost, in tabular form. [54095/23]

Grant Payments

Róisín Shortall

201. Deputy Róisín Shortall asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science to examine a matter in relation to a SUSI grant (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [54024/23]

School Accommodation

Róisín Shortall

245. Deputy Róisín Shortall asked the Minister for Education the assistance available to a school (details supplied) in Dublin 9 regarding an urgent structural issue facing them; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [53434/23]

Departmental Meetings

Róisín Shortall

598. Deputy Róisín Shortall asked the Minister for Health the meetings held by his officials from assistant principal level up with representatives of the alcohol industry in 2020, 2021, 2022 and to date in 2023; the dates, attendees and matters that were discussed at each meeting; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [53743/23]

Vehicle Registration Tax

Róisín Shortall

313. Deputy Róisín Shortall asked the Minister for Finance further to Parliamentary Question No. 459 of 21 April 2021, the current steps being taken to address the proliferation of illegal vehicle registration plates on motor cars; whether sufficient legislation is in place for gardaí to apply a fixed charge penalty notice for this offence (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [53019/23]

Road Traffic Offences

Róisín Shortall

435. Deputy Róisín Shortall asked the Minister for Justice the number of prosecutions initiated by gardaí in each of the past five years for illegal number plates, noisy exhausts, tinted windows and visors obstructing the windows; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [53020/23]

Mother and Baby Homes

Róisín Shortall

459. Deputy Róisín Shortall asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth when it is expected to open applications for the mother and baby institutions payment scheme; the reason for the delay; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [52942/23]

Dental Services

Róisín Shortall

476. Deputy Róisín Shortall asked the Minister for Health his plans for the Connolly Hospital Dental General Anaesthetic Unit in James Connolly Memorial Hospital, which was due to open in 2019 but has not opened since its construction; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [52943/23]

Health Services Staff

Róisín Shortall

477. Deputy Róisín Shortall asked the Minister for Health the number of doctors in HSE consultant posts including temporary, locum and permanent, that are not on the Irish Medical Council specialist register for the specialty they are practicing in; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [52955/23]

Hospital Facilities

Róisín Shortall

494. Deputy Róisín Shortall asked the Minister for Health if he has engaged with the management of the Mater Hospital, Dublin, in relation to the absence of free staff parking and the financial difficulties which this poses, especially to staff who do not have public transport options; the steps he is taking to address this issue; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [53110/23]

Hospital Charges

Róisín Shortall

495. Deputy Róisín Shortall asked the Minister for Health the status of the Programme for Government commitment to introduce a cap on the maximum daily charge for patients and visitors at all public hospitals; the timeline he is working towards; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [53111/23]

Proposed Legislation

Róisín Shortall

496. Deputy Róisín Shortall asked the Minister for Health the steps he is taking to ensure that the health service is properly resourced to deal with the health impacts of the Sale of Alcohol Bill 2022; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [53113/23]

Hospital Services

Róisín Shortall

499. Deputy Róisín Shortall asked the Minister for Health the current services provided at Ennis Hospital; the opening hours; if there are any plans to expand services; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [53172/23]

Vaccination Programme

Róisín Shortall

132. Deputy Róisín Shortall asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth the number of Covid-19 vaccines that were purchased by the HSE between 2020 and 2022; and the total cost of these vaccines. [52849/23]

Vaccination Programme

Róisín Shortall

158. Deputy Róisín Shortall asked the Minister for Health the number of Covid 19 vaccines that were purchased by the HSE between 2020 and 2022; and the total cost of these vaccines. [52848/23]

Departmental Bodies

Róisín Shortall

229. Deputy Róisín Shortall asked the Minister for Public Expenditure, National Development Plan Delivery and Reform the reason for the delay in publishing the Health Budget Oversight Group minutes for August and September 2023; the date on which these will be published; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [52521/23]

Health Strategies

Róisín Shortall

585. Deputy Róisín Shortall asked the Minister for Health the funding that was provided to the National Maternity Strategy in 2023; the level of funding sought by the HSE National Women and Infants Health Programme for the National Maternity Strategy in 2023; if he expects the €43.6 million required to implement the strategy by 2026 to be provided in full and the level provided to date; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [52025/23]

Departmental Meetings

Róisín Shortall

586. Deputy Róisín Shortall asked the Minister for Health the meetings held by his officials from assistant principal level upwards with representatives of the food industry in 2020, 2021, 2022 and to date in 2023; the dates, attendees and matters that were discussed at each meeting; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [52026/23]

Departmental Meetings

Róisín Shortall

587. Deputy Róisín Shortall asked the Minister for Health the meetings held by his officials from assistant principal-level upwards with representatives of the tobacco and nicotine inhaling products industry in 2020, 2021, 2022 and to date in 2023; the dates, attendees and matters that were discussed at each meeting; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [52027/23]

Departmental Correspondence

Róisín Shortall

653. Deputy Róisín Shortall asked the Minister for Health if he informed the Department of Public Expenditure, NDP Delivery and Reform about correspondence he received from the HSE CEO expressing his concerns about the health budget allocation, ahead of Budget 2024; if this correspondence was emailed or otherwise sent to the Minister for Public Expenditure, NDP Delivery and Reform or his officials; if so, the date on which this was done; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [52519/23]

Departmental Budgets

Róisín Shortall

654. Deputy Róisín Shortall asked the Minister for Health the reason for the delay in publishing the Health Budget Oversight Group minutes for August and September 2023; the date on which these will be published; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [52520/23]

Legislative Measures

Róisín Shortall

246. Deputy Róisín Shortall asked the Minister for Justice if she will carry out a health impact assessment on the Sale of Alcohol Bill 2022; the planning that has taken place to ensure that there are adequate resources across a number of areas (details supplied); the additional funding that will be made available in each case; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [51713/23]

Legislative Measures

Róisín Shortall

247. Deputy Róisín Shortall asked the Minister for Justice if she intends to put a system in place to monitor changes in the night time economy and collate data for future reviews following enactment of the proposed Sale of Alcohol Bill 2022; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [51714/23]

Hospital Facilities

Róisín Shortall

354. Deputy Róisín Shortall asked the Minister for Health the status of the arrangement between the HSE and an organisation (details supplied) in relation to extra hospital bed capacity; the number of private beds the HSE is currently paying for; the cost of same per day; the timeline for negotiations for a new agreement; the expected duration of that agreement; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [51780/23]

Health Services Staff

Róisín Shortall

355. Deputy Róisín Shortall asked the Minister for Health the impact of the HSE recruitment freeze on the implementation of regional health areas; the status of recruitment of the six regional executive officers; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [51781/23]

Sexually Transmitted Infections

Róisín Shortall

356. Deputy Róisín Shortall asked the Minister for Health the steps he is taking to address the significant rise in sexually transmitted diseases; if he intends to launch a new public health campaign to highlight this rise and encourage safe sex practises and testing; the status of the new national sexual health strategy; the timeline he is working towards; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [51789/23]

Health Services Staff

Róisín Shortall

241. Deputy Róisín Shortall asked the Minister for Health the HSE workforce targets for 2023 across each discipline; and the progress to date on each target, in tabular form. [51568/23]

Health Services Staff

Róisín Shortall

242. Deputy Róisín Shortall asked the Minister for Health the number of employment offers made by the HSE that have been withdrawn as a result of the recruitment freeze; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [51569/23]

Health Services Staff

Róisín Shortall

243. Deputy Róisín Shortall asked the Minister for Health the disciplines excluded from the HSE recruitment freeze; the number recruited in each of these disciplines to date in 2023; the total number of staff in each of these disciplines; the expected workforce targets for each of these disciplines in 2024; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [51570/23]

Health Services Staff

Róisín Shortall

244. Deputy Róisín Shortall asked the Minister for Health his views on the HSE recruitment freeze across almost all disciplines; the steps he is taking to ensure that patient care is not compromised as a result of this decision; to outline the impact of this decision on workforce planning taking place in his Department; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [51571/23]

Health Services Staff

Róisín Shortall

245. Deputy Róisín Shortall asked the Minister for Health the impact of the HSE recruitment freeze on recommendations one, three, four and 12 of the Strategic Workforce Advisory Group on Home Carers and Nursing Home Healthcare Assistants, respectively, given that each of these recommendations relates to recruitment and training; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [51572/23]

Hospital Staff

Róisín Shortall

246. Deputy Róisín Shortall asked the Minister for Health the impact of the HSE recruitment freeze on the Framework for Safe Nurse Staffing and Skill Mix and the 854 additional nursing posts announced in May 2023 to fully implement the framework in all acute hospitals; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [51576/23]

Departmental Budgets

Róisín Shortall

85. Deputy Róisín Shortall asked the Taoiseach the figure provided by his Department to maintain existing levels of service in 2024, under his respective remits ahead of Budget 2024; and the figure granted by the Department of Public Expenditure, National Development Plan Delivery and Reform in each case [51186/23]

Budget 2024

Róisín Shortall

103. Deputy Róisín Shortall asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs the figure provided by his Department to maintain existing levels of service in 2024, under his respective remits ahead of Budget 2024; the figure granted by the Department of Public Expenditure, National Development Plan Delivery and Reform in each case; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [51179/23]