Parliamentary questions

Disability Services

Verona Murphy

624. Deputy Verona Murphy asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth to detail the current staffing levels for the CDNTs in New Ross, Enniscorthy, Gorey, Wexford, and all in County Wexford; the current vacancies in each of the CDNTs listed; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [33942/23]

Disability Services

Verona Murphy

625. Deputy Verona Murphy asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth what current measures his Department has undertaken to address staffing shortages across the CDNTs in order to meet recommended staffing levels; the initiatives currently in place; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [33943/23]

Disability Services

Verona Murphy

626. Deputy Verona Murphy asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth the current number of children on the waiting list for assessment and intervention services through the CDNT in New Ross, County Wexford; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [33944/23]

Disability Services

Verona Murphy

627. Deputy Verona Murphy asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth the average wait times for children to access CDNT services in New Ross, County Wexford; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [33945/23]

Disability Services

Verona Murphy

628. Deputy Verona Murphy asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth the total number of children on the waiting list for CDNT services in County Wexford; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [33946/23]

Dental Services

Verona Murphy

820. Deputy Verona Murphy asked the Minister for Health when his Department will approve additional funding to increase the current 0.6 WTE orthodontic specialists appointed to orthodontic services in County Wexford; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [34177/23]

Health Services Staff

Verona Murphy

821. Deputy Verona Murphy asked the Minister for Health the status of the current vacant full-time orthodontic consultant post in County Wexford; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [34178/23]

Health Services Staff

Verona Murphy

822. Deputy Verona Murphy asked the Minister for Health the total number of current vacancies within the HSE orthodontic services in County Wexford; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [34179/23]

Health Services Waiting Lists

Verona Murphy

823. Deputy Verona Murphy asked the Minister for Health the number of patients under 18 years of age awaiting orthodontal treatment in County Wexford; the number of persons waiting 24, 36 and 48 months and longer; respectively; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [34180/23]

Health Services Waiting Lists

Verona Murphy

824. Deputy Verona Murphy asked the Minister for Health the number of patients over 18 years of age awaiting orthodontal treatment in County Wexford who were identified as requiring treatment before 18 years of age; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [34181/23]

Health Services Staff

Verona Murphy

825. Deputy Verona Murphy asked the Minister for Health if the vacant senior dietitian post for Waterford/Wexford CAMHS has been filled; when his Department will approve funding for a whole-time paediatric dietitian solely for the Wexford CAMHS team; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [34182/23]

Pension Provisions

Verona Murphy

876. Deputy Verona Murphy asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science to provide an update on his Departmental proposal to the Department of Public Expenditure, National Development Plan Delivery and Reform in regard to researchers at technological universities having access to the single pension scheme; what cross departmental discussions have taken place on the matter since April 2023; what further timeframe is expected on a resolution to the matter; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [34042/23]

Covid-19 Pandemic Supports

Verona Murphy

634. Deputy Verona Murphy asked the Minister for Health when a person (details supplied) can expect to receive the balance of the pandemic special recognition payment from the HSE as they have only received 60%; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [30594/23]

Passport Services

Verona Murphy

4. Deputy Verona Murphy asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs the further measures his Department is considering to alleviate some of the difficulties being experienced with first-time passport applications, particularly when additional information is requested and the timeframe added to the application in that instance; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [29063/23]

School Transport

Verona Murphy

198. Deputy Verona Murphy asked the Minister for Education to clarify her Department’s position on bus drivers aged 70 years and over when medically certified is not permitted to drive a school bus for Bus Éireann; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [28983/23]

Control of Firearms

Verona Murphy

238. Deputy Verona Murphy asked the Minister for Justice if she will explain the process of setting up the Firearms Expert Committee; what the terms of reference for the committee were; who set the terms of reference; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [28929/23]

Control of Firearms

Verona Murphy

239. Deputy Verona Murphy asked the Minister for Justice if she will outline the criteria used to appoint members to the Firearms Expert Committee and the credentials required for membership of that committee; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [28930/23]

Control of Firearms

Verona Murphy

240. Deputy Verona Murphy asked the Minister for Justice how many people applied to become members of the Firearms Expert Committee; how many people were shortlisted and interviewed; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [28931/23]

Control of Firearms

Verona Murphy

241. Deputy Verona Murphy asked the Minister for Justice if she will outline who the members of the interview panel were who appointed members of the Firearms Review Committee; what credentials those interviewees had; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [28932/23]

Home Care Packages

Verona Murphy

283. Deputy Verona Murphy asked the Minister for Health the number of persons approved for home care supports who are currently waiting on delivery of support hours in County Wexford; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [28978/23]

Home Care Packages

Verona Murphy

284. Deputy Verona Murphy asked the Minister for Health the number of persons over the age of 75 years approved for home care supports who are currently waiting on delivery of support hours in County Wexford; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [28979/23]

Home Care Packages

Verona Murphy

285. Deputy Verona Murphy asked the Minister for Health the number of current clients approved for additional home care support hours awaiting allocation of those additional hours in County Wexford; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [28980/23]

Home Care Packages

Verona Murphy

286. Deputy Verona Murphy asked the Minister for Health the number of new persons approved for HSE home care support hours since 1 January 2023 who are currently awaiting delivery of support hours in County Wexford; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [28981/23]

Home Care Packages

Verona Murphy

287. Deputy Verona Murphy asked the Minister for Health the number of new persons age 75 years and older approved for HSE home care support hours since 1 January 2023 who are currently awaiting delivery of support hours in County Wexford; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [28982/23]

Disability Services

Verona Murphy

305. Deputy Verona Murphy asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth if he will provide an update on the current status of respite services at Mulcahy House in Gorey, County Wexford; the discussions he has had with regard to the re-opening of the respite service at Mulcahy House; the expected date for its re-opening; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [26758/23]

Social Welfare Benefits

Verona Murphy

474. Deputy Verona Murphy asked the Minister for Social Protection when a decision will be made on a carer’s allowance review initiated on 7 February 2023 for a person (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [26115/23]

Hospital Facilities

Verona Murphy

778. Deputy Verona Murphy asked the Minister for Health if he will provide an update on the current status of the application for a new 97-bed ward block at Wexford General Hospital; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [26266/23]

Further and Higher Education

Verona Murphy

801. Deputy Verona Murphy asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science the financial supports available to Ukrainian students at higher level education who do not meet the three-year residency rule to qualify for a SUSI grant; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [26073/23]

Tourism Policy

Verona Murphy

3. Deputy Verona Murphy asked the Minister for Tourism, Culture, Arts, Gaeltacht, Sport and Media the provision that her Department is making to introduce financial supports to the tourism sector for the development of sustainable policies; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [23938/23]

Tax Code

Verona Murphy

5. Deputy Verona Murphy asked the Minister for Tourism, Culture, Arts, Gaeltacht, Sport and Media what discussions her Department is currently engaged with in respect of extending the special 9% vat rate for the hospitality sector beyond September 2023; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [23703/23]

Tourism Industry

Verona Murphy

41. Deputy Verona Murphy asked the Minister for Tourism, Culture, Arts, Gaeltacht, Sport and Media what immediate provisions her Department is taking to support tourism businesses which will be gravely impacted by the lack of available tourism beds for the 2023 season; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [23707/23]

Tourism Policy

Verona Murphy

49. Deputy Verona Murphy asked the Minister for Tourism, Culture, Arts, Gaeltacht, Sport and Media what provisions her Department is taking to introduce financial supports to the tourism sector for the development of sustainable policies; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [23706/23]

Tourism Industry

Verona Murphy

63. Deputy Verona Murphy asked the Minister for Tourism, Culture, Arts, Gaeltacht, Sport and Media what engagement her Department has had with an organisation (details supplied) in regards to the hire car shortage and increased rental costs that are impacting on rural tourism in County Wexford and beyond; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [23704/23]

Tourism Industry

Verona Murphy

72. Deputy Verona Murphy asked the Minister for Tourism, Culture, Arts, Gaeltacht, Sport and Media what measures her Department are taking to address the employment vacancies and skills shortages in the tourism trade; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [23705/23]

Hospital Staff

Verona Murphy

673. Deputy Verona Murphy asked the Minister for Health the number of whole-time-equivalent consultant vascular surgeons attached to University Hospital Waterford in 2021, 2022 and to date in 2023, in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [22782/23]

Health Services

Verona Murphy

674. Deputy Verona Murphy asked the Minister for Health his plans to provide a dedicated chronic disease clinic in Wexford; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [22783/23]

Hospital Staff

Verona Murphy

675. Deputy Verona Murphy asked the Minister for Health the number of whole-time-equivalent radiographer sonographers working in Wexford General Hospital in 2021, 2022 and to date in 2023, in tabular form; if this number will be further increased; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [22784/23]

Hospital Procedures

Verona Murphy

676. Deputy Verona Murphy asked the Minister for Health the number of orthopaedic surgeries carried out at Wexford General Hospital in 2022 and to date in 2023, in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [22785/23]

Health Strategies

Verona Murphy

677. Deputy Verona Murphy asked the Minister for Health the considerations his Department is giving to the inclusion of the drugs saxenda and ozempic, both now recognised as valuable medications in the treatment of obesity, to the drugs payment scheme; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [22800/23]

Public Services Provision

Verona Murphy

247. Deputy Verona Murphy asked the Minister for Public Expenditure, National Development Plan Delivery and Reform the measures his Department is taking to prevent digital exclusion in the context of the delivery of public services; the steps his Department has taken to give effect to the recommendations in the Citizen Information Board’s report on digital exclusion and eGovernment in Ireland; if there are any grant schemes paid from public funds that are only accessible to online applicants; his views on any such schemes in the context of combatting digital exclusion; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [21615/23]

Public Services Provision

Verona Murphy

517. Deputy Verona Murphy asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the steps he is taking to ensure that there is no digital exclusion in the delivery of public services by his Department; if he can confirm that all grant schemes and payment schemes under the auspices of his Department are accessible not just to online applicants, but can also be accessed and processed by people who are digitally excluded; if he will list all schemes that are only available to online applicants; how this sits with the Citizen Information Board report on digital exclusion and eGovernment in Ireland; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [21616/23]

Ports Policy

Verona Murphy

2. Deputy Verona Murphy asked the Minister for Transport the urgent actions his Department is taking to address the huge infrastructural deficits at Ireland’s ports; the level of funding his Department will be providing to ports to prepare for offshore wind energy; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [21013/23]

Ports Policy

Verona Murphy

12. Deputy Verona Murphy asked the Minister for Transport the discussions his Department has had with regards to the development of a free zone area at Rosslare Europort; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [20815/23]

Departmental Strategies

Verona Murphy

36. Deputy Verona Murphy asked the Minister for Transport if he will provide an update on the publishing of a Departmental ten-year strategic plan for the haulage sector; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [20814/23]

Departmental Funding

Verona Murphy

64. Deputy Verona Murphy asked the Minister for Transport the provisions his Department is taking to increase roads maintenance funding to Wexford County Council following his visit to the county on 10 February; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [20812/23]

National Car Test

Verona Murphy

86. Deputy Verona Murphy asked the Minister for Transport the plans that will be put in place to address the unacceptable long delays in the National Car Test system; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [20813/23]

Driver Test

Verona Murphy

118. Deputy Verona Murphy asked the Minister for Transport if the deployment of additional permanent driver testers is now complete; if he will confirm the current number of active driver testers; if the ongoing backlog in driving tests has been evaluated as requiring further additional resources at this present time; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [21014/23]

Departmental Reports

Verona Murphy

113. Deputy Verona Murphy asked the Minister for Finance the number of external consultant reports commissioned by his Department in each of the years 2020, 2021, 2022 and to date in 2023; the cost of same; the company involved; the title and publication date, by report, in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [20547/23]

Departmental Reports

Verona Murphy

114. Deputy Verona Murphy asked the Minister for Finance the number of external consultant reports commissioned by the bodies under his Department's aegis in each of the years 2020, 2021, 2022 and to date in 2023; the cost of same; the company involved; the title and publication date, by report, in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [20548/23]

Departmental Reports

Verona Murphy

141. Deputy Verona Murphy asked the Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment the number of external consultant reports commissioned by his Department in each of the years 2020, 2021, 2022 and to date in 2023; the cost of same; the company involved; the title and publication date, by report, in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [20543/23]