Parliamentary questions

Hospital Services

Róisín Shortall

716. Deputy Róisín Shortall asked the Minister for Health to respond to a media report (details supplied); if he intends to meet with residents and their families; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [10334/24]

Hospital Services

Róisín Shortall

774. Deputy Róisín Shortall asked the Minister for Health the current number of persons experiencing delayed discharge from hospital, by hospital, in tabular form. [10760/24]

Hospital Services

Róisín Shortall

775. Deputy Róisín Shortall asked the Minister for Health the total number of delayed discharges in 2023, by month, in tabular form. [10761/24]

Vaccination Programme

Róisín Shortall

304. Deputy Róisín Shortall asked the Minister for Health to provide an update on the promised compensation scheme for people who had adverse reactions to Covid 19 vaccines; the reason the scoping of such a scheme is taking so long; the timescale for the completion of this exercise; when he expects to be in a position to announce details of the scheme; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [9770/24]

Hospital Investigations

Róisín Shortall

308. Deputy Róisín Shortall asked the Minister for Health the status of HIQA's independent statutory review into governance and oversight of the use of surgical implants and implantable medical devices in Children's Health Ireland; the timeline for completion of this review; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [9791/24]

Hospital Procedures

Róisín Shortall

309. Deputy Róisín Shortall asked the Minister for Health further to Parliamentary Question No. 600 of 13 February 2024, the grounds upon which the decision was taken to widen the independent review into spinal surgeries at Temple Street Children's Hospital; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [9792/24]

Tobacco Control Measures

Róisín Shortall

310. Deputy Róisín Shortall asked the Minister for Health if he was aware of a promotion run by a vaping retailer offering €20 credit to its customers if they took part in his Department's public consultation regarding further regulation of tobacco and nicotine inhaling products (details supplied); his views on same; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [9793/24]

Office of Public Works

Róisín Shortall

36. Deputy Róisín Shortall asked the Minister for Public Expenditure, National Development Plan Delivery and Reform to provide an update on any plans which the OPW has for a site in Dublin 9 (details supplied); if he will provide details of any discussions had relating to the future use of this site and the timescale for decisions in this regard. [9718/24]

Departmental Correspondence

Róisín Shortall

133. Deputy Róisín Shortall asked the Minister for Health if he will respond to matters raised in correspondence (details supplied); the date on which a decision on funding for this organisation will be taken, given the urgency; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [9443/24]

Hospital Procedures

Róisín Shortall

168. Deputy Róisín Shortall asked the Minister for Health further to Parliamentary Question No. 600 of 13 February 2024, if he expects an interim report into spinal surgeries at Temple Street Children's Hospital to be published in the coming weeks, as previously committed to; the timeline for same; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [9606/24]

Pharmacy Services

Róisín Shortall

169. Deputy Róisín Shortall asked the Minister for Health if the proposal to allow community pharmacists to dispense prescription-free oral contraceptives will be considered by the Women’s Health Taskforce as part of the Women’s Health Action Plan 2024-2025; the timeline for publication of the updated plan; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [9607/24]

Pharmacy Services

Róisín Shortall

170. Deputy Róisín Shortall asked the Minister for Health the status of his Department’s review of the pharmacy fee structure under section 42(14) of the Public Service Pay and Pensions Act 2017; the timeline for same; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [9608/24]

Health Service Executive

Róisín Shortall

194. Deputy Róisín Shortall asked the Minister for Health if HSE staff returning from career breaks are prevented from returning to work due to the recruitment freeze; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [9705/24]

Health Service Executive

Róisín Shortall

195. Deputy Róisín Shortall asked the Minister for Health the number of HSE staff on a career break, by staff group. [9706/24]

Mental Health Commission

Róisín Shortall

196. Deputy Róisín Shortall asked the Minister for Health the status of the 49 recommendations from the Mental Health Commission’s final report on CAMHS; if he intends to implement the recommendations in full; if so, the timeline for same; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [9707/24]

Mental Health Commission

Róisín Shortall

197. Deputy Róisín Shortall asked the Minister for Health if he will act on the first recommendation of the Mental Health Commission’s final report on CAMHS which calls for the immediate and independent regulation of CAMHS by the Mental Health Commission; if he intends to provide for this regulation in the new Mental Health Bill; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [9708/24]

School Curriculum

Róisín Shortall

185. Deputy Róisín Shortall asked the Minister for Education further to Parliamentary Question Nos. 196 and 197 of 15 February 2024, to provide further details in respect of her statement (details supplied); the education partners that have been engaged to date; the timeline for completion of these discussions; to explain what she meant by “strengthening of approach” in her previous reply; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [8639/24]

Cancer Services

Róisín Shortall

603. Deputy Róisín Shortall asked the Minister for Health the number of individuals who received an invitation to take part in BowelScreen on a quarterly basis from quarter 1 2016 to the end of 2023; and the absolute number and percentage of individuals who accepted an invitation and subsequently attended a screening appointment in each of the specified months, in tabular form. [9225/24]

Cancer Services

Róisín Shortall

604. Deputy Róisín Shortall asked the Minister for Health the number of individuals who received an invitation to take part in CervicalCheck on a quarterly basis from quarter 1 2016 to the end of 2023; and the absolute number and percentage of individuals who accepted an invitation and subsequently attended a screening appointment in each of the specified months, in tabular form. [9226/24]

Cancer Services

Róisín Shortall

605. Deputy Róisín Shortall asked the Minister for Health the number of individuals who received an invitation to take part in BreastCheck on a quarterly basis from quarter 1 2016 to the end of 2023; and the absolute number and percentage of individuals who accepted an invitation and subsequently attended a screening appointment in each of the specified months, in tabular form. [9227/24]

Cancer Services

Róisín Shortall

606. Deputy Róisín Shortall asked the Minister for Health the reasons the BowelScreen programme has yet to be expanded to all people aged 55 to 74 years; the measures taken to date to expand the screening age; and the timeframe by which the programme will be expanded to these age groups. [9228/24]

Cancer Services

Róisín Shortall

607. Deputy Róisín Shortall asked the Minister for Health the total number of people who received a diagnosis of breast cancer on a national basis after referral to the "urgent" symptomatic breast disease clinic cancer in each quarter from 2016 to 2023, in tabular form. [9229/24]

Cancer Services

Róisín Shortall

608. Deputy Róisín Shortall asked the Minister for Health the total number of people who received a diagnosis of breast cancer on a national basis after referral to the "non-urgent" symptomatic breast disease clinic cancer in each quarter from 2016 to 2023, in tabular form. [9230/24]

Cancer Services

Róisín Shortall

609. Deputy Róisín Shortall asked the Minister for Health the total number of people who received a diagnosis of lung cancer on a national basis after referral to the lung rapid access clinic cancer in each quarter from 2016 to 2023, in tabular form. [9231/24]

Cancer Services

Róisín Shortall

610. Deputy Róisín Shortall asked the Minister for Health the total number of people who received a diagnosis of prostate cancer on a national basis after referral to the prostate rapid access clinic cancer in each quarter from 2016 to 2023, in tabular form. [9232/24]

School Funding

Róisín Shortall

258. Deputy Róisín Shortall asked the Minister for Education if she will respond to matters raised in correspondence regarding a preschool (details supplied) in Dublin 11; when the preschool in question can expect a resolution to this funding issue; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [7453/24]

Special Educational Needs

Róisín Shortall

287. Deputy Róisín Shortall asked the Minister for Education the consultation her Department carried out with organisations representing people with disabilities in respect of changes to the allocation model for special education teachers, in line with Article 4(3) of the United Nations Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (detail supplied); if no such consultation was carried out, to outline her rationale for excluding the voice of people with disabilities from the decision making process, given the direct impact of this decision on children with disabilities; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [7721/24]

National Children's Hospital

Róisín Shortall

629. Deputy Róisín Shortall asked the Minister for Health the reason an independent expert is no longer involved in assessing the ventilation systems in the operating theatres of the new National Children's Hospital (details supplied), given that the guidelines written by that independent expert will still be used for validation; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [8055/24]

Health Services

Róisín Shortall

630. Deputy Róisín Shortall asked the Minister for Health if his attention has been drawn to the position of St. Brendan's Community Village Project in Mulranny, County Mayo, which provides a continuum of housing care from independent living through to high support care, within the one community; if he appreciates that the viability of this not-for-profit charity is threatened by the same challenges which affect the many smaller nursing homes which have closed since 2020; the reason why this facility receives substantially less funding from the NTPF than HSE facilities; if he accepts that a smaller, local setting is more conducive to the wellbeing of older residents; if he intends to adjust the financial supports for smaller scale supported housing and nursing homes so that they are viable small businesses and appropriate care facilities for residents; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [8056/24]

Renewable Energy Generation

Róisín Shortall

194. Deputy Róisín Shortall asked the Minister for Education the date on which the first phase of the solar for schools programme will be complete; her plans in respect of the next phase; if there is a schedule for the remaining counties' eligibility to apply; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [7155/24]

Renewable Energy Generation

Róisín Shortall

195. Deputy Róisín Shortall asked the Minister for Education when schools in Tipperary will be eligible to apply for the solar schools programme; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [7156/24]

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]