Parliamentary questions

Disability Services

Pádraig Mac Lochlainn

471. Deputy Pádraig Mac Lochlainn asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth the current staff vacancy rates in each of the CDNT areas in Donegal; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [20687/24]

Disability Services

Duncan Smith

472. Deputy Duncan Smith asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth his plans to increase and expand respite services in Waterford and west Cork; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [20745/24]

Mother and Baby Homes

Marian Harkin

473. Deputy Marian Harkin asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth if he will clarify a matter in regard to the mother and baby institutions payment scheme (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [20756/24]

Departmental Expenditure

Carol Nolan

474. Deputy Carol Nolan asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth the amount of fees incurred for transporting beneficiaries of temporary protection to their accommodation centres from March 2022 to date; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [20784/24]

Legislative Measures

John Brady

475. Deputy John Brady asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth if, in relation to amendments to the Maternity Protection Act 2004 allowing for the postponement of maternity leave in the case of a cancer diagnosis, he still supports his public commitment to this policy; what actions he is taking to ensure this legislation passes through the relevant stages of the Oireachtas during the term of this Government; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [20897/24]

Direct Provision System

Jennifer Whitmore

476. Deputy Jennifer Whitmore asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth if he will extend the exemption for those people with status and-or leave to remain in direct provision centres who have been issued transfer letters to lone parents and their children, like has been done for those who are over the age of 65 or with significant medical or welfare needs; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [20923/24]

Rights of People with Disabilities

Thomas Pringle

477. Deputy Thomas Pringle asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth to report on the cost to ratify the Optional Protocol to the UNCRPD; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [20930/24]

Rights of People with Disabilities

Thomas Pringle

478. Deputy Thomas Pringle asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth to report on the cost to fully implement, resource and operate the UNCRPD; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [20931/24]

Departmental Strategies

Thomas Pringle

479. Deputy Thomas Pringle asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth to report on the cost to fully resource the new national disability inclusion strategy; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [20933/24]

Departmental Data

Thomas Pringle

480. Deputy Thomas Pringle asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth to report on the cost to maintain a junior ministry for disability; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [20934/24]

Home Care Packages

James Lawless

481. Deputy James Lawless asked the Minister for Health for an update on the home care package (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [20107/24]

Health Services

John Lahart

482. Deputy John Lahart asked the Minister for Health his views that audiology waiting lists for a first appointment and for a review appointment are too long; his further views that there is a significant postcode lottery involved; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [20109/24]

Health Services Staff

John Lahart

483. Deputy John Lahart asked the Minister for Health the current number of audiologist wholetime equivalents, WTEs, in post per 100,000 population in each community healthcare organisation or CHO area; his views that there is a wide variation of audiology staff between CHO areas; and if he accepts that this contributes to inequitable waiting lists between CHO areas. [20110/24]

Health Services

John Lahart

484. Deputy John Lahart asked the Minister for Health the current waiting period for children aged over two years attending audiology services to receive a review appointment, by CHO area; his views that in many areas this is well outside recommended guidelines; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [20111/24]

Health Services Staff

Martin Browne

485. Deputy Martin Browne asked the Minister for Health the staffing numbers for the Cashel minor injuries unit for the years 2020 to 2023, inclusive, and to date in 2024, broken down by profession; to confirm whether the recruitment ban is resulting in departing staff not being replaced; if all departing staff are being replaced; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [20113/24]

Health Services

Darren O'Rourke

486. Deputy Darren O'Rourke asked the Minister for Health the average waiting times for genetic testing services for rare diseases in Ireland; and the measures the HSE is taking to improve access and speed of results for patients in need of genetic testing services. [20153/24]

Care of the Elderly

Darren O'Rourke

487. Deputy Darren O'Rourke asked the Minister for Health if the HSE funds daycare centres within CHO 8 for older persons’ services that are opened on the weekends; and if so, the locations of same, in tabular form. [20154/24]

Departmental Programmes

Fergus O'Dowd

488. Deputy Fergus O'Dowd asked the Minister for Health the funding requirements of the seeking safety Ireland programme, a vital and very successful programme that supports women who have experienced trauma and addiction; if a funding request has been received and reviewed; when he expects to sign off the funding to allow the programme to continue to provide the services and expand the programme; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [20170/24]

Hospital Appointments Status

Brendan Griffin

489. Deputy Brendan Griffin asked the Minister for Health when a person (details supplied) in County Kerry should expect to be called for an appointment; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [20172/24]

Hospital Appointments Status

Pearse Doherty

490. Deputy Pearse Doherty asked the Minister for Health when a person in County Donegal (details supplied) can expect to receive a date for an operation; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [20176/24]