404. Deputy Bobby Aylward asked the Minister for Health if he is satisfied that the State subvention to community nursing homes is adequate to support the provision of an appropriate level of residential care for elderly persons; if the possibility of increasing the State subvention to community nursing homes ahead of budget 2019 will be investigated; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [26771/18]
379. Deputy Bobby Aylward asked the Minister for Health the steps being taken to avert imminent industrial action at the department of psychiatry in a hospital (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [26634/18]
339. Deputy Bobby Aylward asked the Minister for Health the status of the publication of an action plan (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [26401/18]
40. Deputy Bobby Aylward asked the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection if she is satisfied that the application process and current waiting times for payments such as domiciliary care allowance, carer's allowance and disability allowance are acceptable and accessible; the steps being taken to reduce waiting times for these payments; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [26571/18]
30. Deputy Bobby Aylward asked the Minister for Rural and Community Development the reason for delays in the provision of funds to local action groups for approved projects under the Leader programme; the average waiting time taken for the provision of funding to local action groups following final approval for a project under the programme; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [25802/18]
17. Deputy Bobby Aylward asked the Minister for Rural and Community Development the amount of funding provided to counties Carlow and Kilkenny under the local improvement scheme in 2017; his plans to announce a new local improvement scheme in 2018; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [25803/18]
1022. Deputy Bobby Aylward asked the Minister for Communications, Climate Action and Environment the position regarding the provision of broadband services with speeds of at least 20 Mbps in an area (details supplied); the timeline for same; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [24879/18]
391. Deputy Bobby Aylward asked the Minister for Education and Skills the position regarding an increase to the school capitation grant to primary schools in counties Carlow and Kilkenny; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [24968/18]
113. Deputy Bobby Aylward asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport the position regarding the progress of the proposed overbridge at the N24 Piltown bypass at Tower Road; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [24966/18]
93. Deputy Bobby Aylward asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport the position regarding the release of information contained in two databases (details supplied) to potential new entrants to the Irish insurance market to encourage free and fair competition with new entrants able to enter and compete in the market here on a level playing field with existing market players; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [24967/18]
245. Deputy Bobby Aylward asked the Minister for Housing, Planning and Local Government his plans to introduce an incremental instalment payment plan to assist persons in paying the cost of water connection charges that would be considered excessive or are in excess of a predetermined threshold; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [24107/18]
71. Deputy Bobby Aylward asked the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform the position regarding a motion (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [24082/18]
66. Deputy Bobby Aylward asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if the possibility of increasing the level of direct support for the suckler cow herd to €200 per cow under the next CAP will be investigated; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [23642/18]
62. Deputy Bobby Aylward asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the steps he is taking to ensure that good animals are not being dismissed under the technicalities of the BDGP scheme; the steps he is taking to ensure that the skill of assessing an animal by eye is not being dismissed by the technicalities of the scheme; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [23643/18]
451. Deputy Bobby Aylward asked the Minister for Health if the possibility of reducing the household charge for family carers in advance of budget 2019 will be examined; if the possibility of extending the provision of general practitioner visit cards to those in receipt of the respite care grant in advance of budget 2019 will be examined; his views on the provision of State-funded panic buttons or personal alarms to those aged under 65 who require 24-hour a day care; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [23720/18]
426. Deputy Bobby Aylward asked the Minister for Health if his attention has been drawn to Irish Medical Organisation data which predicts that 42% of general practitioners in County Kilkenny will retire over the next five to seven years. [23547/18]
381. Deputy Bobby Aylward asked the Minister for Health the position regarding the four-month waiting list target for surgeries for children suffering with scoliosis not being met as committed to previously; the steps he has taken to ensure that the 88 children currently waiting longer than four months will be catered for as urgently as possible; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [23302/18]
380. Deputy Bobby Aylward asked the Minister for Health the position regarding the number of opening days per week for operating theatres at children's hospitals (details supplied); if operating theatre opening days will be extended, if possible; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [23301/18]
379. Deputy Bobby Aylward asked the Minister for Health the position regarding the provision of vests for bracing therapy for children being treated for scoliosis; the steps he has taken to ensure that vests for bracing therapy are provided to children being treated for scoliosis free of charge at children's hospitals (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [23300/18]
378. Deputy Bobby Aylward asked the Minister for Health the steps he has taken to correct the inequity in waiting times, which can differ in children's hospitals by up to two years in some cases, for outpatient children with scoliosis (details supplied); the steps he has taken to ensure that lists are amalgamated, as committed to previously; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [23299/18]
377. Deputy Bobby Aylward asked the Minister for Health the position regarding the use of equipment (details supplied) in the treatment of children with scoliosis; the steps he has taken to satisfy himself that there are no health and safety risks to children with scoliosis being treated with the equipment; the steps he has taken to ensure that parents are informed about potential health and safety risks in the use of the equipment and to ensure informed consent guidelines are abided by in all such instances; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [23298/18]
267. Deputy Bobby Aylward asked the Minister for Education and Skills the number of appeals granted by the school transport appeals board in each of the years 2015 to 2017; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [23647/18]
266. Deputy Bobby Aylward asked the Minister for Education and Skills the annual cost of running and maintaining the school transport appeals board; the value of payments to staff and all associated staff in each of the years 2015 to 2017; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [23646/18]
58. Deputy Bobby Aylward asked the Minister for Health the position regarding his commitment to examine a number of proposals to improve cardiac care in the south east, including the deployment of a modular laboratory that will allow for diagnostic angiograms and intervention procedures; the status of efforts by UHW management to recruit additional staff to extend the operation of the existing cath lab by 20%; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [23527/18]
164. Deputy Bobby Aylward asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the position regarding the rules relating to farm entitlements in instances in which there is an injunction on a deceased person's estate; if it is possible for his Department to transfer entitlements to a person's name in such an instance; if it is possible to seek a change of herd number into another person's name before the probate process is complete without first informing the official herd keeper as appointed through the ER1 process; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [22783/18]
147. Deputy Bobby Aylward asked the Minister for Health the steps that he has taken to alleviate waiting lists for scans at a hospital (details supplied) for women with a family history of ovarian cancer in particular; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [22812/18]
394. Deputy Bobby Aylward asked the Minister for Health his views on the refusal of a hospital to release personal medical documentation to a person (details supplied) under a freedom of information request made on 3 April 2018; his further views on the most adequate avenue through which the requester can seek satisfaction in respect of this case; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [22367/18]
306. Deputy Bobby Aylward asked the Minister for Health if the possibility of extending the provision of general practitioner visit cards to those in receipt of the respite care grant in advance of budget 2019 will be examined; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [22365/18]
304. Deputy Bobby Aylward asked the Minister for Health if he is satisfied that the provision of transport services for persons with special needs to day care centres in counties Carlow and Kilkenny is adequate for the families concerned; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [22364/18]
303. Deputy Bobby Aylward asked the Minister for Health if the reported inconsistencies in the number of hours of respite care provided to persons with special needs in the different HSE areas across the south-east region will be examined; his views on whether every carer should engage in a carer needs assessment to allow a family to plan and support the provision of care safely in their own home; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [22363/18]
302. Deputy Bobby Aylward asked the Minister for Health his views on the adequacy of services for persons with special needs between 18 and 65 years of age in counties Carlow and Kilkenny; if a review system for young adults with special needs in counties Carlow and Kilkenny upon reaching 18 years of age, which re-examines social, medical and educational needs, will be considered; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [22362/18]
301. Deputy Bobby Aylward asked the Minister for Health the position regarding emergency respite services for persons with special needs in counties Carlow and Kilkenny; the position regarding the provision of a facility for the purpose of emergency respite in County Kilkenny, such as one planned for Tullow, County Carlow; if respite services can be extended to the homes of persons with severe disabilities in counties Carlow and Kilkenny who are unable to travel or avail of transport; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [22361/18]
168. Deputy Bobby Aylward asked the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform the position regarding the estimated timeline and associated costs for completion of the flood relief proposals recently announced for the Ballyhale area of County Kilkenny; the steps he will take to ensure that the commitments made in respect of the estimated timeline and costs will be met accordingly; the steps he will take to ensure that appropriate public consultation and engagement with local residents and land owners in respect of the proposals take place in a considered and timely manner; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [22592/18]
167. Deputy Bobby Aylward asked the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform the position regarding the estimated timeline and associated costs for completion of the flood relief proposals recently announced for the Freshford area of County Kilkenny; the steps he will take to ensure that the commitments made in respect of the estimated timeline and costs will be met accordingly; the steps he will take to ensure that appropriate public consultation and engagement with local residents and land owners in respect of the proposals take place in a considered and timely manner; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [22591/18]
59. Deputy Bobby Aylward asked the Minister for Education and Skills the steps he will take to assist a school (details supplied) in the process of ensuring that its two student bodies can be housed together on one school campus site following amalgamation in June 2016 in order to address the managerial difficulties and potential health and safety risks of operating on two different sites at opposite ends of the respective village. [22466/18]
441. Deputy Bobby Aylward asked the Minister for Health the position regarding an application mechanism for a person (details supplied) who suffers from severe epilepsy and is seeking access to medicinal cannabis oil to treat the illness; the position regarding a mechanism being made available by which the person can apply for medicinal cannabis oil on the medical card or long-term illness scheme following correspondence to his office detailing the situation; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [21372/18]
262. Deputy Bobby Aylward asked the Minister for Communications, Climate Action and Environment the position regarding broadband services for a crèche (details supplied) which is located within the blue area on the national broadband plan map but cannot access sufficient broadband services; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [20524/18]
210. Deputy Bobby Aylward asked the Minister for Health if he will request the Health Service Executive to provide a comprehensive status report of plans for refurbishment, renovation and new building works at a hospital (details supplied) as committed to in its capital plan in view of the fact that it is the second quarter of 2018; the position regarding the appointment of a design team; the progress made subsequent to same; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [20614/18]
207. Deputy Bobby Aylward asked the Minister for Health the position regarding the national review of hospital cark park charges; if free parking for those suffering from other long-term life threatening illnesses in addition to cancer patients will be considered; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [20610/18]
253. Deputy Bobby Aylward asked the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs if the possibility of increasing wages paid to childcare practitioners to reflect the qualifications they must possess to work within the industry will be investigated; the position regarding the reduction of childcare fees for working parents; her views on whether the significant expenses associated with childcare are effectively a deterrent to first-time parents who genuinely want to work; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [20340/18]
202. Deputy Bobby Aylward asked the Minister for Health if a medical card will be expedited for a person (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [20378/18]
29. Deputy Bobby Aylward asked the Minister for Housing, Planning and Local Government the measures being taken to ensure that small and medium enterprises are not adversely affected by commercial rate revaluations; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [19855/18]
122. Deputy Bobby Aylward asked the Minister for Health if he is satisfied there are adequate measures in place to assist qualified Irish speech and language therapists who have trained in the UK and wish to return here to work (details supplied); if he is further satisfied that the regulations are not overly burdensome on speech and language therapists and ultimately counterproductive to addressing shortage of therapists here; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [19162/18]
100. Deputy Bobby Aylward asked the Minister for Education and Skills if the application by a school (details supplied) for a permanent extension will be expedited in view of serious health and safety concerns expressed by key community and education officials; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [19240/18]
92. Deputy Bobby Aylward asked the Minister for Education and Skills further to Parliamentary Question No. 353 of 19 April 2018, if special funding for a person (details supplied) will be granted; the position regarding scholarships and bursaries for students studying abroad; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [19159/18]
54. Deputy Bobby Aylward asked the Minister for Rural and Community Development the reason for delays in the provision of funds by his Department to local action groups for approved projects under the LEADER programme; the average waiting time for the provision of departmental funding to local action groups following final approval for projects; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [19106/18]
45. Deputy Bobby Aylward asked the Minister for Rural and Community Development the amount of funding provided to counties Carlow and Kilkenny under the local improvement scheme in 2017; his plans to announce a new local improvement scheme in 2018; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [19107/18]
164. Deputy Bobby Aylward asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if an application process is available through Coillte through which a person can seek funding for the provision of a cycle track in a Coillte forest; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [18386/18]
25. Deputy Bobby Aylward asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if the balancing 2017 GLAS payments will be issued to farmers in view of the financial pressure and stress caused by the recent bad weather and subsequent fodder shortage; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [18290/18]
20. Deputy Bobby Aylward asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the progress regarding the cost-benefit analysis of the regional veterinary laboratory network, including the regional veterinary laboratory in County Kilkenny which was due to be completed within six months of its commencement in late 2017; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [18289/18]