1248. Deputy Colm Burke asked the Minister for Health if he will engage with the relevant bodies to restore the placement allowance for clinical staff providing physiotherapy students with clinical placements; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [11703/24]
1247. Deputy Colm Burke asked the Minister for Health if he will work with the relevant bodies to establish a defined career pathway for clinical physiotherapy tutors to include recognition of specialism and further to advance the establishment of clinical academic posts; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [11702/24]
1246. Deputy Colm Burke asked the Minister for Health if he will engage with the relevant bodies to conduct a review of the management structure for physiotherapists (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [11701/24]
1245. Deputy Colm Burke asked the Minister for Health what steps have been taken to date to establish the grade of advanced practice physiotherapist, following his commitment to do so at a conference 2020 (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [11700/24]
1232. Deputy Colm Burke asked the Minister for Health whether progress has been made on summarising the responses to the public consultation on further regulation of tobacco and nicotine inhaling products, whether pre-legislative scrutiny will be the next step of the legislative process; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [11632/24]
1231. Deputy Colm Burke asked the Minister for Health who represented Ireland at the COP10/MOP3 global anti-tobacco conferences; what agenda items were priority for the Irish delegation; what are the outcomes of the conferences that can translate into tobacco policy or legislation; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [11631/24]
1154. Deputy Colm Burke asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth what action his Department is taking to ensure a standardised rate of pay for the different types of home and community care providers, given that disability home support is not operated under an authorisation scheme, which indicates that providers of disability support are paid less than those who are providers of elderly home support, wherein these providers are not guaranteed the living wage or travel time; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [12459/24]
1113. Deputy Colm Burke asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth the steps he will take to ensure that when child care settings are at risk of closures, the Stakeholder Response Team (SRT) will work with a range of local agencies and others to devise a sustainable plan for the setting; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [11818/24]
1112. Deputy Colm Burke asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth when a child care setting has confirmed with Pobal that it is to close, this will trigger a response from a Stakeholder Response Team (SRT); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [11817/24]
1111. Deputy Colm Burke asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth to ensure that when a childcare setting indicates that it is going to close, it must first be signalled this within the Pobal Hive, by giving a minimum of three months' notice and six months if at all possible; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [11816/24]
1110. Deputy Colm Burke asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth if he will ringfence dedicated funding for the purposes of developing a coherent five-year plan to create a unified, publicly funded model of early years and school age care that incentivises the recruitment and retention of a graduate workforce, that is affordable and accessible for parents and crucially, places children's rights at its core (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [11815/24]
1109. Deputy Colm Burke asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth the steps he will take to ensure that the Stakeholder Response Team (SRT) will work with services in the local area, such as the CCCs, to source alternative places for children when child care closures are unavoidable; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [11814/24]
1108. Deputy Colm Burke asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth if he will consider moving to a fully publicly funded model of early years and school age care to bringing Ireland line with the best-in-class systems available in other countries; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [11813/24]
1020. Deputy Colm Burke asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if he will consider in conjunction with local authorities and other relevant stakeholders (details supplied) the establishment of a nationwide free trees initiative, in view of the success of a recent frees trees initiative by Cork City Council during Tree Week 2024; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [12509/24]
1019. Deputy Colm Burke asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if he will consider developing a national initiative in view of the success of a recent free trees initiative by a local authority (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [12508/24]
753. Deputy Colm Burke asked the Minister for Social Protection if a change to the optical benefit scheme eye examination fee for contractors is under consideration; if this matter will be raised at her Department’s next meeting with stakeholders; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [12511/24]
752. Deputy Colm Burke asked the Minister for Social Protection if her Department has conducted a review of the optical benefit scheme; and if so, to outline in detail the outcome of this review; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [12510/24]
726. Deputy Colm Burke asked the Minister for Social Protection the status of an appeal (details supplied) by a person; when a decision is likely to be received, as this has been pending for some time; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [11922/24]
552. Deputy Colm Burke asked the Minister for Tourism, Culture, Arts, Gaeltacht, Sport and Media to provide an update on progress made to date in respect of legislation regarding a company (details supplied) and short-term lettings, which is to include the provision of a short-term tourist letting register through Fáilte Ireland; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [11857/24]
497. Deputy Colm Burke asked the Minister for Education when it will be possible for a school (details supplied) to make a decision to go ahead with a tender for a school extension; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [12662/24]
464. Deputy Colm Burke asked the Minister for Education when a review being undertaken by her Department in respect of a Stage 2B submission will be finalised and the school (details supplied) contacted about the outcome of this review as it has been confirmed that it has been near completion for some time; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [12436/24]
285. Deputy Colm Burke asked the Minister for Public Expenditure, National Development Plan Delivery and Reform when a project (details supplied) which was granted planning permission in 2022 can proceed; if this project has been advertised in order that tenders can be submitted; when is it likely that the tender process will be completed; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [11858/24]
199. Deputy Colm Burke asked the Minister for Transport if he will consider the provision of additional funding for the expansion of the Cork city bike scheme into the north side of Cork city in view of the increase in bike journeys in Cork city from 2022 to 2023 as set out in a recent review undertaken by the National Transport Authority; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [13074/24]
85. Deputy Colm Burke asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications whether he intends to legislate for a ban on disposable e-cigarettes; and if so, whether he intends this to be a standalone Bill or whether it will form part of a broader package of measures to regulate flavours and packaging as part of proposed further regulation of tobacco and nicotine inhaling products; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [11633/24]
376. Deputy Colm Burke asked the Minister for Health to confirm what impact if any the Independent Commission which is due to be formally established early this year will have on policy changes to the role of home and community care providers, in view that this Commission will examine the provision of health and social care services and supports for older people and make recommendations to the Government for their strategic development; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [11314/24]
375. Deputy Colm Burke asked the Minister for Health to outline in detail the steps being taken by his Department to prioritise and support informal caregivers who play a crucial role in home and community care; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [11313/24]
374. Deputy Colm Burke asked the Minister for Health what action his Department is taking to address recruitment and retention challenges within the home and community care workforce to ensure a consistent and qualified staff; and if due consideration would be given to increasing the wages of homecare supporters in order to increase the number of individuals in this position; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [11312/24]
373. Deputy Colm Burke asked the Minister for Health what action his Department is taking to recruit new home support providers, in view that the authorisation scheme has been proven to increase staff retention for home support providers but it has had no impact on the recruitment of new home support providers; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [11311/24]
372. Deputy Colm Burke asked the Minister for Health what initiatives are in place to enhance the coordination and integration of home and community care services with other healthcare providers to create a seamless patient experience; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [11310/24]
371. Deputy Colm Burke asked the Minister for Health what action his Department is taking to ensure a standardised rate of pay for the different types of home and community care providers, in view that disability home support is not operated under an authorisation scheme, which indicates that providers of disability support are paid less than those who are providers of elderly home support, wherein these providers are not guaranteed the living wage or travel time; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [11308/24]
370. Deputy Colm Burke asked the Minister for Health to provide details on any ongoing efforts being made by his Department to incorporate technology and innovation into home and community care services to improve efficiency and effectiveness; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [11307/24]
369. Deputy Colm Burke asked the Minister for Health what action his Department is taking to ensure that the authorisation scheme 2023 continues to provide the necessary support to homecare workers in view that the scheme is successful in the sense that it funds the homecare workers travel time, however it fails to fund the necessary milage that is completed by the homecare worker; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [11306/24]
368. Deputy Colm Burke asked the Minister for Health what action his Department is taking to ensure that the authorisation scheme 2023 is enough of an incentive to persuade more individuals to become homecare providers; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [11305/24]
367. Deputy Colm Burke asked the Minister for Health to confirm what action his Department is taking in conjunction with local authorities and community organizations to strengthen the overall support system for individuals receiving home and community care; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [11304/24]
366. Deputy Colm Burke asked the Minister for Health to clarify why the statutory scheme, which is essential for developing a homecare sector that is accessible, sustainable and accountable, has been delayed and the impact this delay has on society; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [11303/24]
365. Deputy Colm Burke asked the Minister for Health to confirm what steps are being taken to ensure that home and community care services are responsive to the evolving healthcare needs of the aging population and the high waiting lists in Ireland; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [11302/24]
364. Deputy Colm Burke asked the Minister for Health when the commitment to increase the fees payable to contractors for a standard eye examination under the Community Ophthalmic Services Scheme will occur; to clarify if this fee will now be equal to the eye test fee payable to contractors under the Department of Social Protection's optical benefit scheme; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [11300/24]
363. Deputy Colm Burke asked the Minister for Health the proposed start date for the implementation of the proposals in the National Clinical Programme for Ophthalmology, and in particular the transfer of care of children aged 8+ years to local private optometrists; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [11299/24]
337. Deputy Colm Burke asked the Minister for Health to set out in tabular form the current waiting times for elderly home support services across the different regions nationally, and what action his Department is taking to reduce these waiting times; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [11317/24]
319. Deputy Colm Burke asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth to confirm what measures are in place to ensure that individuals with disabilities and their families are actively involved in the planning and delivery of home support services to promote person-centered care; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [11318/24]
318. Deputy Colm Burke asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth to set out in tabular form the current waiting times for disability home support services across the different regions nationally, and what action his Department is taking to reduce these waiting times; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [11317/24]
317. Deputy Colm Burke asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth to outline in detail his Department’s strategy for promoting inclusivity and reducing stigma associated with disability home support services, aiming for a more supportive and understanding community and for these services to be utilised more by those who require these services; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [11316/24]
316. Deputy Colm Burke asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth to confirm if his Department is actively coordinating with disability advocacy organisations and community groups to gather feedback from service users, and to ensure that there is a continuity of improvement in quality of disability home support services; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [11315/24]
306. Deputy Colm Burke asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth what action his Department is taking to expand and improve respite care services for individuals and families receiving home and community care support; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [11309/24]
299. Deputy Colm Burke asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine when an ACRES-CP payment will be issued to a person (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [11297/24]
274. Deputy Colm Burke asked the Minister for Social Protection if the community ophthalmic services scheme standard eye examination contractors’ fee is now to be equal to the eye test fee payable to contractors under her Department’s optical benefit scheme; will the optical benefit scheme fee itself now be raised; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [11301/24]
194. Deputy Colm Burke asked the Minister for Transport to confirm when works will begin in respect of each of the new rail stations of Blarney/Stoneview, Monard, Blackpool/Kilbarry, Tivoli, Dunkettle, Carrigtwohill West, Water-Rock, Ballynoe under the Cork Area Commuter Rail Programme; when each will be opened and operational, in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [11421/24]
85. Deputy Colm Burke asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications what action his Department is taking to ensure Ireland achieves its goal of 8 GW of solar connections by 2030; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [10954/24]
51. Deputy Colm Burke asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs what action his Department is taking to improve processing times of paper based renewal and first-time passport applications, in view that the current processing time is eight weeks, and in particular the efforts being made to fast-track applications where queries have been raised as this can often lead to extended delays in processing; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [10956/24]
16. Deputy Colm Burke asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs to report on his recent meeting of the foreign affairs ministers in Brussels; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [10957/24]