1668. Deputy Éamon Ó Cuív asked the Minister for Health if he intends increasing or providing new rural allowances or other financial incentives for medical professionals to take up posts in rural areas in view of the difficulty in getting medical professionals to locate to rural areas; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [2070/23]
1650. Deputy Éamon Ó Cuív asked the Minister for Health the reason that there are charges of up to €179 per week charged to patients who have been more than 30 days in hospital and are discharged to community hospitals when that would not be charged if they remained in hospital or were transferred to a private nursing home under the transitional care funding for convalescent beds in private nursing homes; if he intends abolishing such charges in community hospitals in the interest of equity; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [1984/23]
1647. Deputy Éamon Ó Cuív asked the Minister for Health when free IVF services will be provided; the reason with the delay in rolling this out; if these services will be means-tested; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [1965/23]
1641. Deputy Éamon Ó Cuív asked the Minister for Health the reason for the delay in accessing the CAMHS service in Galway city and county; the urgent action that is being taken to provide a quality service to young persons in the county who require these services urgently; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [1947/23]
1635. Deputy Éamon Ó Cuív asked the Minister for Health the number of annual inpatient cases attending the Mater hospital for cancer services in the years 2019 to 2021, in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [1932/23]
1634. Deputy Éamon Ó Cuív asked the Minister for Health the arrangements, if any, that will be in place to offer significantly reduced or free car parking in the National Children’s Hospital for families bringing children to hospital for frequent or prolonged stays; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [1931/23]
1060. Deputy Éamon Ó Cuív asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science if there has been a change since September 2022 in relation to the provision of adult education classes being provided by ETB towards only funding courses leading to accreditation and moving away from an emphasis on those who only wish to acquire a skill for their own use and fulfilment and do not need or focus on accreditation; if this change of direction has been instructed by his Department; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [2337/23]
829. D'fhiafraigh Deputy Éamon Ó Cuív den Aire Oideachais an bhfuil i gceist aici aon chuid den 3.5 uair a chloig atá leagtha síos faoi láthair do mhúineadh na Gaeilge sa tseachtain ó rang an haon go rang a sé a ghearadh sa gCreat Nua Curaclaim Bunscoile; agus an ndéanfaidh sí ráiteas ina thaobh. [2338/23]
793. Deputy Éamon Ó Cuív asked the Minister for Education if she is satisfied that there are a sufficient number of post-primary school places available in the west of Galway city to meet demand; the process that will be followed if some pupils are left with no offer of a place in a school; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [1979/23]
741. Deputy Éamon Ó Cuív asked the Minister for Education when a decision will be made on a comprehensive building project for a school (details supplied) to include the replacement of a substandard 1959 building and the provision of a SEN 2 base; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [1004/23]
740. Deputy Éamon Ó Cuív asked the Minister for Education if she will consider favourably granting a contract of indefinite duration to a special education teacher, teaching in an offshore island school (details supplied) in view of the unique circumstances of the case; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [1003/23]
739. Deputy Éamon Ó Cuív asked the Minister for Education the funding that is available to improve parking and turning movements on primary school grounds in rural areas in which the 80 km speed limit applies to ensure the safety of pupils, staff and parents; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [1001/23]
625. Deputy Éamon Ó Cuív asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs the representations that he has made to the Israeli authorities to protest against the proposed imminent expulsion and forced transfer of over 1,000 Palestinians, including 500 children from Masafer Yatta; the response that he has received; the further steps that he intends taking on the matter; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [2067/23]
575. Deputy Éamon Ó Cuív asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the number of residences and businesses that are dependent on private water supplies; if he considers the provision of a mains water supply to all residences and businesses in the State as a basic service; if he intends rolling out a scheme, similar to the National Broadband scheme for broadband, to make a public water supply available to all residences and businesses in the State at an affordable cost; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [2069/23]
514. Deputy Éamon Ó Cuív asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage if he intends expanding the scheme immediately to cover all Traveller families living in caravans of eight years old or more, in view of the demand for the pilot caravan loan scheme from Traveller families, some of whom live in caravans and mobiles that are over 20 years old; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [63753/22]
494. Deputy Éamon Ó Cuív asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage when he will consider the amendments made to the Wildlife Bill 2016 in Seanad Éireann; when he will complete his consideration of the Bill; when he will propose to Government that permission be sought to have this Bill restored to the Order Paper for Dáil Éireann’s final consideration; the reason for the more than four-year delay in relation to same; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [63667/22]
410. Deputy Éamon Ó Cuív asked the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform if the Office of Public Works intends keeping the Corrib flood gates at Galway fully open for the foreseeable future to reduce the risk of flooding in the lower and upper Corrib basin due to heavy rains in recent months; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [1359/23]
340. Deputy Éamon Ó Cuív asked the Minister for Finance the changes that occurred on 1 January 2023 in the way that benefit-in-kind for company cars is assessed for income tax purposes; the reasons for these changes; the savings to the Exchequer as a result; the estimated number of taxpayers affected; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [1367/23]
330. Deputy Éamon Ó Cuív asked the Minister for Finance if it is intended to release further funding to the Strategic Bank Corporation of Ireland to further aid the development of suitable projects; if so, when a decision will be made on same; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [1191/23]
321. Deputy Éamon Ó Cuív asked the Minister for Finance the reason that bulk liquefied petroleum gas, LPG, supplied to businesses is not included under the business energy support scheme when metered gas is included; if he accepts that this affects mainly rural areas where metered gas is not available; if he intends extending the scheme to include LPG; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [63998/22]
289. Deputy Éamon Ó Cuív asked the Minister for Transport the discussions that have taken place with Galway County Council and TII concerning getting an agreement in relation to method statements regarding the development of the Bun a’Choill to Glengowla 5 kilometres stretch of road on the N59 west of Oughterard as provided for in the planning permission for the road; if such an agreement will be concluded in the near future; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [2249/23]
281. Deputy Éamon Ó Cuív asked the Minister for Transport when specific allocations of funding for national roads will be announced in 2023; if this will include funding for the commencement of construction on a section of road (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [1971/23]
239. Deputy Éamon Ó Cuív asked the Minister for Transport if the foreign driving licence of a person who moves to Ireland remains in force in the State until an exchange Irish driving licence is issued, despite the fact that the licence must be submitted with the application for an exchange Irish licence; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [1358/23]
238. Deputy Éamon Ó Cuív asked the Minister for Transport the steps he intends taking to ensure that where holding a foreign driving licence automatically entitles a person who moves to Ireland to an equivalent Irish licence, it is possible to effect the exchange of a licence with a minimum of delay and without leaving applicants without any licence for an extended period of time given that the foreign licence must be handed-in on application for the exchange; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [1357/23]
213. Deputy Éamon Ó Cuív asked the Minister for Transport if his Department has received an application for a specific road grant in 2023 from Mayo County Council for a road (details supplied); when a decision will be made on this application; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [1006/23]
212. Deputy Éamon Ó Cuív asked the Minister for Transport if his Department has received an application for a specific road grant in 2023 from Galway County Council for a road (details supplied); when a decision will be made on this application; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [1005/23]
181. Deputy Éamon Ó Cuív asked the Minister for Transport the number of passengers who have travelled on the Limerick to Galway rail services in each of the past five years; the constraints to improving the services on this line in terms of frequency and capacity of trains; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [63770/22]
180. Deputy Éamon Ó Cuív asked the Minister for Transport if it is intended to provide a passing loop on the rail line between Ennis and Limerick to enable a more frequent service to be provided between Galway and Limerick (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [63769/22]
130. Deputy Éamon Ó Cuív asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications if he intends rolling out a programme similar to the national broadband scheme to ensure effective 100% good-quality coverage of mobile broadband and phone services throughout the State in view of the large areas that are still without a service, particularly in hill areas; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [2090/23]
332. Deputy Éamon Ó Cuív asked the Minister for Health the reason that the long-term illness scheme covers medication associated with intellectual disability and does not cover medication and other medical appliance costs associated with autism; if he intends extending the scheme to cover the same expenses for persons with autism as it covers for intellectual disability; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [62968/22]
329. Deputy Éamon Ó Cuív asked the Minister for Health the services that are currently available to those diagnosed with foetal valproate spectrum disorder; the way that these services can be accessed within communities following a diagnosis; the discussions that his Department is having with the HSE to improve these services; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [62950/22]
287. Deputy Éamon Ó Cuív asked the Minister for Justice the number of full-body searches carried out in Irish prisons in each of the past five years; the circumstances that arise that cause these searches to be carried out; if such searches are carried out on both female and male prisoners; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [62965/22]
286. Deputy Éamon Ó Cuív asked the Minister for Justice if she is considering dispensing with the requirement that all non-EEA researchers who undertake research activities on a four-year contract have to renew their Irish residency permit or visa each year at a cost of €300, and replacing that with a requirement that the third level institution would confirm each year that the researcher is continuing with the contract with the higher-level educational institution; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [62939/22]
272. Deputy Éamon Ó Cuív asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science if he will consider fully funding further education courses for persons on disability allowance and invalidity pension to enable them to upskill and re-enter the workplace with new skills; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [62940/22]
271. Deputy Éamon Ó Cuív asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science the progress that has been made to date with the review of the terms and conditions of employment of PhD worker students; when it is expected that contact will be made with the various PhD stakeholders such as two groups (details supplied) to seek their views; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [62938/22]
255. Deputy Éamon Ó Cuív asked the Minister for Social Protection if a person who has a mixed social welfare record consisting of A, B and D contributions and can satisfy the minimum conditions for a pro rata pension for a person with mixed insurance is entitled to have their pension assessed under the total contribution system, including up to 1,040 ordinary and caring credits; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [62943/22]
132. Deputy Éamon Ó Cuív asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications the progress that has been made to date to ensure that areas without mobile phone signals get mobile phone coverage; the discussions that have taken place between his Department and the industry on this; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [62723/22]
77. Deputy Éamon Ó Cuív asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications the progress that has been made to date since the approval of the national climate action plan to achieve the targets in the plan; if he is satisfied that the full objectives of the plan will be achieved by 2030; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [62724/22]
47. Deputy Éamon Ó Cuív asked the Minister for Rural and Community Development the capital and current allocation to her Department for 2022; the expenditure to date of both the current and capital allocation including carry forward from 2021; the main underspends under both headings; the reason for same; if it is intended to carry forward unspent capital from 2022 to 2023; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [62720/22]
25. Deputy Éamon Ó Cuív asked the Minister for Rural and Community Development the progress that has been made with the development of improved pier facilities on Inis Oírr and Inis Meáin in 2022; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [62719/22]
535. Deputy Éamon Ó Cuív asked the Minister for Health if he will provide a list of dentistry practices in Galway that provide dental services to medical card holders under the dental treatment services scheme; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [61667/22]
353. Deputy Éamon Ó Cuív asked the Minister for Education when school transport will be provided to an eligible student (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [61799/22]
319. Deputy Éamon Ó Cuív asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage when he will consider the amendments made to the Wildlife Amendment Bill 2016 in Seanad Éireann; when he will complete his consideration of the Bill; when he will propose to Government that permission be sought to have this Bill restored to the order paper for Dáil Éireann’s final consideration; the reason for the four year delay in relation to same; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [62330/22]
255. Deputy Éamon Ó Cuív asked the Minister for Education the progress made to date in providing alternative upgraded accommodation to a special school (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [61536/22]
254. D'fhiafraigh Deputy Éamon Ó Cuív den Aire Oideachais céard é an caighdeán Gaeilge nach mór a bheith ag iar-mhac léinn de na coláistí oiliúna múinteoirí príobháideacha le bheith cáilithe chun feidhmiú mar mhúinteoir bunscoile i scoileanna ina múintear trí Bhéarla agus i scoileanna ina múintear trí mheán na Gaeilge. [61532/22]
253. D'fhiafraigh Deputy Éamon Ó Cuív den Aire Oideachais céard é an caighdeán Gaeilge nach mór a bheith ag iar-mhac léinn de na coláistí tríú leibhéal Stáit le bheith cáilithe chun feidhmiú mar mhúinteoir bunscoile i scoileanna ina múintear trí Bhéarla agus i scoileanna ina múintear trí mheán na Gaeilge. [61531/22]
252. D'fhiafraigh Deputy Éamon Ó Cuív den Aire Oideachais céard iad na riachtanais iontrála Ghaeilge nach mór do mhac léinn a chomhlíonadh chun áit a fháil ar chúrsa múinteoireachta bunscoile sna coláistí tríú leibhéal príobháideacha ag leibhéal fo-chéimithe agus iar-chéimithe araon. [61530/22]
251. D'fhiafraigh Deputy Éamon Ó Cuív den Aire Oideachais céard iad na riachtanais iontrála Ghaeilge nach mór do mhac léinn a chomhlíonah chun áit a fháil ar chúrsa múinteoireachta bunscoile sna coláistí tríú leibhéal atá maoinithe ag an Stát. [61529/22]
227. Deputy Éamon Ó Cuív asked the Minister for Tourism, Culture, Arts, Gaeltacht, Sport and Media if all of the approved applicants for the basic income scheme under the arts pilot scheme have taken up the offer of a basic income; the number who applied and the number who were approved; if it is intended to extend the scheme to further applicants; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [61526/22]
226. Deputy Éamon Ó Cuív asked the Minister for Tourism, Culture, Arts, Gaeltacht, Sport and Media the reason that a person (details supplied) who applied for the basic income under the arts pilot scheme earlier this year was not included in the scheme; if it is intended to extend the scheme to further qualified applicants; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [61525/22]