1006. Deputy Francis Noel Duffy asked the Minister for Health if his Department has sought to resolve the issue regarding the loss of medical cards due to the pension increase in Budget 2025; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [43965/24]
1005. Deputy Francis Noel Duffy asked the Minister for Health the reason a medication (details supplied) is excluded from the drugs payment scheme if it is a necessary medication for children and people diagnosed with autism suffering with sleeplessness; if this medication will be considered under the Drugs Payment Scheme; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [43963/24]
1004. Deputy Francis Noel Duffy asked the Minister for Health to outline the process for applying for the hardship scheme for medication not covered under the drugs payment scheme; if he is aware in some cases, patients have been informed by a chemist to get both a GP signature and needing a consultant’s referral to get a consultant’s signature; if the application process to the scheme will be simplified; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [43962/24]
297. Deputy Francis Noel Duffy asked the Minister for Public Expenditure, National Development Plan Delivery and Reform when the pension increase for retired staff of 2.5% for Eir from 1 July 2024, and a 2% increase for An Post from 1 January 2024, will be implemented; if payments will be commenced before Christmas; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [43964/24]
188. Deputy Francis Noel Duffy asked the Minister for Transport for updates on the CIÉ 1951 pension scheme; if his Department will ensure the scheme has the sufficient capacity and funds to pay pension increases to CIÉ pensioners; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [43961/24]
167. Deputy Francis Noel Duffy asked the Minister for Transport if he will consider an independent review of the risks posed by e-scooters considering they are not banned in many EU countries; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [42494/24]
117. Deputy Francis Noel Duffy asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications if he is aware that some bin collection companies have raised their collection fees, referring to an increase in the waste levy; whether there has been an increase in waste levy this year; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [42499/24]
116. Deputy Francis Noel Duffy asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications if he has considered the ban of polystyrene used for insulation as it is banned under the single use plastics Directive, considering its harmful effects to the environment; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [42495/24]
296. Deputy Francis Noel Duffy asked the Minister for Education if she is aware that admissions allocation for a school (details supplied) last year was 180 students for 2024/2025 and has now been reduced significantly to an allocation of only 72 places for the coming year 2025/2026; what her Department can do to increase capacity; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [41244/24]
195. Deputy Francis Noel Duffy asked the Minister for Finance to consider an increase to the property price threshold under the help-to-buy scheme. [41245/24]
175. Deputy Francis Noel Duffy asked the Minister for Transport if he is aware that people are receiving driving test appointment at a test centre (details supplied) after a six month wait; what his Department is doing to shorten these waiting times; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [41243/24]
385. Deputy Francis Noel Duffy asked the Minister for Justice if a full restoration of criminal legal aid fees will be introduced next year as per her comments in an article (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [40228/24]
337. Deputy Francis Noel Duffy asked the Minister for Social Protection if she is aware of the anomaly that babies born in late November/December will be too late to qualify for double child benefit payment and too early to qualify for the baby boost payment; if this will be resolved in order babies born in late November/ December can avail of both double child benefit and baby boost; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [40173/24]
176. Deputy Francis Noel Duffy asked the Minister for Education if her Department will provide extra time for students with dyslexia and other learning difficulties in second level examinations to ensure students reach their full potential; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [39774/24]
112. Deputy Francis Noel Duffy asked the Minister for Finance if the increased rate of stamp duty announced under Budget 2025 will apply to properties which have already reached sale agreed. [40229/24]
83. Deputy Francis Noel Duffy asked the Minister for Transport if consideration can be given to liaising with the Road Safety Authority (RSA) to undertake a review of the driving test, particularly elements like reverse parking, which is not used in day-to-day driving; if his Department will liaise with the RSA to instead introduce parallel and reverse parking; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [38677/24]
82. Deputy Francis Noel Duffy asked the Minister for Transport if a review has been undertaken on the decision to reduce essential driver training (EDT) to six hours instead of 12 hours, as instructors are reporting that students are not ready after six lessons; if he will consider allowing the instructor to assess the student and determine suitability for the reduced six EDT hours via the approved driving instructor portal; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [38676/24]
1150. Deputy Francis Noel Duffy asked the Minister for Justice if she will consider the establishment of a child maintenance service agency similar to the Child Maintenance Service in the UK to process and mediate child maintenance-related matters and provide necessary supports to parents involved as opposed to going directly to the courts; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [35166/24]
1142. Deputy Francis Noel Duffy asked the Minister for Justice if legislation is being considered similar to that introduced in the UK to tackle criminal gangs using e-bikes, e-scooters and mopeds to commit crimes; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [35071/24]
2037. Deputy Francis Noel Duffy asked the Minister for Health if his Department have considered extending the clinical nurse manager 2 salary scale by an addition of one further scale point and the introduction of a long-service increment; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [31145/24]
175. Deputy Francis Noel Duffy asked the Minister for Transport the reason the requirement for an eyesight test for first-time driver applicants needs to be dated within one month before applying for the permit; if his Department has considered extending the time as it is a burden for some applicants; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [31278/24]
657. Deputy Francis Noel Duffy asked the Minister for Health if his Department has progressed the provision of palforzia, which is a life-saving drug that helps reduce the reaction to peanut allergies, considering its availability in the UK and other European countries; if there are ongoing negotiations between the HSE and pharmaceutical companies in relation to price reductions as recommended by the NCPE; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [29116/24]
600. Deputy Francis Noel Duffy asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth if he will consider increasing maternity, paternity and parental leave for parents of multiple births; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [29117/24]
263. Deputy Francis Noel Duffy asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage if his Department has considered ensuring all cost-rental developments have organic waste facilities; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [27996/24]
466. Deputy Francis Noel Duffy asked the Minister for Health his views on the shortcomings of the Child and Adolescent Mental Health Service whereby children with behavioural issues who have reduced school attendance that are referred to CAHMS are returned as not in their remit; if consideration has been given to a locally based layered system of support for families under pressure that shows up as behavioural dysfunction that is all too often medicated (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [27109/24]
230. Deputy Francis Noel Duffy asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the number of tenants under the mortgage-to-rent scheme who have bought back their homes from approved housing bodies. [26764/24]
287. Deputy Francis Noel Duffy asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth if the Government will reimbursement families who pay for private assessments after waiting three years for a suspected dyspraxia diagnosis assessment; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [25946/24]
221. Deputy Francis Noel Duffy asked the Minister for Social Protection if her Department will consider introducing later opening hours for PSC centres that open outside of Monday to Friday, 9am-5pm, or that take appointments to ensure people who work 9-5 jobs are able to secure an appointment; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [26044/24]
192. Deputy Francis Noel Duffy asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the funding allocated under the social housing current expenditure programme and other funding programmes to deliver the target of 9,300 new-build social homes in 2024; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [26111/24]
191. Deputy Francis Noel Duffy asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage if his Department will consider measures to provide buy-back options for mortgage-to-rent tenants by way of a discount; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [26045/24]
722. Deputy Francis Noel Duffy asked the Minister for Health the steps his Department is taking to increase bed capacity at Tallaght University Hospital, Dublin considering the statement made by the CEO of Dublin Midlands Regional Hospital Group that the hospital is in urgent need of extra bed capacity; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [24861/24]
671. Deputy Francis Noel Duffy asked the Minister for Health if he is aware of the HSE recruitment embargo impacting the speech therapy unit in school (details supplied) which will result in children waiting 12 months for necessary services; if he is aware of the detrimental impact this will have on early intervention supports; if his Department will seek recruitment of the speech therapists as soon as possible; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [25025/24]
246. Deputy Francis Noel Duffy asked the Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment if he is aware that a county council (details supplied) was not made aware that the increased cost of business grant was extended, which resulted in them missing the deadline; if he will extend the grant deadline to account for this; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [25071/24]
311. Deputy Francis Noel Duffy asked the Minister for Social Protection the position on means testing home carers who may wish to return to work; if a scheme is being developed to ensure that such persons are not penalised; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [23607/24]
226. Deputy Francis Noel Duffy asked the Minister for Education when her Department will issue the letter of intent for a new school build for a school (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [23862/24]
98. Deputy Francis Noel Duffy asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications his views on the fact that solar panels being installed on domestic roofs must be installed 500mm from the edge, whereas in the UK and other European countries they can be installed up to 200mm from the edge; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [23564/24]
659. Deputy Francis Noel Duffy asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science the cost of abolishing the contribution fee for apprenticeships in higher education in the 2024/2025 academic year. [22578/24]
658. Deputy Francis Noel Duffy asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science the estimated cost of further reducing third level fees to €1,000 in 2024-2025, and subsequently abolish these fees in 2025-2026; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [22577/24]
588. Deputy Francis Noel Duffy asked the Minister for Health further to Parliamentary Question No. 712 of 30 April 2024, if her Department has considered issuing a guideline similar to the NHS (details supplied) that the consent of only one parent is necessary to allow a child to avail of psychological support; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [22580/24]
587. Deputy Francis Noel Duffy asked the Minister for Health further to Parliamentary Question No. 712 of 30 April 2024, if, in circumstances where a private/charitable service provider believes that it is in the best interests of a child to receive psychological support, where the private/charitable service provider has a policy that the consent of one parent/guardian is sufficient, one parent/guardian legally can bring their child to avail of psychological support if the other parent / guardian opposes this. [22579/24]
530. Deputy Francis Noel Duffy asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth if he is aware of the chronic shortage of childcare spaces in the area of Dublin south-west with a case of one mother on 21 waiting lists; if he is further aware of the affordability crisis of childcare services and the impact this is having on working mothers trying to get back into the workforce; the measures his Department is taking to alleviate these issues; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [22912/24]
393. Deputy Francis Noel Duffy asked the Minister for Social Protection the number of young persons under 25 years of age who are in receipt of a rate of a jobseekers' allowance other than €232 and €141.70 per week; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [22576/24]
392. Deputy Francis Noel Duffy asked the Minister for Social Protection the number of young persons under 25 years of age who are in receipt of the lower rate of jobseekers' allowance of €141.70 per week; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [22575/24]
391. Deputy Francis Noel Duffy asked the Minister for Social Protection the number of young persons under 25 years of age who are in receipt of the full rate of jobseekers' allowance of €232 per week; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [22574/24]
390. Deputy Francis Noel Duffy asked the Minister for Social Protection the estimated yearly cost of increasing the rate of jobseeker's allowance for all young people aged under 25 in line with the maximum person rate for those aged over 25; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [22573/24]
319. Deputy Francis Noel Duffy asked the Minister for Education the reason her Department has made a cut to the ancillary grant to DEIS band 1 school (details supplied); if she is aware of the impact this is having on the learning materials for the school, limiting pupils’ access to high-quality, modern educational resources, which will inevitably impact their academic development; if she will reinstate the full grant; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [22911/24]
267. Deputy Francis Noel Duffy asked the Minister for Health if funding will be provided to continue the pathfinder programme in Tallaght and other areas; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [22259/24]
712. Deputy Francis Noel Duffy asked the Minister for Health if one parent can give consent allowing for a child to attend therapy; what is the situation if one parent does not want to give consent and the other does; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [19279/24]
348. Deputy Francis Noel Duffy asked the Minister for Education further to Parliamentary Question No. 312 of 23 April 2024, if she will provide an update on the school application (details supplied) for an ASD unit considering the application was submitted in July 2022; when it is expected that a judgement will be given on the application; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [19337/24]
319. Deputy Francis Noel Duffy asked the Minister for Education her views on the shortage of classes and dedicated schools for moderate ID children in the Dublin 14 and 16 areas; what plans are in place to remedy the issue; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [19225/24]