200. Deputy Jack Chambers asked the Minister for Health if funding provision for intensive home care packages, IHCPs, will be increased; if the IHCP funding structure will be amended so the packages are provided on a needs basis and not limited by budgetary restrictions; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [6539/18]
289. Deputy Jack Chambers asked the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection the average processing times for applications for social welfare payments (details supplied); the average processing times for appeals to decisions to refuse applications for same, in tabular form; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [6222/18]
587. Deputy Jack Chambers asked the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection if her attention has been drawn to the fact that new applications for carer's allowance are taking at least 17 weeks to process; her views as to whether this is an acceptable length of time to wait for such an application to be granted; if her attention has been further drawn to the hardship this waiting time is placing on persons who often have no source of income; if the case of a person (details supplied) will be examined; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [5555/18]
538. Deputy Jack Chambers asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport his plans to introduce a regular shuttle bus service to operate between Broombridge Luas station and the Dublin west area in order that persons in the area can use the new Luas service; if his attention has been drawn to the fact that many persons in the area are unable to benefit from the new Luas extension to Broombridge in view of the fact there are no public transport services serving Broombridge Luas stop; if his attention has been further drawn to the fact that more persons from the area would use the Luas if there was a suitable public transport service to bring them to the Broombridge Luas stop; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [5624/18]
429. Deputy Jack Chambers asked the Minister for Health if the case of a person (details supplied) will be examined; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [5922/18]
411. Deputy Jack Chambers asked the Minister for Health his plans to include persons with Parkinson's disease on the long-term illness scheme; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [5862/18]
375. Deputy Jack Chambers asked the Minister for Health the measures in place to warn drug users regarding the dangers of a drug (details supplied); the number of drug overdose cases in which this drug has been linked; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [5568/18]
374. Deputy Jack Chambers asked the Minister for Health his plans to expand availability of Naloxone to persons who use drugs as stated in the national drugs strategy, Reducing Harm, Supporting Recovery 2017 to 2025; the level of availability for naloxone; the locations in which it is available; the number of occasions it has been used in an emergency situation in 2016, 2017, and to date in 2018; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [5567/18]
271. Deputy Jack Chambers asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport if the overcrowding issues on peak rail services on the Docklands M3 Parkway route will be addressed; if more carriages will be added to these peak services in order to address the problem of overcrowding; his views on whether this overcrowding will discourage persons from using public transport; if his attention has been drawn to the fact that the Docklands area is set for further development which will create greater demand for a high quality rail service; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [5018/18]
94. Deputy Jack Chambers asked the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform the timeframe for the legislation to extend the mandatory retirement age in the public sector to 70 years of age; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [4986/18]
271. Deputy Jack Chambers asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport the consideration that has been given to ensuring a Dublin Bus route (details supplied) will not be adversely affected when the new Luas trams are rolled out as part of the Luas Cross City and Green Line extension; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [4670/18]
1518. Deputy Jack Chambers asked the Minister for Rural and Community Development if there is legislation to deal with the issue of noise pollution caused by dogs barking constantly; if not, his plans to introduce legislation to address this problem; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [54462/17]
1353. Deputy Jack Chambers asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport the status of plans to implement the European Commission proposal COM 2017/276 (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [1700/18]
1283. Deputy Jack Chambers asked the Minister for Communications, Climate Action and Environment his plans to introduce additional measures or investment to increase the types of material that Ireland's recycling system can process; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [1042/18]
1282. Deputy Jack Chambers asked the Minister for Communications, Climate Action and Environment if he has satisfied himself with the amount of waste material that is recycled here in view of recent announcements that certain types of materials that are widely recycled elsewhere, such as soft plastic bags and film packaging, will not be accepted. [1041/18]
1084. Deputy Jack Chambers asked the Minister for Health if all hospitals, including Connolly Hospital, Blanchardstown, have adequate budgets to meet all overtime worked by all staff as appropriate; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [1769/18]
1083. Deputy Jack Chambers asked the Minister for Health if he has discussed with management the decision not to pay interns at Connolly Hospital, Blanchardstown, for overtime work at the hospital; the steps he is taking to address this matter; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [1768/18]
1082. Deputy Jack Chambers asked the Minister for Health his views on the notice issued by management to interns at Connolly Hospital, Blanchardstown, that they would not be paid for the care they provide as overtime between the hours of 5 p.m. and 8 a.m.; his further views on whether this is fair, in view of the fact that interns are regularly asked to work during these hours; his views on this arrangement; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [1767/18]
1034. Deputy Jack Chambers asked the Minister for Health the number of persons employed in paediatric occupational therapy services, by community healthcare organisation, for each of the past three years, in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [1397/18]
1033. Deputy Jack Chambers asked the Minister for Health the waiting times for assessment for paediatric occupational therapy services, by community healthcare organisation, for each of the last three years; the waiting times for delivery of paediatric occupational therapy services, by community healthcare organisation, for each of the last three years, in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [1396/18]
973. Deputy Jack Chambers asked the Minister for Health his plans to ensure there is appropriate funding for night-time community palliative hospice care in the home for persons at end-of-life stage in order that the necessary level of care is maintained over the Christmas period and not reduced (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [1108/18]
900. Deputy Jack Chambers asked the Minister for Health the reason the Tuesday dental surgery which operates at Connolly Hospital, Blanchardstown, for persons with special needs has had its output cut from treating three persons per session to treating just one person; if his attention has been drawn to the fact that this is causing delays for persons seeking such treatment; if his decision will be reversed and the full service restored; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [55202/17]
807. Deputy Jack Chambers asked the Minister for Health his plans to increase funding for an organisation (details supplied); the reason a recent application by the organisation to the HSE for funding for an education officer and information officer was refused; his further plans to ensure children with dyspraxia receive the necessary supports and services to help them deal with this condition in childhood in order that it does not adversely affect their adult lives; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [54919/17]
525. Deputy Jack Chambers asked the Minister for Justice and Equality if he will address a matter (details supplied) regarding pensions; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [54683/17]
440. Deputy Jack Chambers asked the Minister for Education and Skills if the shortage of qualified substitute teachers available in primary schools in the Dublin 15 area will be addressed; the efforts under way to address this problem; if his attention has been drawn to the negative impact these shortages are having on staff and pupil morale; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [1699/18]
146. Deputy Jack Chambers asked the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform the timeframe for the legislation to extend the mandatory retirement age in the public sector to 70 years of age; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [53517/17]
26. Deputy Jack Chambers asked the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform the way in which the existing public sector pay agreements are helping to address staff shortages in front-line public services; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [50835/17]
260. Deputy Jack Chambers asked the Minister for Housing, Planning and Local Government the planning applications received, refused and granted for solar farms for each local authority in each of the years 2015, 2016 and to date in 2017; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [53470/17]
259. Deputy Jack Chambers asked the Minister for Housing, Planning and Local Government the rules in place regulating the development of solar farms; his views on the lack of regulations for solar farms; if his attention has been drawn to the fact that local authorities have raised concerns that there are no national guidelines for the development of solar farms (details supplied); his views on these concerns; his further views on whether the lack of regulation is deterring investment in the sector; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [53469/17]
92. Deputy Jack Chambers asked the Minister for Finance the role and function of the Ireland Strategic Investment Fund (ISIF); the way in which the ISIF met its stated function of achieving positive economic impact in addition to its investment returns, in 2016 and to date in 2017; the positive economic activity that is a direct result of the ISIF and would not have occurred otherwise; the co-investment partners the ISIF secured in 2016 and to date in 2017; his plans to change ISIF's mandate to allow it to invest in deadweight or displacement investments; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [53495/17]
503. Deputy Jack Chambers asked the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection if a carer's benefit for a person (details supplied) may be applied for; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [52752/17]
451. Deputy Jack Chambers asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport his plans to switch the designated cycling lane and pedestrian lanes in the Phoenix Park following recommendations by the Coroner's Court (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [53104/17]
420. Deputy Jack Chambers asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport his plans to address the problem of overcrowding of rail carriages on the Dublin Connolly to Maynooth line; if this issue will be considered as part of the timetable revision by Irish Rail due in early 2018; if consideration will be given to an additional peak-time service starting from Clonsilla train station at which there is a third platform; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [52593/17]
228. Deputy Jack Chambers asked the Minister for Justice and Equality the timeframe for the implementation of therapeutic communities in the prison system; if his statement in this regard will be clarified further to his response to Parliamentary Question No. 253 of 5 December 2017 (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [53045/17]
171. Deputy Jack Chambers asked the Minister for Education and Skills if a school (details supplied) will be allocated the necessary special needs assistant, SNA, resources; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [52825/17]
158. Deputy Jack Chambers asked the Minister for Education and Skills the progress of the building of a sports hall at a school (details supplied) in Dublin 15; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [52690/17]
210. Deputy Jack Chambers asked the Minister for Communications, Climate Action and Environment if he will clarify the new guidelines for recycling household waste; if private waste collection firms are compelled to implement the new guidelines; the way in which the new guidelines will ensure uniformity in terms of household recycling; if there are penalties for households that breach the guidelines; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [52111/17]
428. Deputy Jack Chambers asked the Minister for Communications, Climate Action and Environment if he will clarify the proposed cuts to the RTÉ Concert Orchestra and RTÉ National Symphony Orchestra; his plans to ensure this important public service is protected and supported and does not suffer regressive cuts; the timeframe for the review announced by RTÉ into the two orchestras; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [51625/17]
381. Deputy Jack Chambers asked the Minister for Health the status of the provision of funding for the drug Translarna for persons who need it; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [51930/17]
253. Deputy Jack Chambers asked the Minister for Justice and Equality the status of efforts to introduce therapeutic communities and drug free service facilities to prisons here; if he will engage with the Irish Prisons Service (IPS) to ensure a therapeutic community (TC) is introduced in prisons following a commitment by the IPS to introduce a TC; the timeframe for same; if his attention has been drawn to the large volume of academic research in support of the positive outcomes for such initiatives, in particular the positive findings of a 2016 longitudinal study by bodies (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [51878/17]
111. Deputy Jack Chambers asked the Minister for Justice and Equality the number and position of gardaí and community gardaí stationed in the Dublin metropolitan region west in each of the years 2009 to 2016, in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [51493/17]
80. Deputy Jack Chambers asked the Minister for Justice and Equality the reason his Department has not published the review of the immigrant investor programme; if he will publish the review; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [51494/17]
201. Deputy Jack Chambers asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport the way in which cycling infrastructure will be improved from the new Luas stop at Broombridge to the city centre; the way in which the use of canal, coastal and river routes will be used to tackle congestion on roads in Dublin; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [51308/17]
200. Deputy Jack Chambers asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport his plans to improve infrastructure for cyclists using the route from Ashtown, Dublin 15 into the city centre in which widening work and appropriate separation of walking and cycling tracks is required; his further plans to install lighting along this route; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [51307/17]
14. Deputy Jack Chambers asked the Minister for Finance the status of the implementation of the recommendations made in the report by his Department's working group on reducing the cost of motor insurance; the number of recommendations that have not been implemented to date; the reason for same; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [50834/17]
548. Deputy Jack Chambers asked the Taoiseach and Minister for Defence the full-year savings achieved by the abolition of the service commitment incentive scheme for Air Corps personnel. [50903/17]
581. Deputy Jack Chambers asked the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs if her attention has been drawn to the fact that large numbers of child care providers are continuing to increase fees following the introduction of the universal child care subsidy resulting in a loss of benefit to parents; the steps she is taking to address this; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [50291/17]
556. Deputy Jack Chambers asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport if he will address issues regarding the disjointed nature of the bus lane along the N3, where at almost all junctions the bus must move out of the bus lane into traffic and then move back into the bus lane; if he will ensure buses can move more efficiently along the N3 without impediment; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [50332/17]
218. Deputy Jack Chambers asked the Minister for Education and Skills if his attention has been drawn to concerns raised on behalf of an association (details supplied); the way in which he plans to address these concerns; if his attention has been further drawn to the fact that only 12% of young persons are meeting the guideline of 60 minutes of physical activity per day; his plans to address concerns on the optional nature of physical education at senior cycle for those not taking physical education for their leaving certificate; the timeframe for the implementation of leaving certificate physical education; the CPD facility development plans and teaching time allocation for leaving certificate physical education; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [50673/17]