567. Deputy Martin Browne asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the data that informed his Department’s site clearance funding under the reconstitution and underplanting scheme; the methodology his Department used in assessing that financing as being sufficient and appropriate to cover the different needs of different forests and woodlands; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [36835/24]
566. Deputy Martin Browne asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine his views on the adequacy of the current reconstitution and underplanting scheme in light of the identification of the pseudips mexicanus, known as the Monterey pine engraver, alongside the larch beetle in Ireland; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [36834/24]
2024. Deputy Martin Browne asked the Minister for Rural and Community Development the reason that community recognition fund grants have yet to be awarded for 2024. [34160/24]
1834. Deputy Martin Browne asked the Minister for Health if the locum doctor who is taking over from a doctor (details supplied) will provide services for the same hours as were previously provided by the previous doctor; to outline the hours that the new locum will be available; if a recruitment process is underway; if so, the progress made with same; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [35271/24]
1759. Deputy Martin Browne asked the Minister for Health when a decision will be made regarding the continuation of an agreement whereby dentists who graduate from the UK can apply for registration here through automatic recognition, given that the current arrangement ends with the inclusion of graduates who have completed their qualification before 31 December 2024; if he is aware that the uncertainty for 2025 graduates can have implications for practices that are looking for qualified practitioners to take them over; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [34725/24]
1746. Deputy Martin Browne asked the Minister for Health to outline the restrictions that can prevent graduates of dentistry at Queen’s University Belfast from working in Ireland; the measures that are being taken to address any such instances; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [34599/24]
1738. Deputy Martin Browne asked the Minister for Health to outline, following the deferral of inpatient, day surgery, outpatient appointments and other scheduled services at University Hospital Limerick, Ennis, Nenagh, St. John's and Croom Orthopaedic Hospital, the measures to be taken to address the backlog created; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [34519/24]
1737. Deputy Martin Browne asked the Minister for Health the provisions he foresees being taken to address the backlog in care at University Hospital Limerick, Ennis, Nenagh, St. John's and Croom Orthopaedic Hospital due to the deferral of inpatient, day surgery, outpatient appointments and other scheduled services; how the deferral of these services will not contribute to disimproved patient outcomes; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [34518/24]
1481. Deputy Martin Browne asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth the efforts made to avert a vacancy in the position of children’s disability network manager at Clonmel children’s disability network team prior to the departure of the holder of that position; the progress made in the recruitment of a replacement; to outline the system and staff in place to respond to parent queries at a specific email address (details supplied); if there is a target maximum timescale by which to respond to queries; if a backlog in issues referred to that position is expected; if so, the measures designed to address such a backlog; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [35236/24]
1101. Deputy Martin Browne asked the Minister for Justice the progress made in the establishment of local community safety partnerships (LCSPs); when it is expected that LCSPs will be established; to outline the focus that each LCSP will be able to place on a local electoral area basis, apart from the wider local authority area; to provide an update on the progress of establishing local community safety partnerships, with particular reference to County Tipperary; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [34520/24]
1794. Deputy Martin Browne asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth , further to Parliamentary Question No. 316 of 11 July, to specify the resources, processes and services referenced, namely, the "additional resources and new processes and structures to integrate expertise and efforts are in place"; to specifically outline, as requested, the engagement with health services, local GPs and other service providers in the area; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [31890/24]
1271. Deputy Martin Browne asked the Minister for Social Protection when a decision is likely on a carer’s allowance application (details supplied) made on 20 May 2024; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [31615/24]
1097. Deputy Martin Browne asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the status of the extension of the local authority home loan to include derelict properties; and when this scheme will be open for applications. [32233/24]
480. Deputy Martin Browne asked the Minister for Public Expenditure, National Development Plan Delivery and Reform if he will extend the remit of the Ombudsman to include Uisce Éireann; if he will extend the remit of the Ombudsman to all companies in public ownership; if consideration is also being given to extending access to the complaints mechanism to prisoners; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [31750/24]
80. Deputy Martin Browne asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications the current status of a Bill for national cyber security; to outline its expected progression; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [31920/24]
372. Deputy Martin Browne asked the Minister for Health if a commitment to provide MAU services in Nenagh on a 24/7 basis no longer stands; if so, the reasons for this; the measures he is taking to increase the opening hours of the medical assessment unit in Nenagh; the manner in which staffing would be procured; if he will address the shortcomings in the mid-west that the lack of such a service on a 24/7 basis will result in; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [30651/24]
371. Deputy Martin Browne asked the Minister for Health if he will address the discrepancy between the current CNM2 and CNS pay scales, which to-date have seen the CNS pay scale being omitted from the additional scale point, and the introduction of the long service increment; the progress being made in addressing this matter, as per the recommendation of the expert review body on nursing and midwifery; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [30650/24]
336. Deputy Martin Browne asked the Minister for Health if he will address the discrepancy between the current CNM2 and CNS pay scales, which to-date have seen the CNS pay scale being omitted from the additional scale point, and the introduction of the long service increment; the progress being made in addressing this matter as per the recommendation of the expert review body on nursing and midwifery; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [30644/24]
317. Deputy Martin Browne asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth the number of WTE positions filled in each of the twelve CDNTs across CHO5 as a result of the recruitment drive ending January 2024, by each individual team, in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [30670/24]
316. Deputy Martin Browne asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth to provide a detailed account of the efforts made to assess the ability of the Dundrum, County Tipperary area to provide the services needed to cater for additional demand with respect to the accommodation to be provided at a location (details supplied); the level of community engagement that has taken place locally in anticipation of his Department’s plans, with specific reference to engagement with health services, local GPs and other service providers; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [30647/24]
315. Deputy Martin Browne asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth if he has evaluated his Department’s performance in implementing and adhering to the actions contained within the migrant integration strategy; if he is satisfied that the whole of Government approach referenced in the strategy is adequate; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [30646/24]
314. Deputy Martin Browne asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth if an audit has been carried out regarding the accessibility to persons with disabilities of buildings to which members of the public generally have access and which are occupied, managed or controlled by a public body; if so, the details of such a survey; if not, if a new survey of such buildings is anticipated; the actions that are under way to ensure access for persons with disabilities to such buildings meets the requirements as set down in the code of practice authored by the National Disability Authority in respect of the requirement to do so under the Disability Act 2005; and the details of similar actions that may be taken in relation access to services provided by a public body. [30645/24]
308. Deputy Martin Browne asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth the way he plans to address the low number of successful applicants who took up roles within CDNTs following the recruitment drive which ended in January of 2024, and the fact that 75 per cent of applicants were already employed in the public health and social care services; the measures taken to ensure that the filling of positions by such workers does not cause shortages elsewhere in the system; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [30649/24]
150. Deputy Martin Browne asked the Minister for Transport if he will commit to providing funding to progress the Limerick Junction to Cahir roads project; the reasons for the uncertainty that currently exists; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [30648/24]
738. Deputy Martin Browne asked the Minister for Health to provide an update on the progress made in assessing the suitability of the Palmershill site in Cashel, County Tipperary for the proposed community nursing unit; the cost of preparations for the overall project, including all site assessments and architectural services, to date; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [29399/24]
654. Deputy Martin Browne asked the Minister for Health if the HSE was approached by an organisation (details supplied) in relation to the possibility of partnering with it to provide services, including a pilot service, in the south Tipperary area; if those discussions have continued; if funding for SECH mental health services will be considered for Budget 2025 to develop such arrangements; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [29099/24]
434. Deputy Martin Browne asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth the availability of the 2023 national report on children’s disability network teams staff census and workforce review; to provide a copy of such if available; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [28901/24]
433. Deputy Martin Browne asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth the number of vacancies advertised through the drive to recruit health and social care professionals into children’s disability network teams which ended in January 2024; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [28900/24]
432. Deputy Martin Browne asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth the funding spent on the drive to recruit health and social care professionals into children’s disability network teams which ended in January 2024; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [28899/24]
231. Deputy Martin Browne asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth the actions being taken to address the lack of appropriate co-existing accommodation for CDNTs across CHO5, broken down per team; the actions being taken to consider the business cases submitted for suitable accommodation as outlined at recent family forum in Clonmel; his views on the importance of having sufficient and appropriate work space for all CDNT staff to achieve a fully functioning community disability network team; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [27724/24]
230. Deputy Martin Browne asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth of the 495 applications received in the latest recruitment drive ending January 2024, the number of people to have taken up those positions as of 1 June; the number of those positions that have been filled which are administration-related positions; if the number of those job applications which came from staff already working within health and social care services can to be provided, including positions filled by them; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [27723/24]
229. Deputy Martin Browne asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth the number of WTE positions filled in each of the twelve CDNTs across CHO5, broken down by each individual team, in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [27722/24]
309. Deputy Martin Browne asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the basis upon which the climate action performance payment has been capped at €5,000; his views on how this cap does not reflect the additional cost incurred in removing older trees as opposed to younger ones; if he intends to review this; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [26810/24]
308. Deputy Martin Browne asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the basis upon which site clearance grants under the RUS scheme was determined as reflecting a cost of €2,000 per hectare; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [26809/24]
681. Deputy Martin Browne asked the Minister for Health if there are plans to increase the availability of the GP in Cappawhite, County Tipperary, from three days a week to five days a week, in light of demand and the difficulty some people experience in accessing the GP in Doon, County Limerick, on the days the Cappawhite service is closed; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [24642/24]
616. Deputy Martin Browne asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth the reason a number of section 39 workers have not received the pay increases that have been agreed to; if he is aware of how this is impacting on the ability of certain organisations (details supplied) to recruit staff into the future; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [24904/24]
494. Deputy Martin Browne asked the Minister for Health his plans to address the 70 nursing vacancies at Tipperary University Hospital, as revealed by an organisation (details supplied); his views on how this affects the framework of safe nurse staffing in medical and surgical wards at the hospital; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [24065/24]
493. Deputy Martin Browne asked the Minister for Health the number of nursing posts approved at Tipperary University Hospital, by discipline; the number of nursing posts filled; the number of vacant nursing posts, by discipline; the number of posts that have been left vacant since the introduction of the recruitment ban; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [24064/24]
454. Deputy Martin Browne asked the Minister for Health to provide an update on the status of plans for a community nursing unit in Cashel; to provide an update on the status of investigations into a site (details supplied); if progress has been made; when a decision is expected to be arrived at; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [23767/24]
406. Deputy Martin Browne asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth to provide an update on additional funding sources to enable the office of the Ombudsman for Children to contribute to the working of the new strategy combatting domestic and gender-based violence; the reason for the delay in providing the funding; if consideration is being given to reach an arrangement with the Ombudsman for Children; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [23918/24]
54. Deputy Martin Browne asked the Minister for Education the actions she plans to take following comments by the Ombudsman for Children at the Oireachtas Joint Committee on Public Petitions that in assessing school places for children with special educational needs, local knowledge appears not to fit into a national plan to allow every area to get the funding they require from within her Department; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [23893/24]
503. Deputy Martin Browne asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth the stage at which the assessment of a facility (details supplied) as a potential site for IPAS applicants is currently at; the engagement his Department has had with Tipperary County Council, the HSE, local representatives and service providers to ascertain adequacy of services in the area to cope with additional demand; if a process of public engagement is expected; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [22503/24]
424. Deputy Martin Browne asked the Minister for Justice to provide an update on additional funding sources to enable the office of the Ombudsman for Children to contribute to the working of the new strategy combatting domestic and gender-based violence; the reason for the delay in providing the funding despite assurances that it would be given; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [22460/24]
286. Deputy Martin Browne asked the Minister for Education if she will consider sanctioning the additional AP1 and AP2 positions for a school (details supplied) from September 2024 rather than September 2025; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [22458/24]
238. Deputy Martin Browne asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth the criteria that would enable parents of children in need of autism assessments to secure funding to avail of a private practitioner; the funding streams available to parents of children in need of a range of therapies that cannot be assessed through CDNT teams due to staffing shortages or lengthy waiting lists, to alternatively avail of the services of a private practitioner; if additional access to the private sector in these situations is being considered; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [22215/24]
100. Deputy Martin Browne asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications the details of the funding assistance available to develop business projects on bogs by the owners of these sites in light of their discontinued use; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [22206/24]
92. Deputy Martin Browne asked the Minister for Transport the reasons for not providing an allocation to progress the N24 Waterford to Cahir transportation scheme, for which Tipperary County Council requires €2.53 million for 2024 to continue progress, and a further €5.4 million to complete the design and bring the project through An Bord Pleanála; his views on the fact seven homes are in planning limbo as long as the project remains suspended; his views on how the non-provision of funding will affect the poor road safety record of the N24 in its current state; his further views on how the non-provision of funding reflects on the €5.07 million spent to date on the current scheme; if he will reconsider the decision to withhold funding; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [22070/24]
81. Deputy Martin Browne asked the Minister for Transport the reasons for the delay in providing the funding needed to allow for the continuation of work on designing the upgrade to the Cahir to Limerick Junction section of the N24 road project; if he is aware that the funding received for the project to date is diminishing and the remaining funding is needed immediately to quell concerns that, otherwise, this section of the project may stall; when the funding will be made available; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [22069/24]
470. Deputy Martin Browne asked the Minister for Justice the status and progress being made in respect of a citizenship application (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [21783/24]
597. Deputy Martin Browne asked the Minister for Health to provide a detailed account of the work to be undertaken by the support team recently announced to address the current pressures on health services in the mid-west region; to provide any terms of reference under which they operate; to outline how their role relates to UHL, Ennis Hospital, St John’s Hospital and Nenagh Hospital individually; if the team is examining the role and the current circumstances relating to community health care provision and the nature of the work; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [20683/24]