309. Deputy Matt Shanahan asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage , further to Parliamentary Question No. 97 of 28 September, the details of both the approved application and the pre-applications that are currently being considered; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [48152/21]
92. Deputy Matt Shanahan asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications the evaluations that have been carried out on licensed farm plastic film recycling sites in view of actions against a facility (details supplied); the location and licensing status of these sites; the storage capacity these sites are currently using or exceeding; the environmental protections and analysis that have been carried out in the past year with respect to these other sites; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [48408/21]
91. Deputy Matt Shanahan asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications his views on concerns regarding issues of restricted competition or his Department’s support for a possible monopoly situation in the management of farm plastic recycling given that it appears that his Department has only licensed one entity for this activity; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [48407/21]
90. Deputy Matt Shanahan asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications the initiatives his Department is taking in terms of improving the recycling rates of farm plastics (details supplied); the access to levy payments that has been offered to private contractors to provide alternative collection opportunities on and off-farm; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [48406/21]
89. Deputy Matt Shanahan asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications the additional commercial concerns that can compete in the farm plastics recycling market place and receive access to the levy contributions as would be required in terms of open competition (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [48405/21]
80. Deputy Matt Shanahan asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment if he will clarify the substance of the initiatives in relation to the Action Plan on Insurance Reform (details supplied); the number of doctors that have completed the clinical education referenced to date; if that education is now standardised training at CPD level and specified in the personal commission reports from which this recommendation was taken; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [47588/21]
342. Deputy Matt Shanahan asked the Minister for Health the NTPF activity in relation to UHW waiting lists over the past five years; the individual procedures outsourced; the name of the hospital systems to which such NTPF activity was awarded and carried out; the proportion of these allocations that were achieved in each individual hospital system by name; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [47259/21]
341. Deputy Matt Shanahan asked the Minister for Health the additional recruitment that has taken place at UHW in terms of roles (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [47257/21]
309. Deputy Matt Shanahan asked the Minister for Health the detailed annual operational and capital budget expenditures at University Hospital Waterford over the past five years; the whole-time equivalent hospital employment movements over this period or for the duration for which information can be accurately supplied; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [47258/21]
97. Deputy Matt Shanahan asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the number of foreshore licence applications that are currently in progress or pending relating to wind energy development in the south east; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [44218/21]
45. Deputy Matt Shanahan asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications the position in relation to the national broadband roll-out; the delays encountered; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [44217/21]
548. Deputy Matt Shanahan asked the Minister for Justice if she will address a series of matters in relation to fees provided to criminal barristers (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [43414/21]
101. Deputy Matt Shanahan asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment if he has considered introducing a points-based system for the entry into the country and naturalisation of skilled workers and their families similar to that in place in Australia and now being considered by the UK; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [36838/21]
2325. Deputy Matt Shanahan asked the Minister for Health if his Department will ensure that vaccination appointments are offered to persons living within a defined radius of the centres rather than based on allocated eircodes which appear to be directing patients to centres many hours away rather than the nearest centre; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [37332/21]
2243. Deputy Matt Shanahan asked the Minister for Health if his attention has been drawn to the present status of medical card holders with respect to dental treatment; if his attention has been further drawn to the fact that dentists are no longer accepting medical cards as a payment means for dental procedures; if his Department is responsible for any new orders with respect to the scheme; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [36645/21]
2135. Deputy Matt Shanahan asked the Minister for Health the status of medical card holders with respect to dental treatment; if his attention has been drawn to the fact that many dentists are no longer accepting medical cards as a payment means for dental procedures; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [36651/21]
1460. Deputy Matt Shanahan asked the Minister for Health the public health policy regarding many expectant mothers who continue to be separated from their partners during prenatal appointments and early stages of labour; the measures he has undertaken to ensure that HSE public hospital management observe comments and instruction from his Department and the HSE clinical director in relaxing these restrictions; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [33460/21]
1247. Deputy Matt Shanahan asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science the amount of funding available under Science Foundation Ireland research call SFI Research Infrastructure Programme 2021; the value of the call; the proposed number of preferred successful candidates; the closeout date; the award date; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [39409/21]
36. Deputy Matt Shanahan asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine her views on supporting agri-food development in rural and regional Ireland as a building block to sustainable community development (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [27886/21]
458. Deputy Matt Shanahan asked the Minister for Social Protection if she will provide clarity in relation to the way her Department recognises cohabiting couples (details supplied); her views on whether this is a serious inconsistency in the system; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [37550/21]
404. Deputy Matt Shanahan asked the Minister for Education the latest policy position regarding the provision of mixed-use toilet facilities given the Design Guide for Sanitary Facilities SDG 02-06 in relation to the use of mixed-sex toilets in new-build schools and retrofitting older schools (details supplied); the latest policy position her Department is pursuing regarding mixed toilets; her plans to safeguard facilities; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [37266/21]
328. Deputy Matt Shanahan asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the Departmental planning that is in place to provide grant support to first-time buyers to purchase second hand property; the reason second hand property is not being funded given the undersupply of available family homes and the large amount of vacant property available in towns and villages that is suitable for renovation to deliver a new home; if funding is being ringfenced to promote an initiative to bring this property back into habitable use; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [37356/21]
271. Deputy Matt Shanahan asked the Minister for Finance if he will provide clarity in relation to the way his Department recognises cohabiting couples (details supplied); his views on whether this is a serious inconsistency in the system; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [37549/21]
300. Deputy Matt Shanahan asked the Minister for Justice if the appointment of a person (details supplied) to an inquiry is effective from 1 July 2021; the timelines indicated that would be required to oversee the inquiry; if the person will be conducting a desktop analysis of the previous work; if not, if it will be in addition to previous work; if additional terms of reference are being considered; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [36836/21]
272. Deputy Matt Shanahan asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth if ongoing funding being provided will not be reduced in any way to those who have had to raise their prices in view of the increasing costs profile occurring in early years childcare which is forcing some private providers to increase their charges; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [37063/21]
141. Deputy Matt Shanahan asked the Minister for Justice if she has been provided with any communications or interim reports in relation alleged Garda activity irregularities in Dunmore East, County Waterford; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [36839/21]
138. Deputy Matt Shanahan asked the Minister for Justice the impact the proposed changes and regularisation of the direct provision scheme will have on persons (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [36837/21]
113. Deputy Matt Shanahan asked the Minister for Justice the communication her Department has had with the Garda Commissioner in respect of the unanswered 999 calls which were largely in relation to domestic violence reports; her views on whether this could potentially point to a significant attitude with respect to domestic abuse within An Garda Síochána; the assurances the Commissioner has offered with a view to remediation in the future; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [36840/21]
87. Deputy Matt Shanahan asked the Minister for Justice the data that was contained on a memory device (details supplied); if there was video imagery contained therein; the steps that have been taken to recover the lost information; if the original information is still safely protected within her Department's hard drives; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [36835/21]
523. Deputy Matt Shanahan asked the Minister for Health if he will provide details of the advertisement that has taken place to date in relation to the replacement of an interventional cardiology post previously occupied by a person (details supplied) with a substitute whole-time equivalent position which was approved by the Consultant Applications Advisory Committee many months ago; the status of this outstanding post; if an interview panel has been convened; if a shortlist of candidates is being generated; if candidates have been approached; if his attention has been drawn to the fact that this appointment is needed to extend the present service hours of the existing service; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [27249/21]
82. Deputy Matt Shanahan asked the Minister for Tourism, Culture, Arts, Gaeltacht, Sport and Media her plans to lobby for an extension to employment supports for the tourism and hospitality sector post the reopening of the economy; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [27882/21]
236. Deputy Matt Shanahan asked the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform the number of positions remaining unfilled by clerical officer, executive officer and higher executive officer level in the Civil Service in County Waterford; if his attention has been drawn to the impediment to the swift filling of these positions in County Waterford; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [32555/21]
170. Deputy Matt Shanahan asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment the number of job coaches currently employed with specific responsibility for enabling disabled persons access the labour market; the number of job coaches employed; the cost for the relevant Department or State agency to recruit a job coach; the amount allocated for his Department to spend on job coaches; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [32556/21]
36. Deputy Matt Shanahan asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment his plans for continuing subvention of the travel agent sector given the extraordinary challenges ongoing (details supplied); the supports that will be offered to a sector suffering a continuing 80% to 90% revenue reduction as a result of Covid-19 restrictions; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [32165/21]
495. Deputy Matt Shanahan asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science if a detailed schedule will be provided with regard to the €966 million provided in capital funding across the higher education sector in each of the years 2008 to 2019; the institution, location, description or purpose and quantum of funding provided in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [29500/21]
279. Deputy Matt Shanahan asked the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform the schedule of each project, the description and funding that has been implemented under final review or completed in the south-east NUTS3 region under the Ireland 2040 campaign; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [29499/21]
278. Deputy Matt Shanahan asked the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform the specific location, purpose, county, NUTS3 region and cost of completed land acquisitions undertaken or supported by the Office of Public Works by county and NUTS3 region in each of the past five years. [29498/21]
277. Deputy Matt Shanahan asked the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform the expenditure and personnel headcount of the Office of Public Works by county and NUTS3 region in each of the past five years in tabular form; his views on whether there is a balanced spread across regions; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [29497/21]
116. Deputy Matt Shanahan asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications his views on the present viability of the post office network; the steps that will be taken to support the viability of rural post offices which are a vital component in regional towns and villages; the further steps he will take to encourage the Department of Finance to provide public service obligation supports to the existing post office network; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [27883/21]
4. Deputy Matt Shanahan asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth to outline details of the funding programme to increase access to sensory rooms and special needs assistant supports being considered over the life of the 33rd Dáil for preschool children; and the amount of funding that has been allocated under capital plans to date. [28744/21]
48. Deputy Matt Shanahan asked the Minister for Rural and Community Development the number of community hubs and hot desks that have been supported and developed through funding by her Department over the past 12 months; the usage activity within such hubs; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [27884/21]
17. Deputy Matt Shanahan asked the Minister for Rural and Community Development the key initiatives she is taking or has taken in the past 12 months to support just transition in rural and community developments (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [27885/21]
182. Deputy Matt Shanahan asked the Minister for Transport the steps being implemented to restore both the driver test and driver theory test schedules with respect to a case (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [27151/21]
450. Deputy Matt Shanahan asked the Minister for Health if an indicative date will be provided for the approved opening of amusement parks nationwide; and the reason amusement parks remain closed while other outdoor attractions such as zoos, pet farms, heritage sites and play parks have been given permission to reopen. [25385/21]
212. Deputy Matt Shanahan asked the Minister for Health his views on whether it is correct to include damages settlements paid to individuals by the State as a result of legal proceedings taken by their families following life altering personal injury in the medical card financial assessment process; his further views on whether such monies are solely for the future well-being of the patient in recompense for the personal injuries they sustained at the hands of the HSE and should therefore be exempted from the means assessment process; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [24740/21]
211. Deputy Matt Shanahan asked the Minister for Health his plans to amend the entitlements for a medical card under EU rules (details supplied) currently held by Irish residents who have previously lived and worked in the United Kingdom; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [24739/21]
844. Deputy Matt Shanahan asked the Minister for Health if the HSE has examined the participation of pharmacists in the vaccination programme; if his attention has been drawn to the fact that up to 2,000 pharmacist vaccinators are available to participate in the programme; if drive-through vaccination, which has been done successfully in other countries, has been examined; if so, the status of plans for same; if not, the reason; if the opening of vaccination centres on a 24/7 basis is being examined; the percentage of on site personnel in centres employed by the HSE who are deferred from other HSE services; the other initiatives being examined to increase vaccination participation; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [24331/21]
566. Deputy Matt Shanahan asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth the progress that has been made by his Department on the implementation of the Workplace Relations Commission agreement of September 2020 between a union (details supplied) and city and county childcare committees; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [23751/21]
655. Deputy Matt Shanahan asked the Minister for Health the scheduled completion date for the handover of the new mortuary building at University Hospital Waterford; the programme of commissioning and certifying equipment on site; the expected commission approved dates; the expected commencement of full schedule daily activity on site; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [23235/21]
530. Deputy Matt Shanahan asked the Minister for Health the proposed commencement date for construction to commence on the new cath laboratory at Waterford; the scheduled completion date based on the start date provided; the proposed commissioning date and handover date envisaged once building works are completed; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [22700/21]