660. Deputy Matt Shanahan asked the Minister for Health the reason for the delay in publishing the Nolan Report considering its genesis began in 2016 (details supplied); the core years analysis which the report bases its findings on; what account of additional population increase and additional cardiac procedures activity at UHW as a result of the second cath lab opening is being considered within the context of the report; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [10111/24]
659. Deputy Matt Shanahan asked the Minister for Health to detail any retirements or personnel reassigned from the cardiac service in UHW in the past 18 months; if such posts have been replaced; if the hospital has permission during the health recruitment freeze to backfill any vacant positions occurring as a result of retirement or reassignment; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [10110/24]
658. Deputy Matt Shanahan asked the Minister for Health to detail in tabular form the staff compliment assigned to cardiology services in University Hospital Waterford listing the last six quarters by individual specialty and number of staff; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [10108/24]
614. Deputy Matt Shanahan asked the Minister for Health to confirm how a person who is correctly registered with PHECC, and holds the correct qualifications required to become employed as a paramedic within the Irish National Ambulance Service could have been rejected following four separate applications (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [9944/24]
3. Deputy Matt Shanahan asked the Minister for Justice to provide an update on the latest departmental activities in terms of the management of international protection; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [8329/24]
52. Deputy Matt Shanahan asked the Minister for Transport if he will reiterate for the public record that it is his and his Department's understanding that no interruption to any helicopter rescue service in the country will occur because of the ongoing transitioning arrangements between the existing and the new service provider; if he will advise which officials in his Department have been tasked with managing this responsibility; what activities have such appointed been undertaking to date to ensure continuing compliance across all SAR operations; what monitoring operations are they currently undertaking to guard against any potential service interruption; what is their previous experience and proven skill set in this regard; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [8308/24]
51. Deputy Matt Shanahan asked the Minister for Transport if he will outline what specific expertise his Department had in-house to fully explore all aspects of a search and rescue contract award, where such expertise was deemed lacking; if he will provide the names of the consultants and all consultant companies that contributed to the required understandings to allow the Department finalise a tender award; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [8307/24]
50. Deputy Matt Shanahan asked the Minister for Transport in light of growing public concern regarding the in-depth review analysis which was undertaken by the Department in formulating its opinion to award a new search and rescue tender, if he will outline what companies provided expert advice to the Department on all the aspects of the possible appointment of a new provider; what research was undertaken within his Department prior to new contracts discussion to scope out all possible problem areas; what executive functions within his Department were involved in formulating both the tender specification and its award; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [8306/24]
49. Deputy Matt Shanahan asked the Minister for Transport given that a company (details supplied) has signalled its intention not to continue the employment of nominated post holders presently working in the search and rescue programme and assuming that such highly skilled operational people may likely seek immediate employment elsewhere, the Department's plan to ensure new qualified nominated post holder personnel are provided to the existing SAR helicopter bases so that no interruption to flight operations can occur given the absence of such post holders, understanding that operating without such would invalidate the operational air certificate requiring immediate suspension of flight operations; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [8305/24]
48. Deputy Matt Shanahan asked the Minister for Transport regarding the present regulatory framework that guides search and rescue flight operations, where companies are required to have fully employed nominated post holders embedded in operations activity at all times and any failure to provide nominated post holders in place would mean the service is in breach of its Operational Air Certification and should cease operating immediately, what actions Department officials intend to take regarding a company (details supplied) that has communicated its intent not to secure the existing employment of the present nominated post holders into the new contract programme; what the Department's position is in relation to this obvious breach of TUPE obligations; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [8304/24]
47. Deputy Matt Shanahan asked the Minister for Transport further to previous parliamentary responses from the Department to me, where a company (details supplied) had signalled its willingness to abide by TUPE legislation which it was presumed would secure all present existing positions under the present search and rescue programme, but the company has not indicated that it is to be ‘bound’ and willing to adhere fully to the principles of TUPE legislation if he will outline how this issue was assessed during the tender process; how the Department intends to ensure that TUPE legislation is fully adhered to in terms of the existing job security and transfer into the new search and rescue programme; what sanctions the Department can initiate against the company where TUPE employment requirements and protections are breached; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [8303/24]
46. Deputy Matt Shanahan asked the Minister for Transport further to the tender application for the national SAR service from a company (details supplied), whereby a transfer of undertakings, operations protocol or transition plan document of up to 8,000 steps was submitted to the Department, if the Department will make public this transition plan, or at least share it with regional TDs, who would like to understand the processes and implementations required in their individual regions so as to ensure a seamless and uninterrupted helicopter rescue programme as the contract moves from the incumbent to the new operator; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [8302/24]
650. Deputy Matt Shanahan asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science the Environmental Protection Agency has announced it has awarded research grants of €14.3 million for 33 new research projects; if he will outline in tabular form the funding awards to individual third level and/or scientific gateway; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [8042/24]
618. Deputy Matt Shanahan asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science the Government's position on approving the PPP engineering building at SETU campus Waterford and agreeing contracts to immediate construction understanding that this project was separated from a batch one proposal in 2020 which are now completed, understanding that this project was first planning approved in 2011 with present planning permission to expire in coming months; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [5917/24]
484. Deputy Matt Shanahan asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine , further to Parliamentary Question No. 472 of 23 January, if the total sitka area planted for the period 2010 to 2023 of 39,791.78 ha includes open space or a bio area which would reduce the actual planted sitka area by a further 15%; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [6108/24]
291. Deputy Matt Shanahan asked the Minister for Education if she is considering giving incremental credit to teachers who have worked abroad for a number of years and have now returned to work in Ireland (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [6258/24]
241. Deputy Matt Shanahan asked the Minister for Finance the reason HVO is unable to be competitive against kerosene in terms of fuel substitution; the reason HVO is not classified as a biofuel in the Finance Act; the reason it cannot trade BOC certs as it can do with the transport fuels obligation scheme; the reason it is not supported in any subsidy as in, for example, being funded by carbon tax; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [6580/24]
232. Deputy Matt Shanahan asked the Minister for Finance if he is familiar with the practice of fraudulently registering vehicles within the state in order to reclaim monies under the VRT repayment scheme (details supplied); the number of vehicles fraudulently registered within the State in this way; what advances have been made in detecting these fraudulent registrations; how many prosecutions have taken place in this time period per year since 1997, in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [6259/24]
217. Deputy Matt Shanahan asked the Minister for Transport further to Parliamentary Question No. 121 of 17 October 2023, if Transport Infrastructure Ireland has responded to the initial information request; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [6579/24]
347. Deputy Matt Shanahan asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science further to Parliamentary Question No. 200 of 31 January 2024, and the technological sector advancement fund referenced therein which is purported to provide €50 million to continue to assist new technological universities in their post-establishment phase; the amount of disbursed monies from this fund; the precise total funds amount approved to each TU to date, in tabular form; will the Minister comment as to where exceptionalism is being demonstrated by him and his Department in terms of this funding disbursement to recognise the unique deficit the southeast region suffers given that it has no National University institution to support third level delivery unlike the other regions of the country; his plans to further enforce exceptional funding to the southeast region because of this known deficit and regional imbalance; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [5942/24]
346. Deputy Matt Shanahan asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science further to Parliamentary Question No. 200 of 31 January 2024, to outline the research and research processes that underpin this reply, particularly the general sentiment that recruitment, rather than applications in the TU sector is positive since their individual inception and the specific explanatory rationale for the recent decline proffered. [5941/24]
152. Deputy Matt Shanahan asked the Minister for Transport if he will provide his Department’s approved budget figures for the purposes of road maintenance and new road developments infrastructure outlined by individual region totals over the past four years of Government; if he will clarify how regional equity is demonstrated; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [5918/24]
77. Deputy Matt Shanahan asked the Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment the recent round of collective bargaining has agreed a significant increase in wages across the public service sector which will guide private sector remuneration also; the reason the relative difference in average pay disparity between public sector remuneration versus SME sector remuneration in Ireland is now among the widest in the European union; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [5748/24]
75. Deputy Matt Shanahan asked the Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment if his Department is aware of the significant pressures facing business in the restaurant and hospitality sector; the steps his Department is taking to address the challenges now being experienced in these sectors; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [5747/24]
57. Deputy Matt Shanahan asked the Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment position regarding the continuing decline in Irish overall exports over the past two years; what evaluation his Department is doing to understand any and what may be the main drivers of this export drop; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [5745/24]
24. Deputy Matt Shanahan asked the Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment the Minister has highlighted developing policy to approve new modular construction design technologies that could be deployed in Ireland; if he will outline progress in this area; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [5749/24]
483. Deputy Matt Shanahan asked the Minister for Health the number of hospital admissions that occurred through the University Hospital Waterford accident and emergency or the acute medical assessment units due to diabetic ketoacidosis in people aged between 0-17 years and those aged 18 years or older in each of the years 2017 to 2022, in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [4985/24]
482. Deputy Matt Shanahan asked the Minister for Health when the Sláintecare project on the development of a national diabetes register will recommence; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [4983/24]
481. Deputy Matt Shanahan asked the Minister for Health the number of people who have started the new insulin pump, in all hospitals within the RCSI Hospital Group, aged between 0-17 years and those aged 18 years or older, for 2019, 2020, 2021, 2022 and 2023, in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [4982/24]
478. Deputy Matt Shanahan asked the Minister for Health the number of persons with diabetes who are awaiting an appointment to see an endocrinologist over the last five years, in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [4975/24]
477. Deputy Matt Shanahan asked the Minister for Health the number of adults attending UHW with type 1 diabetes who have requested insulin pump therapy, and when those patients can expect to avail of this diabetes technology; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [4974/24]
476. Deputy Matt Shanahan asked the Minister for Health if University Hospital Waterford, as a model 4 hospital, has contingency plans in place for the staffing of the diabetes unit to ensure adequate cover in the event of staff illness or leave; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [4973/24]
475. Deputy Matt Shanahan asked the Minister for Health the steps his Department is taking to ensure that the HSE has the necessary funding to recruit and support the minimum number of staff, at University Hospital Waterford, required to manage the diabetes unit; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [4971/24]
474. Deputy Matt Shanahan asked the Minister for Health the steps his Department is taking regarding the recruitment of a dedicated diabetes physiologist for people with Type 1 diabetes in University Hospital Waterford; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [4969/24]
473. Deputy Matt Shanahan asked the Minister for Health the number of dedicated whole-time equivalents of consultant endocrinologists, dietitians, advanced nurse practitioners, clinical nurse specialists, staff nurses, podiatrists and administrative support posts currently dedicated to the outpatient adult diabetes clinic in University Hospital Waterford; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [4963/24]
472. Deputy Matt Shanahan asked the Minister for Health the steps his Department is taking regarding the provision of a dedicated diabetes care unit at University Hospital Waterford; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [4962/24]
244. Deputy Matt Shanahan asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage to detail the statistical measures and controls used across Government Departments to ensure balanced regional development, and that the four largest cities outside Dublin grow at the twice the rate of the capital. [4968/24]
243. Deputy Matt Shanahan asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage if he could provide details relating to the Cork Event Centre; the estimated costs of constructing the Cork Event Centre during the project timeline; an annualised breakdown of actual direct costs or grant aid supplied in respect of this project; a timeline of the project’s advancement through the public spending code, or similar key milestones; the current estimated final cost to the exchequer and the current estimated opening date; detail of any negotiations and lobbying by Cork City Council, other interested parties and his Department with respect to the delivery of this project; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [4965/24]
242. Deputy Matt Shanahan asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the number of planners recruited by the Land Development Agency from An Bord Pleanála; if he acknowledges that recruiting staff from the already overstretched An Bord Pleanála only undermines further the Government's planning strategy and exacerbates current waiting times; if there are any plans to outsource recruitment to avoid reducing the staffing levels at An Bord Pleanála; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [4928/24]
195. Deputy Matt Shanahan asked the Minister for Education if she will formally respond to the specific issues raised in relation to the situation of a teacher (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [5262/24]
98. Deputy Matt Shanahan asked the Minister for Finance if he has any plans to further expand the inheritance thresholds in the next budget, particularly where it relates to the estates of single individuals; if he would acknowledge that single people with no children are at a particular disadvantage while estate planning given that their estate will likely be gifted to those in the ‘stranger in blood’ bracket, and therefore a large portion of their estate will be eroded by Inheritance tax; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [4966/24]
85. Deputy Matt Shanahan asked the Minister for Transport the status of the business case for the Waterford Airport runway extension (details supplied) within his Department; if the Department has had sight of same; if so, the reason he has not been included in reviewing it to date, understanding the extremely tight construction timelines pertaining to the project; the expected timeframe he envisages his Department will require to arrive at a recommendation of the project; if he will the give a guaranteed timeline so that the proposal can begin construction this year; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [5489/24]
56. Deputy Matt Shanahan asked the Minister for Transport if he could please outline the key policy achievements realised and new initiatives taken by his Department in Waterford during 2023; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [4967/24]
55. Deputy Matt Shanahan asked the Minister for Transport if he could provide an annual breakdown of the total cost incurred to date of the Metrolink North project; to detail the measures put in place to ensure costs are moderated and controlled; if he can offer a forward-looking statement on envisaged expenditure in the coming years; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [4964/24]
212. Deputy Matt Shanahan asked the Minister for Finance the expected date for the publication of the Central Bank NCID (National Claims Information Database) Employers' Liability, Public Liability and Commercial Property Insurance Report 2022 in view of the delay in publication; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [4772/24]
204. Deputy Matt Shanahan asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science to detail the progress of new lecturing and research contracts for faculty working in the technological university sector in light of the OECD Report entitled 'A Review of Technological University Academic Career Paths, Contracts and Organisation in Ireland'; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [4512/24]
202. Deputy Matt Shanahan asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science to detail the annual payments in respect of the loans provided to IT Tralee and Waterford IT since the loan was provided; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [4362/24]
201. Deputy Matt Shanahan asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science to explain the nature of the slow and painstaking work in studying and developing of a borrowing framework by his Department for the technological sector. [4361/24]
200. Deputy Matt Shanahan asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science to provide a statement on the general decline in student numbers across the technological university sector since the sector was established. [4360/24]
199. Deputy Matt Shanahan asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science to provide a statement on the original projected costs and now envisaged final total cost in respect of the Cork School of Music and Cork Maritime College. [4359/24]