Results 12,541-12,560 of 21,514 for speaker:Caoimhghín Ó Caoláin

Written Answers — Department of Health: Health Service Expenditure (6 Nov 2012)

Caoimhghín Ó Caoláin: To ask the Minister for Health the level of funding provided by the State to Prosper Fingal and Knockrosse House for each of the years 2009 to 2012 inclusive; the cuts to funding in the past 12 months; his views on whether the current level of funding is appropriate to deliver these services; if he will reinstate funding cuts to-date; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [47879/12]

Written Answers — Department of Health: Hospital Waiting Lists (6 Nov 2012)

Caoimhghín Ó Caoláin: To ask the Minister for Health further to Parliamentary Question No. 737 of 17 July 2012, when a person (details supplied) will receive an ear nose and throat appointment at Waterford Regional Hospital; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [47895/12]

Written Answers — Department of Health: Medical Card Eligibility (6 Nov 2012)

Caoimhghín Ó Caoláin: To ask the Minister for Health the position regarding the income threshold criteria for medical card eligibility for those under the age of 25 years; if there has been any change in this position in the past 12 months; if he will provide a breakdown of the numbers of persons with medical cards and an age breakdown of same; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [47896/12]

Written Answers — Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport: Road Safety (6 Nov 2012)

Caoimhghín Ó Caoláin: To ask the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport if he will outline the regulatory measures for the sale and distribution of motor vehicle tyres; the level to which these measures are implemented and overseen; if he has, in conjunction with the Department of Finance, estimated the level of non-compliant operators and the loss of revenue to the Exchequer caused by these black economy...

Written Answers — Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport: Bus Services (6 Nov 2012)

Caoimhghín Ó Caoláin: To ask the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport if a person with a previous conviction for a driving offence is disqualified from driving for Bus Éireann; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [48094/12]

Written Answers — Department of Health: Health Services (7 Nov 2012)

Caoimhghín Ó Caoláin: To ask the Minister for Health further to Parliamentary Question No. 708 of 16 October 2012, when a reply will issue from the Health Service Executive [48902/12]

National Children's Hospital: Motion (8 Nov 2012)

Caoimhghín Ó Caoláin: The way this matter has been approached by the Government is very unsatisfactory. We have been presented with a unilateral Government motion when the Minister should have sought consensus now that the location of the children's hospital has been decided. I welcome the fact a site has, one hopes, been chosen finally, but no approach was made to me, as the Sinn Féin spokesperson on...

National Children's Hospital: Motion (8 Nov 2012)

Caoimhghín Ó Caoláin: Regarding tri-location, the Minister’s announcement on Tuesday was most unclear on the development of a new maternity hospital and the relationship between the St. James’s Hospital site and the Coombe hospital site. It was difficult at first even to confirm from the Minister’s presentation, which I watched on my monitor via the Internet link with the Government press...

National Children's Hospital: Motion (8 Nov 2012)

Caoimhghín Ó Caoláin: Will the Minister assure the House that the new hospital will increase overall bed capacity and reduce waiting times for children? In other words, will the sum of the beds in the new hospital exceed the total number of beds at the three existing sites? Waiting time, not location, is the primary concern for parents. They need to see significant improvements in waiting times. What of the...

National Children's Hospital: Motion (8 Nov 2012)

Caoimhghín Ó Caoláin: I thank the Ceann Comhairle.

National Children's Hospital: Motion (8 Nov 2012)

Caoimhghín Ó Caoláin: The Minister was not here when other Opposition spokespersons had their opportunity to make statements. It is regrettable and counter-productive that the Minister thought it necessary to table a self-congratulatory motion in the first instance. We had signalled that it should be statements and there has been no engagement with Opposition spokespersons regarding the motion launched into the...

Topical Issue Debate: Hospital Services (8 Nov 2012)

Caoimhghín Ó Caoláin: It has been widely reported in recent days that the report by Professor Higgins into the number and composition of the new hospital groups and their relationship to the university sector will result in an effective downgrading of Waterford Regional Hospital and the relocation of vital services to already under pressure hospitals in Cork and Dublin. This news has been met with outrage and...

Topical Issue Debate: Hospital Services (8 Nov 2012)

Caoimhghín Ó Caoláin: I am disappointed that in the Minister's reply he did nothing to allay the real and current fears and this is regrettable. I do not know what has given rise to the reports, but the concern is none the less sincere across the board. I note from the information available to me that four of the five hospitals in the region are in support of maintaining the current configuration. From all that...

Topical Issue Debate: Hospital Services (8 Nov 2012)

Caoimhghín Ó Caoláin: And Senator Cullinane, who is also observing from behind the Minister.

Ceisteanna - Questions - Priority Questions: Home Help Service (8 Nov 2012)

Caoimhghín Ó Caoláin: To ask the Minister for Health the steps he is taking to inform himself of the impact that the recent cuts in home help hours are having; his views on whether these cuts should be withdrawn and that services be restored to the level of support that existed prior to the latest cuts; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [49094/12]

Ceisteanna - Questions - Priority Questions: Home Help Service (8 Nov 2012)

Caoimhghín Ó Caoláin: The position taken by the Minister, Deputy James Reilly, on this issue is absolutely untenable. He seems to have no concept of the distress and misery that has been visited on older people as a consequence of the changes he introduced. The impact of cuts in the provision of home help hours and home care packages are being felt today and every day for at least the past two weeks. People...

Ceisteanna - Questions - Priority Questions: Home Help Service (8 Nov 2012)

Caoimhghín Ó Caoláin: How can this Government stand over the cutting of the solitary hour per week which some older people receive? Will the Minister of State clarify the figures she indicated in her reply? As I understand it, according to the figures I have been given, 50,139 people are in receipt of home help hours, which represents a reduction of 3,701 in the past 18 months. The Minister of State also gave...

Ceisteanna - Questions - Priority Questions: Home Help Service (8 Nov 2012)

Caoimhghín Ó Caoláin: The Minister of State referred to a reduction of 900 in the number of individuals in receipt of home help hours. In fact, there was a reduction of 847 at the end of July as against the position last December. However, with respect to the Minister of State, over the period of her tenure in office, there has been a reduction of 3,701 in the numbers receiving this service. As I said, this is...

Ceisteanna - Questions - Priority Questions: Consultancy Contracts (8 Nov 2012)

Caoimhghín Ó Caoláin: It is unacceptable that a Department can spend in excess of €250,000 and not give a full account of it to the Houses of the Oireachtas. This was for a report presented to the Minister. I wonder how many pages were in it. If there were 300 pages, it is something else to get €1,000 per page. It is great work if one can get it. I am of the mind that there is adequate competency...

Ceisteanna - Questions - Priority Questions: Consultancy Contracts (8 Nov 2012)

Caoimhghín Ó Caoláin: I find the Minister's response incredible. In the same breath he discussed reform and stated that, when the money was gone, everything would stop. That is not good enough. It is not a case of closing down. People have needs. None of us can forecast or plan absolutely for whatever life's cards will deal. The money follows the patient notion is a fallacy. Patients are chasing...