Results 6,061-6,080 of 9,160 for speaker:Thomas Pringle

Roads Funding: Motion [Private Members] (1 Feb 2017)

Thomas Pringle: I support the motion, although I agree with other Deputies that its wording is very conciliatory and should be much stronger in calling for investment in our local and regional roads because that is vitally important. It is true that over the past eight years since the recession started, funding for local and regional roads has been slashed across the board. This very short-sighted policy...

Priority Questions: Home Care Packages Provision (1 Feb 2017)

Thomas Pringle: I thank the Minister of State for her response. I wonder about her figures on the length of stay of those in nursing homes. ALONE's figures are that 35.4% of those in long-stay beds have low to medium care requirements, which is a huge proportion of those in nursing homes. This is a huge cost to the State. They could be cared for at home and, in many cases, would wish to be cared for at...

Priority Questions: Home Care Packages Provision (1 Feb 2017)

Thomas Pringle: The reason the nursing home support scheme is oversubscribed is probably the lack of availability of home care packages. It is a little haphazard. Currently families struggle to get increased levels of support that would enable them to keep their elderly at home. Many would take that decision. I do not think that County Donegal, with 4% of its elderly people being cared for at home, is...

Priority Questions: Home Care Packages Provision (1 Feb 2017)

Thomas Pringle: 31. To ask the Minister for Health his plans to introduce a home care scheme along the lines of the nursing home support scheme; when the consultation will start; when he expects to have a scheme in place; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [4859/17]

Priority Questions: Home Care Packages Provision (1 Feb 2017)

Thomas Pringle: This question relates to the recent announcement that the Minister intends to start a public consultation on the development of a home care scheme along the lines of the nursing home support scheme. I would like to hear further views on it.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on the Future Funding of Domestic Water Services: Public Water Forum (1 Feb 2017)

Thomas Pringle: I thank Dr. Collins for the presentation. On his comment about the water charges of €232 million, the actual cost of domestic water is significantly higher. It was set at a deliberately low price to try to entice people to pay for it, so it is not really reflective of the actual cost. If water charges had been accepted, they would have increased significantly over the coming years....

Joint Oireachtas Committee on the Future Funding of Domestic Water Services: Public Water Forum (1 Feb 2017)

Thomas Pringle: The regulation establishing the forum in May 2015 provided for registered customers only. It was subsequently amended in September 2015-----

Joint Oireachtas Committee on the Future Funding of Domestic Water Services: Public Water Forum (1 Feb 2017)

Thomas Pringle: -----to remove the registered customers requirement. How did that come about?

Joint Oireachtas Committee on the Future Funding of Domestic Water Services: Public Water Forum (1 Feb 2017)

Thomas Pringle: Are the forum's meetings held in public?

Joint Oireachtas Committee on the Future Funding of Domestic Water Services: Public Water Forum (1 Feb 2017)

Thomas Pringle: That is good. There are 20 members. Has there been a turnover in the consumer or water user membership?

Joint Oireachtas Committee on the Future Funding of Domestic Water Services: Public Water Forum (1 Feb 2017)

Thomas Pringle: There are 20 members and I see from the minutes that seven resigned in the past year.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on the Future Funding of Domestic Water Services: Public Water Forum (1 Feb 2017)

Thomas Pringle: Seven domestic users and one sectoral person resigned.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on the Future Funding of Domestic Water Services: Public Water Forum (1 Feb 2017)

Thomas Pringle: Is that because the work of the forum has been too onerous for ordinary users, or is there something the forum can do to sustain that membership?

Joint Oireachtas Committee on the Future Funding of Domestic Water Services: Public Water Forum (1 Feb 2017)

Thomas Pringle: That makes two of us.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on the Future Funding of Domestic Water Services: Public Water Forum (1 Feb 2017)

Thomas Pringle: I have two further questions. Dr. Collins said that at this stage the forum has not carried out much engagement with the wider public. Is there a plan to roll that out further to develop awareness? I note that all the meetings are held in Dublin. If there is a plan to reach out into the regions it might help to build awareness of the work of the forum.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on the Future Funding of Domestic Water Services: Public Water Forum (1 Feb 2017)

Thomas Pringle: I thank the witness.

Written Answers — Department of Health: Hospital Services (1 Feb 2017)

Thomas Pringle: 61. To ask the Minister for Health if his department has evaluated the cost of making diagnostics available in acute hospitals on a seven-day, 8 a.m. to 10 p.m. basis; if his Department has considered the impact this could make on waiting times and delays in accident and emergency departments; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [4509/17]

Written Answers — Department of Health: Mobility Allowance Review (1 Feb 2017)

Thomas Pringle: 117. To ask the Minister for Health the status of the review being carried out to replace the motorised transport grant; when policy proposals will be presented to Government; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [4257/17]

Written Answers — Department of Health: Hospital Beds Data (1 Feb 2017)

Thomas Pringle: 107. To ask the Minister for Health the total number of acute hospital beds in each of the acute hospitals in the years 2000, 2005, 2010 and 2016; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [4508/17]

Bus Éireann: Motion [Private Members] (31 Jan 2017)

Thomas Pringle: I welcome the opportunity to contribute to this important and timely debate on the motion. In terms of the operations carried out by Bus Éireann and the public service obligation, the latter cannot be removed from the Expressway service in such a clean manner because it provides a huge public service to many citizens. This must be taken into account when considering the cost of the...