Written answers

Wednesday, 13 November 2013

  • Department of Health
    • Prescription Charges
      10. To ask the Minister for Health if he will reverse his proposals to increase prescription charges to €2.50 with a cap of €25. [48008/13]
    • Health Services Expenditure
      13. To ask the Minister for Health if a workable system for the management of the health services budget is in place, as recommended in the Odgen report. [42414/13]
    • Mental Health Services Funding
      14. To ask the Minister for Health the reasons for the underspend in the mental health services budget this year, which was specifically identified as ring-fenced funding; and the way commitments...
    • Hospitals Building Programme
      15. To ask the Minister for Health if he will provide an update on the construction of the new children’s hospital; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [48051/13]
    • Organ Donation
      16. To ask the Minister for Health if he will ensure that the €3 million needed to develop donor coordinators in hospitals here will be included in the 2014 health budget; and if he will...
    • Primary Care Centres Expenditure
      17. To ask the Minister for Health his views on the sentiments of 45 general practitioners (details supplied) who publicly stated that cuts in primary care spending is leading directly to a...
    • Medical Card Eligibility
      18. To ask the Minister for Health if he will reverse the decision to exclude the first €50 per week of travel to work costs, the cost of home improvement loans and child care costs from...
    • General Practitioner Services
      20. To ask the Minister for Health the way he intends to fulfill his pledge to have free general practitioner care for all by 2016; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [48055/13]
    • Symphysiotomy Report
      21. To ask the Minister for Health the progress he has made since 26 September in ensuring justice and truth for the survivors of symphysiotomy; and if he will make a statement on the matter....
    • HIQA Investigations
      22. To ask the Minister for Health if he will order a Health Information and Quality Authority investigation into the circumstances of the care of a person (details supplied) in line with the...
    • Dental Services Provision
      23. To ask the Minister for Health if he has considered reversing some of the cuts to the dental treatment benefit scheme and the dental treatment services scheme since 2010 in view of reports...
    • Maternal Mortality
      24. To ask the Minister for Health the reason the Health Service Executive and its national director of quality and patient safety continue to quote the undercounted figures on maternal mortality...
    • Health Services Reform
      25. To ask the Minister for Health the timescale for the appointment of chairpersons and board members to the new hospital groupings; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [48060/13]
    • Obesity Strategy
      26. To ask the Minister for Health in view of the cost of obesity to the State, if he has a strategy for dealing with the issue. [48056/13]
    • Mental Health Services Funding
      27. To ask the Minister for Health the reason the programme for Government commitment to an annual ring-fenced allocation of €35 million for community health services is not being honoured...
    • Medicinal Products Prices
      28. To ask the Minister for Health the reason, despite the recent introduction of generic substitution and reference pricing, the Health Service Executive is still paying up to four times as much...
    • Hospital Accommodation Provision
      30. To ask the Minister for Health if he will address the problem of the empty and unused ward in the new West Kerry Community Hospital in Dingle, where a number of beds could be opened and thus...
    • Hospital Waiting Lists
      31. To ask the Minister for Health his response to the claim by four hospital chief executives that there are unacceptable delays in treatment access for certain cancer patients; and if he will...
    • Health Services Issues
      32. To ask the Minister for Health the extent to which it has been found possible to identify areas within the health services wherein savings can be made to ensure that the health service in...
    • Medical Card Eligibility
      33. To ask the Minister for Health the extent to which he is satisfied regarding the availability of medical cards of a discretionary nature with particular reference to children and-or adults...
    • Medical Card Reviews
      34. To ask the Minister for Health the way the Budget 2014 figure of €113 million, under the heading of probity savings for medical cards, was reached; the way he expects this cut to be...
    • Health Services Expenditure
      35. To ask the Minister for Health in view of the recent statements by four large Dublin hospitals regarding the adequacy of budgets and the safety of service and statements by senior health...
    • Hospital Services
      36. To ask the Minister for Health the actions he has taken to ensure that services at Letterkenny General Hospital will be restored following last summer's flash flooding; and if he will make a...
    • Ambulance Service Provision
      37. To ask the Minister for Health if he will carry out an immediate review of the adequacy of ambulance cover in the north east region and across the State in view of the recent incident when a...
    • Ambulance Service Response Times
      38. To ask the Minister for Health his plans to improve ambulance coverage and response times throughout County Roscommon and east Galway; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [47946/13]
    • Medical Card Data
      39. To ask the Minister for Health if he will request the civil registration service section of the Health Service Executive to notify the medical card section of the HSE of all deaths registered...
    • Health Insurance Prices
      40. To ask the Minister for Health the measures he will put in place to support the health insurance market; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [48048/13]
  • Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade
    • Military Aircraft Landings
      41. To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade if the Canadian C130 Hercules aircraft which was present in Shannon on 6 November at gate 42 was carrying passengers or...
  • Department of Finance
    • Disabled Drivers Grant Appeals
      42. To ask the Minister for Finance if an assessment as part of an appeal for a primary certificate to the Disabled Drivers Medical Board of Appeal can be carried out in Limerick instead of...
    • Strategic Investment Bank Establishment
      43. To ask the Minister for Finance if it will be possible for the Government to purchase the retail element of ACC bank to help establish a strategic investment bank as per the programme for...
    • Tax Reliefs Eligibility
      44. To ask the Minister for Finance if he will provide detail based on 2012 data of the exact number of policyholders who are now estimated to be affected as a result of his proposed amendments...
    • Pensions Levy Issues
      45. To ask the Minister for Finance further to Parliamentary Questions Nos. 164 and 165 of 5 November 2013, the total unique number of chargeable persons that have been subjected to the levy in...
    • Exports Data
      46. To ask the Minister for Finance further to Parliamentary Question No 167 of 5 November 2013, the total number of persons employed in the pharmaceutical and chemical sector here for each year...
    • Job Creation Data
      47. To ask the Minister for Finance if he is able to track the number of jobs that can be attributed to measures introduced as a result of the Jobs initiative and put a single estimated figure on...
    • Tax Reliefs Application
      48. To ask the Minister for Finance if he will consider including amendments (details supplied) on Committee Stage of the Finance Bill 2013 or by way of new amending legislation; and if he will...
    • Property Taxation Administration
      49. To ask the Minister for Finance if his attention has been drawn to the concerns being raised by persons who are trying to get through to the Revenue Commissioner's property tax helpline but...
    • Property Taxation Assessments
      50. To ask the Minister for Finance if he will provide a county breakdown of the 2014 property tax charges falling due on local authority housing. [48489/13]
    • Banking Sector Issues
      51. To ask the Minister for Finance if he will confirm that the bank levy announced in budget 2014 is being used to fund the resolution fund pursuant to section 15 of the Central Bank and Credit...
    • Property Taxation Administration
      53. To ask the Minister for Finance his views on correspondence (details supplied) regarding the local property tax; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [48566/13]
    • Tax Credits
      54. To ask the Minister for Finance if consideration will be given to retaining a shared but reduced one parent family tax credit to mitigate against hardship which may arise for responsible...
    • Tax Reliefs Application
      55. To ask the Minister for Finance if, notwithstanding the provisions of sections 472D and 766 of the Taxes Consolidation Act of 1997 and sections 13 and 21 of the Finance No. 2 Bill 2013,...
  • Department of Education and Skills
    • Courses Accreditation
      58. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills the position regarding ongoing negotiations between Quality and Qualifications Ireland and a college (details supplied) in Dublin 14 regarding the...
    • Departmental Expenditure
      59. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills if the recently announced €28 million for minor works grant scheme is additional capital expenditure for 2013; if so, what the level of...
    • Teacher Redeployment
      61. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills his plans to make changes to the qualifying criteria for the 2014 supplementary teaching panel; when his Department will be accepting...
    • School Management
      62. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills the number of schools not in compliance with Departmental circulars regarding school opening hours; and if he will make a statement on the matter....
    • Special Educational Needs Staffing
      63. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills his plans to address the anomaly where special needs assistants are paid for contracted hours during official school time but whose working day...
    • Student Grant Scheme Applications
      64. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills if he will expedite a student grant application in respect of a person (details supplied) in County Kerry; and if he will make a statement on the...
    • Summer Works Scheme Applications
      65. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills the primary and secondary schools located in Dublin 2, 4, 6, 6W and 8 that have applied for funding under the summer works scheme for each year...
    • School Funding
      67. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills the reason in the north Cork towns of Mallow and Fermoy funding is biased towards one particular school in each town to the detriment of the other...
    • Disadvantaged Status
      68. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills the criteria that must be met to acquire DEIS status; the ongoing review system for same; and if there are procedures to remove schools from the...
    • Teachers' Remuneration
      70. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills the reason a person (details supplied) in County Kerry who has applied for a pension is not being recognised as a secondary teacher in view of the...
    • Teacher Training Provision
      71. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills in view of the fact the higher diploma in education is to be replaced by a two year masters degree in education from 2014 if his attention has...
    • Student Grant Scheme Eligibility
      72. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills if consideration will be given to extending mature student status to persons who may have begun third level education before the age of 23, when...
    • State Examinations Issues
      74. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills the position regarding an appeal in respect of a person (details supplied) in County Wicklow who has been refused a reader for next year's State...
  • Department of Public Expenditure and Reform
    • Office of Public Works Staff
      75. To ask the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform if there are any plans for recruitment in the Office of Public Works in the next 12 months; and if he will make a statement on the...
    • Commercial Rates Calculations
      76. To ask the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform the procedures in place for determining the rateable valuation of new buildings, the timeframe the valuation process takes; if it is...
    • Capital Programme Expenditure
      77. To ask the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform if he will provide a breakdown of the annual infrastructure and capital expenditure by the State on a regional basis and a county basis...
    • Flood Prevention Measures
      78. To ask the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform if the Office of Public Works will consider funding for flood alleviation measures in an area (details supplied) in County Kildare; and...
  • Department of Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation
    • Job Initiatives
      79. To ask the Minister for Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation further to Parliamentary Question No. 391 of 5 November, the reason it is not possible to track the exact number of positions which...
  • Department of Social Protection
    • Social Welfare Fraud Investigations
      80. To ask the Minister for Social Protection the position regarding the new social welfare checks announced recently (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [48407/13]
    • Social Welfare Appeals Issues
      81. To ask the Minister for Social Protection the position regarding issues raised in correspondence to her Department in respect of a person (details supplied) in County Carlow. [48419/13]
    • Jobseeker's Allowance Eligibility
      82. To ask the Minister for Social Protection if her attention has been drawn to any cases of persons retiring at 65 qualifying for jobseeker's benefit for nine months but then failing a means...
    • Social Welfare Eligibility
      84. To ask the Minister for Social Protection if her attention has been drawn to the limbo situation many unemployed persons find themselves in after being self-employed and unable to receive...
    • Illness Benefit Applications
      85. To ask the Minister for Social Protection if she is satisfied that a person in full time work for the past twenty years should receive a reduced rate of illness benefit this year as her...
    • Back to Education Allowance Eligibility
      86. To ask the Minister for Social Protection if she will review the refusal of back to education allowance in the case of a person (details supplied) in County Kildare who was refused on the...
    • Exchequer Savings
      88. To ask the Minister for Social Protection the expected savings to the Exchequer from projected growth and the consequent reduction in the live register numbers in 2014. [48458/13]
    • JobBridge Scheme Evaluation
      89. To ask the Minister for Social Protection her plans to review and enhance the JobBridge scheme. [48459/13]
    • Social Welfare Code
      91. To ask the Minister for Social Protection if it is possible for someone in receipt of the automatic extra €10 for being over 80 to give up that extra payment and the procedure in doing...
    • Carer's Allowance Eligibility
      92. To ask the Minister for Social Protection when a decision will issue on a claim for carer's allowance in respect of a person (details supplied) in County Mayo; and if she will make a...
    • Community Work Initiatives
      93. To ask the Minister for Social Protection if she will consider reviewing the selection process for participants on the Tús community work placement initiative, to include a facility...
    • Illness Benefit Payments
      94. To ask the Minister for Social Protection the number of claimants of incapacity benefit whose main reason is alcoholism; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [48516/13]
    • Social Welfare Appeals Issues
      95. To ask the Minister for Social Protection the reason the file pertaining to a person (details supplied) in Dublin 22 has not been forwarded to the appeals office by her Department; when it...
    • State Pension (Contributory) Eligibility
      96. To ask the Minister for Social Protection the entitlement to contributory pension a person has if that person has ten continuous years of paid reckonable contributions from age 55 to 65, if...
    • Social Welfare Benefits
      97. To ask the Minister for Social Protection if she will confirm if it is compulsory that social welfare recipients must now receive payments via bank transfer; the reason for same; if there are...
  • Department of Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht
    • National Monuments
      98. To ask the Minister for Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht if he will investigate the acquisition, for the State, of Tullira Castle, Adrahan, County Galway; and if he will make a statement on...
    • Commemorative Events
      99. To ask the Minister for Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht if he will report on the engagement between his Department and Údarás na Gaeltachta on the upgrade of Pearse's Cottage,...
  • Department of Communications, Energy and Natural Resources
    • Better Energy Homes Scheme Expenditure
      100. To ask the Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources if he will provide a county breakdown of the amount of money spent and units upgraded under the better energy homes...
    • Telecommunications Services Provision
      102. To ask the Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources the action that will be taken to improve Internet access in an area (details supplied) in County Kerry; and if he will...
    • Better Energy Homes Scheme Expenditure
      103. To ask the Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources the number of applicants in County Meath that have received funding under the better energy warmer homes scheme and the...
  • Department of Environment, Community and Local Government
    • Water and Sewerage Schemes Status
      104. To ask the Minister for Environment, Community and Local Government if he is satisfied with the rate of progress regarding the upgrade of the Clonakilty sewerage scheme following his...
    • Seniors Alert Scheme Issues
      105. To ask the Minister for Environment, Community and Local Government the total number of persons who received benefits under the senior alert scheme between 2010 to date in 2013; the total...
    • Local Authority Charges Non-Payment
      106. To ask the Minister for Environment, Community and Local Government the number of persons who are accumulating penalties as a result of not paying the non-principal private residence charge;...
    • Local Authorities Management
      107. To ask the Minister for Environment, Community and Local Government if his attention has been drawn to the fact that no meeting of Sligo Borough Council has taken place sine 1 July 2013; if...
    • Departmental Expenditure
      108. To ask the Minister for Environment, Community and Local Government further to Parliamentary Question No. 117 of 6 November 2013, if he will provide details of funding that the ILDN received...
    • Local Development Network
      109. To ask the Minister for Environment, Community and Local Government the stages in the consultation process he engaged in with the Irish Local Development Network, who will deliver LCDP/RDP...
    • Local Development Companies Administration
      110. To ask the Minister for Environment, Community and Local Government if he will clarify arrangements for the north inner city of Dublin as the proposed system for local development is based...
    • Housing Adaptation Grants Funding
      111. To ask the Minister for Environment, Community and Local Government if he will provide a county breakdown of the amount of money spent and units upgraded under the mobility aids grant scheme...
    • Local Authority Housing Maintenance
      113. To ask the Minister for Environment, Community and Local Government if he will provide a county breakdown of the amount of money spent and units upgraded under the improvement works in lieu...
    • Local Government Fund
      114. To ask the Minister for Environment, Community and Local Government if he will provide a county breakdown of the local government fund allocations in 2010, 2011, 2012 and to date in 2013;...
    • Property Taxation Collection
      115. To ask the Minister for Environment, Community and Local Government the timeframe for the retention of 80% of locally raised property tax revenue in each local authority area; and if he will...
    • Radon Gas Levels
      116. To ask the Minister for Environment, Community and Local Government his plans to introduce an obligation for homeowners to test their properties for the presence of radon; and if he will...
    • Leader Programmes Funding
      117. To ask the Minister for Environment, Community and Local Government if he will consider a request from the South West Mayo Development Company for €1.4 million in extra funding to...
    • Local Authority Housing Maintenance
      120. To ask the Minister for Environment, Community and Local Government if he will provide an update on the allocation of money for the upgrading and renovation of local authority houses, the...
    • Local Government Reform
      121. To ask the Minister for Environment, Community and Local Government his plans for lands (details supplied) in County Meath; when the Local Government Bill 2013 will be enacted; and if he...
    • Water Meters Installation
      122. To ask the Minister for Environment, Community and Local Government if he will support a matter (details supplied) regarding water meters. [48556/13]
  • Department of Justice and Equality
    • Data Protection
      123. To ask the Minister for Justice and Equality in view of the recent electronic security breach of a company (details supplied) which exposed the financial details of 43,000 customers, his...
    • Garda Vetting Applications
      124. To ask the Minister for Justice and Equality the reasons for the delay in providing Garda clearance in respect of a person (details supplied) in County Kilkenny. [48421/13]
    • Human Trafficking
      125. To ask the Minister for Justice and Equality the actions taken to deal with the exploitation of women and sex trafficking. [48443/13]
    • Garda Investigations
      126. To ask the Minister for Justice and Equality if he will provide an update on suspicious cars driving around an area (details supplied) in Dublin 9 last week. [48480/13]
    • Garda Vetting Applications
      127. To ask the Minister for Justice and Equality when Garda vetting will be finalised in respect of a person (details supplied) in County Laois; and if he will make a statement on the matter....
    • Road Traffic Legislation
      128. To ask the Minister for Justice and Equality further to Parliamentary Question No. 1087 of 18 September 2013, if there has been any further progress in terms of resolving the technical and...
    • Garda Síochána Ombudsman Commission Investigations
      129. To ask the Minister for Justice and Equality if it is always the policy of An Garda Síochána Ombudsman Commission to ensure that investigators appointed to examine complaints...
    • Personal Insolvency Act
      130. To ask the Minister for Justice and Equality the qualifying criteria for persons whom the Personal Insolvency Act was designed to help; if he will consider a nine month review of the...
    • Garda Vetting Applications
      132. To ask the Minister for Justice and Equality the position regarding an application for Garda vetting in respect of a person (details supplied) in County Kerry; if the application will be...
    • Garda Síochána Ombudsman Commission Investigations
      133. To ask the Minister for Justice and Equality further to Parliamentary Question Nos. 540 to 545, inclusive, of 21 May 2013, if he will be recommending that the Garda Síochána...
    • Garda Investigations
      134. To ask the Minister for Justice and Equality the position regarding the case of a person (details supplied). [48567/13]
  • Department of Defence
    • Departmental Funding
      135. To ask the Minister for Defence if there is any funding opportunity within his Department for voluntary emergency response organisations such as search and rescue organisations that respond...
  • Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine
    • Grant Payments
      136. To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the position regarding payments in respect of a person (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [48394/13]
    • Agriculture Schemes Payments
      137. To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine when the results of an inspection in relation to disadvantaged area payment and single farm payment will issue in respect of a person...
    • Single Payment Scheme Payments
      138. To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the position regarding repayments to his Department in respect of a person (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the...
    • Agriculture Schemes Payments
      139. To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine when payment will issue in respect of a person (details supplied) in County Clare; and if he will make a statement on the matter....
    • Fish Quotas
      140. To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if he will ensure that Ireland's fishermen will not lose out to Iceland and the Faroes in terms of the proposed increase in mackerel...
    • Disadvantaged Areas Scheme Applications
      141. To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine when a disadvantaged area aid application will be cleared for payment in respect of a person (details supplied) in County Donegal;...
    • Animal Diseases Issues
      142. To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if his attention has been drawn to the death of a dog from the Longford pound due to go to a new home in the UK who was vaccinated...
    • Single Payment Scheme Payments
      143. To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the reason a person (details supplied) in County Kerry has not yet received their area aid or single farm payment; and if he will...
    • Animal Breeding Regulations
      146. To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the position regarding the request from the Irish Draught Horse Society to seek the licence for the studbook of the Irish Draught...
    • Disadvantaged Areas Scheme Payments
      147. To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the position regarding area aid payments for 2012 and 2013 in respect of a person (details supplied) in County Kerry; if he will...
    • Trade Agreements
      148. To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the standards which will be applied to Canadian beef and pork imports to Ireland as a result of the Comprehensive Economic and Trade...
    • Milk Quota Trading Scheme
      150. To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the volume of milk quota being offered, and being sought, by Irish farmers in circumstances where the State has exceeded its quota...
    • Horse Racing Industry Development
      151. To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if he will provide in tabular form, on an annual basis for the past five years, the value of exports of thoroughbred horses and the...
    • Fish Quotas
      152. To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if the Sentinel herring quota for small vessels in the Dunmore box will be lost if the quota is not fulfilled in the period specified...
  • Department of Children and Youth Affairs
    • School Absenteeism
      157. To ask the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs in view of the fact that 30% of students in disadvantaged schools that have missed 20 days or more of school in 2010-11, to explain her...
    • Youth Justice Strategy
      158. To ask the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs when she intends to publish a successor strategy to the national youth justice strategy 2008-10; the reason no successor strategy has been...
    • Child Care Proceedings
      159. To ask the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs in view of the published findings of the Interim Report of the Child Care Law Reporting Project, if she will be introducing detailed...
  • Department of Health
    • Mental Health Services Provision
      161. To ask the Minister for Health in regard to the 477 multidisciplinary staff for community mental health services promised for 2013, the number that are currently in post; if all of the 477...
    • European Health Insurance Card Issues
      162. To ask the Minister for Health further to Parliamentary Question No.1142 of 5 November 2013, the amount that is currently owed to Ireland by other EU states under the EHIC scheme; and if he...
    • Medical Card Eligibility
      163. To ask the Minister for Health the reason a person (details supplied) in Dublin 12 is not eligible to receive a medical card [48396/13]
    • Medical Card Reviews
      164. To ask the Minister for Health if he will expedite a medical card review application in respect of a person (details supplied) in County Kerry; and if he will make a statement on the matter....
    • State Properties
      165. To ask the Minister for Health the maintenance costs associated with the upkeep of the former Grove Hospital property at Tuam, County Galway since it was purchased; and if he will make a...
    • Medical Card Reviews
      166. To ask the Minister for Health when persons (details supplied) in County Carlow will receive an answer to the review of their medical card; and if he will expedite an answer. [48400/13]
    • Medical Card Applications
      167. To ask the Minister for Health when persons (details supplied) in County Carlow will receive an answer to their medical card application; and if he will expedite an answer. [48401/13]
    • Medical Card Reviews
      168. To ask the Minister for Health when a person (details supplied) in County Carlow will receive an answer on their medical card review; and if he will expedite an answer. [48402/13]
    • Accident and Emergency Services Provision
      169. To ask the Minister for Health the changes the special delivery unit has brought to the accident and emergency department in Beaumont Hospital to date; the future plans of the SDU for the...
    • Hospital Waiting Lists
      170. To ask the Minister for Health if he will arrange for an urgent surgical procedure to be carried out in respect of a person (details supplied) in County Kildare; and if he will make a...
    • Medical Card Applications
      171. To ask the Minister for Health if a medical card will issue in the case of a person (details supplied) in County Kildare; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [48442/13]
    • Hospital Charges
      172. To ask the Minister for Health if he will reduce the accident and emergency charge for self-presenters to urgent care centres in view of the need to encourage the public to attend an urgent...
    • Medical Card Reviews
      173. To ask the Minister for Health the reason the Health Service Executive cancelled a medical card when it is valid until December 2013 and due for renewal on 31 December 2013; if the HSE will...
    • Medical Card Applications
      174. To ask the Minister for Health when an assessment will be completed on a medical card application in respect of persons (details supplied) in County Galway; and if he will make a statement...
    • Nursing Home Subventions
      177. To ask the Minister for Health if there are any plans to develop a national forum for discussions to take place between the National Treatment Purchase Fund and the national representative...
    • Nursing Homes Support Scheme Applications
      178. To ask the Minister for Health the number of patients on the waiting list to be admitted to nursing homes who are seeking to avail of the fair deal scheme; and the number of patients who are...
    • Orthodontic Services Waiting Lists
      179. To ask the Minister for Health if he wil provide information regarding the categories of persons based on clinical assessment with the orthodontist on the orthodontic treatment waiting list;...
    • Health Services Provision
      181. To ask the Minister for Health his plans to ensure reductions to the Health Service Executive service plan budget will not affect or delay patients receiving chemotherapy for bowel and...
    • EU Directives
      182. To ask the Minister for Health when the EU new cross border directive will be implemented; the amount of funding provided to initiate same; the expected health care benefits to the Irish...
    • Departmental Expenditure
      183. To ask the Minister for Health if he is satisfied that the budget for his Department for 2014 is adequate to meet requirements; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [48541/13]
    • Medical Card Eligibility
      185. To ask the Minister for Health if particular steps have been taken to ensure that those with specific or severe health needs or conditions are allowed to maintain their medical cards...
    • Health Insurance Data
      186. To ask the Minister for Health if any particular study has been done into the increases in private health insurance over the past number of years in view of the fact that increased...
    • Health Insurance Regulation
      187. To ask the Minister for Health if, in the context of private health insurance, efforts have been made to encourage all insurers to take on a cross-section of the age cohort thereby...
    • Hospital Waiting Lists
      188. To ask the Minister for Health the number of instances reported whereby patients seeking treatment for cancer have been put on waiting lists; and if he will make a statement on the matter....
    • Hospital Staff Issues
      191. To ask the Minister for Health the extent to which adequate numbers of non-consultant hospital doctors are available and adequate to meet requirements throughout the health service; and if...
    • Hospital Bed Data
      192. To ask the Minister for Health the total number of public hospital beds currently available; the extent to which this has fluctuated on an annual basis over the past ten years; and if he...
    • Health Services Staff Issues
      193. To ask the Minister for Health the extent to which permanent nursing staff remains to be available throughout the public health service; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [48551/13]
    • Hospital Staff Issues
      194. To ask the Minister for Health the degree to which comparisons are being made with other jurisdictions in regard to public hospital staffing levels, all grades, with those in this country;...
    • Nursing Home Inspections
      195. To ask the Minister for Health the extent to which expenditure has been carried out at public nursing homes throughout the country at the request of the Health Information and Quality...
    • Nursing Home Accommodation
      196. To ask the Minister for Health the extent to which expenditure has been undertaken at St Bridget’s Nursing Home, Crooksling in each of the past five years to date; the extent of such...
    • Health Services Staff Issues
      197. To ask the Minister for Health if he will provide an update on the new Health Service Excutive voluntary redundancy scheme 2014 offer. [48555/13]
  • Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport
    • Motor Tax Collection
      198. To ask the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport if the motor tax renewal discrepancy of one month, in respect of a person (details supplied) in Dublin 4 will be corrected. [48497/13]
    • Roads Maintenance
      199. To ask the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport if funding will be allocated to the National Roads Authority in 2014 in respect of necessary upgrading of the east-west route from...
    • Sports Capital Programme Eligibility
      200. To ask the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport the most frequent reasons that applications under the sports capital grant 2012 scheme were deemed ineligible; the steps he is taking to...
    • Driving Licence Issues
      201. To ask the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport the costs involved in opening each of the new 34 driving licence centres; if any American or overseas companies were outsourced to handle...