Written Answers Nos. 258-280
258. Deputy Pádraig Mac Lochlainn asked the Minister for Health the healthcare professionals making the final decision on who will be provided with a continuous glucose monitor; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [14522/25]
View answerUnder the Health (Pricing and Supply of Medical Goods) Act 2013, the HSE has statutory responsibility for decisions on the pricing and reimbursement of medicines and medical devices; therefore, the matter has been referred to the HSE for attention and direct reply to the Deputy.
259. Deputy Pádraig Mac Lochlainn asked the Minister for Health the number of continuous glucose monitor applications submitted for people with type 1 diabetes, by county, by regional health area, by hospital, from 1 December 2023 to 31 December 2024; the number of these applications successful; the number of these applications unsuccessful; the number that were appealed; the number successful following appeal; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [14523/25]
View answerUnder the Health (Pricing and Supply of Medical Goods) Act 2013, the HSE has statutory responsibility for decisions on the pricing and reimbursement of medicines and medical devices; therefore, the matter has been referred to the HSE for attention and direct reply to the Deputy.
260. Deputy Brian Stanley asked the Minister for Health if she will provide an update on recruitment in healthcare facilities and services in Laois; the timing of the last recruitment campaign for speech and language therapy for CNDT and community primary care teams; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [14552/25]
View answerAs this relates to a Local recruitment issue, I have asked the HSE to reply to the deputy directly.
261. Deputy Brian Stanley asked the Minister for Health whether there is an existing panel from campaigns in speech and language therapy for CDNT and community primary care; and the number of panels formed in Laois and the number of people on each panel. [14553/25]
View answerAs this relates to a local service matter I have asked the HSE to reply to the Deputy Directly.
262. Deputy Brian Stanley asked the Minister for Health the number of health and social care positions lost in County Laois during the recruitment freeze. [14554/25]
View answerAs this relates to a local service matter, I have asked the HSE to reply to the deputy directly.
263. Deputy Brian Stanley asked the Minister for Health the number of health and social care positions unfilled in County Laois; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [14555/25]
View answerAs this relates to a local service matter, I have asked the HSE to reply to the deputy directly.
264. Deputy Colm Burke asked the Minister for Health the position in respect of the supply and delivery of enhanced inactivated influenza vaccines for older people for the winter season 2025-2026 as the HSE have now withdrawn from the tendering process for enhanced vaccine for this period; whether the HSE will reopen discussions; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [14557/25]
View answerAs this is an operational matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond to the deputy directly, as soon as possible.
265. Deputy Brendan Smith asked the Minister for Health if additional funding is being provided to her Department this year due to additional expenditure arising following storm Éowyn; if additional funding is provided, the programmes and schemes that will benefit from this additional expenditure; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [14584/25]
View answerNo additional funding has been allocated to my Department following Storm Éowyn.
266. Deputy Aidan Farrelly asked the Minister for Health the number of reports to the HSE of elder abuse, by category of abuse, in 2023, 2024 and to date in 2025; the number of cases investigated and resolved over that time; and the number of cases that the health ombudsman has reviewed and is reviewing in respect of safeguarding of older persons. [14600/25]
View answerAs this is a service matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond to the Deputy directly, as soon as possible.
267. Deputy Aidan Farrelly asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science if he will provide an update in respect of a project (details supplied); if a contractor has been appointed; the estimated timeframe for the works from start to completion; and the arrangements that will be put in place for staff and students during the works. [14260/25]
View answerI can confirm to the Deputy that my Department has recently received a tender report for the works at the facility in question. Department officials are currently reviewing the report with the intention of reverting, via SOLAS, to the relevant Education and Training Board as soon as possible.
The timeframe for delivery of works will be established once a contractor is approved for appointment. The management of the project will then be a matter for the Design Team, the ETB and the facility management.
Being cognisant that this facility will be a live working environment, my Department has approved funding for a consultant to act as the Project Supervisor Design Process (PSDP), to ensure oversight of all health and safety requirements on the site during construction.
I trust this clarifies the matter for the Deputy.
268. Deputy Brendan Smith asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science the current status of a project, and when it will proceed to the next stage (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [14288/25]
View answerCavan Monaghan Education and Training Board (CMETB) submitted a proposal for a development in Cavan Town as part of the Further Education and Training (FET) College of the Future Major Projects Fund. The proposal put forward by CMETB is one of twelve projects that are currently being progressed under this fund.
In September 2024 following an evaluation process, six proposals including the CMETB proposal met the relevant criteria and were approved to move to the next stage of development, the Pre-tender – Project Design, Planning and Procurement Strategy Stage. SOLAS continues to engage with these six ETBs around further developing their proposals and associated schedules of accommodation. Work has also begun on the development of standardised procurement and tender documents as part of this stage of development.
269. Deputy Seán Ó Fearghaíl asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science his views on whether only two institutions in the country providing the early childhood education degree, the Marino Institute and the National College of Ireland, are excluded from the free fees initiative (FFI) scheme, when in fact other courses provided by these institutions are included in the FFI scheme (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [14338/25]
View answerAs the Deputy will be aware Marino Institute of Education and the National College of Ireland are private higher education institutions.
Private institutions play an important role in the overall higher education landscape. These institutions may be in receipt of some limited funding from the State for certain courses that are approved for funding under specific initiatives. These include the Free Fees Initiative, Apprenticeships and Springboard+. Under the respective arrangements, the State has agreed to provide funding for specific courses in line with specific agreements made between the relevant funding body and the private institution.
It remains open to private institutions to establish additional courses outside of those approved for State support. The establishment of such courses does not give rise to the provision of additional State funding.
In relation to the Free Fees Initiative (FFI), the State has assumed responsibility for compensating institutions for the income previously generated by student tuition fees payable by FFI eligible students, attending free fees approved courses, exclusive of the student contribution.
FFI approved courses are restricted to full-time undergraduate courses in the public higher education system and a limited number of designated courses in private, not for profit institutions.
It remains open to private colleges to apply for State funding through competitive call processes such as Springboard+, to provide courses in response to national skill needs.
270. Deputy Alan Kelly asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science when his Department officials last met with the Data Protection Commissioner to ensure the highest standards are being met by the Department, and all agencies under its remit, in terms of compliance with data protection legislation. [14442/25]
View answerMy Department operates a Memorandum of Understanding with the Department of Education for Data Governance and Strategy. As such it is agreed that the Data Protection officer for the Department of Education is also the Data Protection officer for my Department.
My Department is committed to the highest standards of data protection compliance and engages with the Data Protection Commission as necessary and consults with them formally where required. My Department's Data Protection Notice is available here: gov.ie - Data protection notice.
Agencies under the remit of my Department are separate data controllers legally and are responsible for their own compliance with data protection legislation.
Attached are contact details for bodies under the aegis of my Department, should the Deputy wish to contact them directly.
271. Deputy Eoghan Kenny asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science if he will commit to increasing the percentage of Irish-language courses at third level to 5% within the next five years, in order to ensure the success of the Government’s 2030 goal of 20% of the public sector working through Irish; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [14560/25]
View answerOur higher education system plays an important role in supporting and promoting the use of the Irish language. This will undoubtedly support efforts to increase the use of Irish in the public sector workforce.
The Higher Education Authority Act 2022 highlights the importance of the Irish language by placing a responsibility on the Higher Education Authority (HEA) to ensure that higher education institutions (HEIs) promote and use the language. My Department, through the HEA, also provides ring-fenced funding to this end. However, it should be noted that HEIs are autonomous in their Irish language strategies, including the provision and expansion of university courses offered through the Irish language.
Funding of €900,000 is provided annually by my Department to support greater use of the Irish language by students and staff in our HEIs. This funding is allocated through the HEA as block grants, allowing institutions fund their own Irish-language initiatives.
The HEA also distributes funding for the development of Acadamh na hOllscolaíochta Gaeilge at the University of Galway. My Department contributes €1.8 million annually to this, with additional funding coming from the Department of the Gaeltacht.
Additionally, the HEA sponsors the Gníomhaí Gaeilge initiative and has provided €150,000 in funding over the last three years to develop Irish language skills among students in Irish language clubs and societies through mentorship and training, in partnership with the Union of Students in Ireland and Conradh na Gaeilge.
In conclusion, the continued support and promotion of the Irish language within higher education is vital to its growth and presence in both academic and public sector contexts. Through the Higher Education Authority and various funding initiatives, my Department is committed to ensuring that higher education institutions have the resources and autonomy to integrate the Irish language into their offerings and campus life. By fostering an environment where Irish is actively used and developed, we can strengthen its role in the public sphere and contribute to its long-term sustainability.
272. Deputy Brendan Smith asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science if additional funding is being provided to his Department this year due to additional expenditure arising following storm Éowyn; if additional funding is provided, the programmes and schemes that will benefit from this additional expenditure; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [14583/25]
View answerMy Department has not been provided with any additional funding due to Storm Éowyn at this point in time.
273. Deputy Paul McAuliffe asked the Minister for Rural and Community Development if he is aware of the funding difficulties being experienced by the Fingal Centre in Finglas, and his predecessor’s visit to the centre; and if the Community Services Programme will be opened for applications to allow centres such as this to apply. [14363/25]
View answerMy Department received a funding proposal in 2023 from Dublin Northwest Partnership (DNP), outlining the importance of the Fingal Centre as a community hub and facility for service delivery, and advising the centre was experiencing a financial shortfall.
DNP are a Local Development Company who deliver our Social Inclusion & Community Activation Programme (SICAP) in the area and regularly utilise the Fingal Centre to deliver SICAP and other services in the locality.
On review of the proposal, initial funding of €20k was provided to the Fingal Centre in 2023, to ensure the centre would continue operating while also engaging the services of a financial mentor from DNP, with a view to developing recommendations to secure future financial viability of the Fingal Centre from 2024 onwards.
On receipt of the financial viability report in early 2024, further funding of €35k was provided to the Fingal Centre to allow continued provisions of services throughout the year. As a condition of this funding and in line with the recommendation of the viability report, the Fingal Centre would commence the process, through engagement with Pobal, of applying for the Community Services Programme (CSP), with a view to developing a sustainable business plan and securing long-term funding for 2026 and beyond.
As you are aware, my Department also has responsibility for the CSP which provides an annual co-funding contribution towards each full-time equivalent (FTE) position being supported and, where warranted, towards the cost of employing a manager. The additional funding of €3m, provided to the CSP Programme in Budget 2025, has been fully allocated to meet the increased employment costs of existing CSP-funded organisations, in 2025.
I intend to examine the scope for additional funding for the CSP later this year, having regard to the funding needs of existing organisations and of organisations who wish to join the programme. I would encourage the Fingal Centre to maintain contact with Pobal at csp@pobal.ie to keep them updated on their status.
274. Deputy Paul McAuliffe asked the Minister for Rural and Community Development if he has plans to ensure that more funding can be targeted at areas experiencing very high levels of deprivation. [14364/25]
View answerThe Social Inclusion and Community Activation Programme (SICAP), is our country’s primary social inclusion intervention. This is a national programme that is delivered in both rural and urban areas by Local Development Companies to help those in the greatest need. It targets and supports those who are disadvantaged in Irish society and less likely to use mainstream services.
SICAP addresses high and persistent levels of deprivation through targeted, innovative and locally led approaches. It supports disadvantaged communities and individuals across Ireland, including unemployed people, people living in disadvantaged areas, people with a disability, members of the Traveller and Roma community, and other disadvantaged groups.
SICAP funding allocations to areas are informed by the Pobal HP Deprivation Index, which measures the relative affluence or disadvantage of areas within the State. This ensures that the programme effectively targets disadvantage fairly.
In 2024 alone, SICAP supported over 3,100 community organisations and 32,490 individuals. The funding for SICAP has increased by €9.8 million over the last 4 years, with annual funding for 2025 now totaling €48.9m.
The Empowering Communities Programme (ECP), also funded by my Department, focusses on small areas of significant disadvantage. The areas selected for funding under the ECP are ones that are experiencing significant disadvantage identified using the Pobal HP deprivation index. The programme, with the support of the relevant Local Community Development Committee (LCDC) and Local Development Company (LDC), aims to enhance community access to key services and empower local communities to develop their own response to area-based poverty, social exclusion and the resulting consequences.
The ECP commenced in 2022, initially providing funding for 14 projects. At present, there are 17 projects supported under the programme, with annual funding of €2.3 million.
Under Budget 2025, additional funding of €1 million has been secured for the ECP with a view to further expanding the programme. Consideration is currently being given to how this additional funding can be utilised to maximum effect for communities that are experiencing significant disadvantage.
275. Deputy Maeve O'Connell asked the Minister for Rural and Community Development if the criteria under which dormant accounts funding may be disbursed could be reviewed; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [14366/25]
View answer276. Deputy Maeve O'Connell asked the Minister for Rural and Community Development if he is satisfied that Departments with smaller annual budgets can access funding from the dormant accounts fund given the method of spending and subsequent recoupment that is in operation; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [14367/25]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 275 and 276 together.
The main purpose of the Dormant Accounts Acts is to reunite account holders with their funds. Unclaimed funds are transferred to the Dormant Accounts Fund, which is managed by the National Treasury Management Agency. The beneficial owner has a right to reclaim their money at any time.
Legislation governing Dormant Accounts established an administrative framework within which Departments could apply for funding from the Dormant Accounts Fund. Since July 2017 the Minister for Rural and Community Development has held responsibility for this function. Under this administrative framework a 3-year high level Disbursement Scheme is put in place, which indicates broad areas for support. Annual Action Plans are developed each year which approve funding for specific measures or projects.
A Disbursement Scheme is put in place every 3 years setting out guiding principles for disbursements and priority areas under the headings economic and social disadvantage, educational disadvantage, and persons with a disability. A new Disbursement Scheme will be drafted for 2026-2028 following completion of a review of the existing scheme. However, any criteria for funding must relate to the provisions of the legislation, with all funding targeting the objectives set down in the Act.
In May/June of each year Departments are asked to submit applications for inclusion in the following year’s Action Plan. A draft Action Plan is approved in September to aide Departments in their budget negotiations. A final Action Plan is agreed after the Budget once funding certainty is achieved.
My Department published the 2025 Dormant Accounts Fund Action Plan in November 2024. It outlines measures and funding across 10 Departments, with total funding of €44.8 million to support 51 measures. The programmes and projects in the Action Plan target social, economic and educational disadvantage, and people with a disability - in line with the objectives detailed in the legislation.
My Department operates an Interdepartmental Steering Group so as to ensure funding is put to best use, pressures in terms of funding need are understood across Departments, and any particular challenges are considered when developing Action Plans. Progress on Departmental spend is also discussed at a high level. The level of participation across Government, including by Departments with smaller annual budgets, demonstrates the accessibility of the funding.
Further information on the Dormant Accounts Fund, including all published Action Plans and Annual Reports, and the current Disbursement Scheme for 2023-2025 is available on my Department’s website at the following link: www.gov.ie/en/collection/769773-dormant-accounts-fund-annual-action-plans-and-reports/
277. Deputy Maeve O'Connell asked the Minister for Rural and Community Development to provide an update on the progress of the social enterprise measure for which his Department received funding from the dormant accounts action plan for 2025; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [14368/25]
View answerIn July 2024 my department announced the Growing Social Enterprise Fund under the Dormant Accounts Fund Action Plan. The purpose of the fund is to provide capital supports that assist social enterprises to achieve their social, environmental and economic objectives, and to improve their sustainability and impact.
Under the fund, social enterprises will receive grants of between €1,500 and €100,000 to fund capital projects such as building works, renovations and repairs, or for the purchase of machinery, equipment or vehicles that will help them to grow their organisation.
I expect to make an announcement in the coming weeks, listing the organisations that have been allocated funding under the scheme, and the amount of funding they each will receive.
I am confident this funding will provide much needed support nationwide to enable social enterprises to continue the great work they do in our communities.
278. Deputy Maeve O'Connell asked the Minister for Rural and Community Development if volunteer centres will be further supported to nurture the culture of volunteering which exists in Ireland; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [14369/25]
View answerSince its establishment in 2017, the Department of Rural and Community Development has been responsible for providing support and funding to volunteer centres. In that time seven new centres have opened, bringing the total to 29 volunteer centres nationwide. Volunteer centres promote, develop, support and enable volunteering in their local areas.
Volunteer centre services include providing a placement service between individuals and groups who want to undertake voluntary activity and organisations that are seeking volunteers; matching individuals and groups interested in volunteering with appropriate volunteering opportunities; Garda vetting; and offering advice and support to volunteers and volunteer-involving organisations.
In addition, volunteer centres also support various Government policies and priorities. In recent years, for example, volunteer centres have been heavily involved in the State’s response to the Covid-19 pandemic, the arrival of significant numbers of Ukrainian refugees, and integration and support efforts for International Protection Applicants and other new arrivals.
The first National Volunteering Strategy was published in December 2020. The purpose of the Strategy is to recognise, support and promote the unique value and contribution volunteers make to Irish society. The Strategy is a roadmap for supporting volunteering, recognising its importance in the creation of vibrant, sustainable and inclusive communities throughout Ireland.
Since the publication of the Strategy, Government support for volunteering has increased. In 2024, funding from my Department to volunteer centres amounted to €4.1 million. However, increased funding for the 29 Volunteer Centres was secured in Budget 2025, with an extra €730,000 to be distributed across the network this year. This represents a 12% increase in their core funding.
My Department is continuing to work with the 29 Volunteer Centres to ensure that volunteering infrastructure across Ireland continues to be supported, that those who wish to do so are enabled to volunteer, and to sustain the ongoing delivery of the National Volunteering Strategy.
279. Deputy Alan Kelly asked the Minister for Rural and Community Development when his Department officials last met with the Data Protection Commissioner to ensure the highest standards are being met by the Department, and all agencies under its remit, in terms of compliance with data protection legislation. [14447/25]
View answerMy Department is committed to protecting the rights and privacy of all its data in accordance with the General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) and the Data Protection Acts 1988 to 2018. My Department has a Data Protection Policy in place and a Data Protection Officer, as required by Article 37 of the GDPR. Any processing of personal data is performed in compliance with the principles relating to processing under the GDPR.
Data Protection training is mandatory for all staff across my Department, thereby ensuring the highest standards are both met and maintained, and the privacy rights of individuals safeguarded in relation to the collection and processing of their personal data. My officials actively engage with the Data Protection Commission, as necessary, on an ongoing case-by-case basis, with the most recent such engagement taking place in January of this year.
There are 4 agencies under the aegis of my Department: Pobal, the Charities Regulator, Water Safety Ireland, and the Western Development Commission. In respect of these bodies, information relating to data protection is a matter for the bodies concerned. They are all independent legal entities responsible for managing their own corporate affairs in compliance with their statutory obligations, including compliance with Data Protection Acts and the GDPR.
280. Deputy Brendan Smith asked the Minister for Rural and Community Development if additional funding is being provided to his Department this year due to additional expenditure arising following storm Éowyn; if additional funding is provided, the programmes and schemes that will benefit from this additional expenditure; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [14588/25]
View answerThe budget allocation for my Department is agreed on an annual basis with the Department of Public Expenditure, NDP Delivery and Reform as part of the Revised Estimates for Public Services process. The 2025 gross allocation for my Department, of €473.5 million, represents a 7% increase on the previous year’s allocation. This increased funding for 2025 will allow for additional investment across our schemes, which are supporting communities throughout the country.
Many of the schemes operated by my Department, including LEADER, Town and Village Renewal, and the Community Centre Investment Fund have helped improve the resilience of rural communities. While my Department has not received additional funding in relation to the storm, the funding provided for 2025 will allow for additional investment across our schemes.
