Written Answers Nos. 504-518
504. Deputy Marie Sherlock asked the Minister for Health the number of psychiatric units within the private health system that were availed of through public funding from the years 2018 to 2024, by CHO area, in tabular form; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [13263/25]
Amharc ar fhreagraAs this is a service matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond to the Deputy directly as soon as possible.
505. Deputy Marie Sherlock asked the Minister for Health the number of admissions to mental health facilities by Gardaí in the years 2018-2024; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [13264/25]
Amharc ar fhreagraAs this is a service matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond to the Deputy directly, as soon as possible.
506. Deputy Marie Sherlock asked the Minister for Health when she plans to publish the strategic review of general practice; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [13270/25]
Amharc ar fhreagraA Strategic Review of General Practice is currently underway, led by the Department of Health and supported by the HSE. With input from key stakeholders, the review is examining a range of issues affecting general practice including GP training, GP capacity, Out of Hours services reform, the eHealth Agenda, and the financial support model for general practice. The Review will identify the arrangements necessary to improve the current system of GP care as part of a primary care-focused health service.
Significant progress has been made under the review which is to be completed this year. Following its completion, a final report will be presented to me outlining the findings of the review and setting out recommended actions for a more sustainable general practice. The report will be published subsequently.
507. Deputy Matt Carthy asked the Minister for Health if her Department, or any agency under her Department’s remit, have, since 1 November 2024, entered any contract in respect of a hotel (details supplied) or have had any discussions, or received any offers, in respect of using this premises for any reason; the details of same; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [13280/25]
Amharc ar fhreagraAll accommodation to facilitate travel by the staff of my department is booked by a contracted travel agency on behalf of the Department. My department has not entered into any contracts with individual hotels. Details for other bodies under the aegis of my department are operational matters for the bodies concerned and the Deputy should contact the relevant Director/CEO/Registrar directly.
508. Deputy Aidan Farrelly asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science the total number of copper communication lines within his Department currently in active operation and for which his Department is paying for on a monthly basis inclusive of ISDN, PTSN and copper-based lease lines; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [12987/25]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe Department's communications infrastructure is provided and managed by the Department of Education as part of a shared service agreement. The Department of Education has informed my officials that it currently has 11 ISDN/PSTN lines and 41 DSL lines. The lines are predominantly in use in Departmental regional offices. The necessity for PSTN/ISDN and DSL technology is mainly due to the unavailability of fibre connections at these locations. Additionally, these lines are required for FAX, franking machines and lift services. However, with the continuous expansion of fibre availability, the Department of Education is currently in the process of transitioning a number of lines and intends to transition as many lines as possible to fibre/SIP connections.
509. Deputy Peadar Tóibín asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science further to Parliamentary Question No. 384 of 20 February 2025, when a response to the query will issue to this Deputy; and the reason no substantive response has not issued to date. [13024/25]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe information that the Deputy has requested is not readily available. My officials have been in contact with the Deputy's Staff for clarification on this question.
510. Deputy Aindrias Moynihan asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science the status of a new building for an adult education centre (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [13033/25]
Amharc ar fhreagraAs the Deputy is aware, Youthreach is a vital programme, designed to support young people who have left school early. It provides integrated education, training, and work experience, focusing on personal development, literacy, numeracy, and vocational skills. It stands as a lifeline for many, offering a second chance to build a brighter future.
It has a strong emphasis on personal development; basic skills training, including the core skills of literacy/numeracy, communications and IT, along with a choice of vocational options and a work experience programme.
Cork Education and Training Board (CETB) currently runs a Youthreach Centre in Macroom, which provides services for approximately 40 learners from a wide geographic area.
The lease on the building currently used as their Youthreach centre has expired. Despite ongoing efforts, a new agreement with the landlord has not been reached. Property searches for alternative lease buildings have not been successful. For now, an interim arrangement is in place, but the building is in poor condition. A primary objective for CETB and my Department is to ensure a suitable learning environment for learners that meets environmental standards, fosters an effective learning experience and serves all learners in the community.
SOLAS are supporting CETB in seeking to develop a facility in Macroom to enable continuation of delivery of Youthreach services and potentially expand Further Education and Training delivery in areas of adult education. Discussions with a prospective landlord are in progress.
However, as the Deputy will fully appreciate, all parties involved must complete due diligence to ensure that several considerations including value for money and assessment of needs are addressed as part of this process.
In terms of next steps, once negotiations with the prospective landlord have concluded, CETB must apply to the Department for ministerial sanction for a lease in line with section 53 of the Education and Training Board Act, 2013.
511. Deputy Alan Kelly asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science the number of WTE legal advisors employed by his Department in 2023, 2024 and to-date in 2025, in tabular form. [13121/25]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe below table sets out the number of WTE legal advisors employed by my Department in 2023, 2024 and to-date in 2025.
|
Year |
Number |
|
2023 |
1 |
|
2024 |
1 |
|
2025 |
1 |
512. Deputy Pearse Doherty asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science the details of any secondments from consulting firms to his Department since 2020; the consulting firm involved; the purpose of the secondment; the durations of the secondments; who paid the salary of the individual seconded; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [13184/25]
Amharc ar fhreagraI can confirm that there have been no secondments from consultancy firms to my Department since 2020.
513. Deputy Matt Carthy asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science if his Department, or any agency under his Department’s remit, have, since 1 November 2024, entered any contract in respect of a hotel (details supplied) or have had any discussions, or received any offers, in respect of using this premises for any reason; the details of same; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [13279/25]
Amharc ar fhreagraI can confirm to the Deputy that my Department has no records of any contract or contact with the aforementioned hotel.
514. Deputy Eamon Scanlon asked the Minister for Rural and Community Development if his Department offers financial support grants or programmes to community sports teams (details supplied) travelling abroad for training camps; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [12965/25]
Amharc ar fhreagraMy Department provides a range of financial supports to communities across a broad suite of programmes, and indeed many of these programmes have provided important supports to sports clubs across the country in recent years.
However, my Department does not implement a funding stream that would focus on funding for a community sports team to travel abroad for training camps.
The Deputy may wish to contact my colleague Deputy Patrick O'Donovan, Minister for Arts, Media, Communications, Culture and Sport, to explore what funding may be available from his Department.
515. Deputy Aidan Farrelly asked the Minister for Rural and Community Development the total number of copper communication lines within his Department currently in active operation and for which his Department is paying for on a monthly basis inclusive of ISDN, PTSN and copper-based lease lines; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [12992/25]
Amharc ar fhreagraI can confirm that there are no ISDN, PTSN or copper-based leased lines in use by my Department.
516. Deputy Pearse Doherty asked the Minister for Rural and Community Development the details of any secondments from consulting firms to his Department since 2020; the consulting firm involved; the purpose of the secondment; the durations of the secondments; who paid the salary of the individual seconded; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [13189/25]
Amharc ar fhreagraIn line with the Civil Service Secondment Policy, all secondment opportunities within my Department are advertised by the Public Appointments Service and circulated to all Civil Service organisations and bodies under their aegis. Secondments are not advertised to consulting firms or other external bodies. I can therefore confirm that the Department of Rural and Community Development has not had any secondments from consulting firms since 2020.
517. Deputy Mark Ward asked the Minister for Rural and Community Development the criteria for a community horse project to be included in Pobal funding; the programmes that Pobal can offer for a community horse project; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [13246/25]
Amharc ar fhreagraPobal works on behalf of Government, and in conjunction with communities and local agencies, to support social inclusion and local and community development. Pobal provide administrative support to my Department for a wide array of programmes and schemes, including the LEADER programme, the Social Inclusion & Community Activation Programme (SICAP), the Scheme to Support National Organisations and so on.
Pobal also provide support to my Department for the Community Services Programme (CSP), which funds a small number of horse related projects via a contribution towards their staffing costs. These organisations, along with the other 430 CSP supported organisations, are required to meet the programme criteria(available on the Pobal website, www.pobal.ie) for CSP rather than any specific community horse project related criteria. While the CSP is currently closed for applications, I would encourage any interested parties to check for future application calls on my Department and Pobal’s respective websites.
Separate to the CSP, my Department also currently provides funding in 2025 of €147,840 to Dublin City Council for Cherry Orchard Equine Centre, with which the Deputy may be familiar. This funding is paid from the Targeted Social Inclusion Measure in my Department's Dormant Accounts Funding.
The funding for Cherry Orchard Equine Centre is specifically targeted at social inclusion and ensures increased engagement with young travellers, marginalised youths and disadvantaged youths in the Ballyfermot/Cherry Orchard area. Cherry Orchard Equine Centre provides a variety of supports, including youth services, engagement with Youth Diversion Projects and Crisis Intervention programmes, delivery of accredited and non-accredited equine training and provides supports to individuals progressing towards employment.
I would encourage any community groups and organisations to check my Department’s website, www.gov.ie/drcd, and to engage with their Local Community Development Committees (LCDCs), Local Development Companies and Public Participation Networks (PPN), to ensure they are aware of funding opportunities as they become available.
518. Deputy Matt Carthy asked the Minister for Rural and Community Development if his Department, or any agency under his Department’s remit, have, since 1 November 2024, entered any contract in respect of a hotel (details supplied) or have had any discussions, or received any offers, in respect of using this premises for any reason; the details of same; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [13284/25]
Amharc ar fhreagraI can confirm to the Deputy that my Department has not entered any contracts with the hotel referenced and has not had any discussions, or received any offers, in respect of using this premises for any reason, since 1 November 2024.
In respect of the agencies under the aegis of my Department, information relating to any contracts entered with the hotel referenced are a matter for the bodies concerned. They are independent legal entities responsible for managing their own corporate affairs in compliance with statutory obligations and the Code of Practice for the Governance of State Bodies.
The four public bodies under the aegis of my Department are listed in the table below, including Oireachtas contact details for each.
|
Public Body |
Contact details |
|
Pobal |
oireachtasqueries@pobal.ie |
|
Charities Regulator |
oireachtas@charitiesregulator.ie |
|
Water Safety Ireland |
oireachtas@wsi.ie |
|
Western Development Commission |
oireachtas@wdc.ie |
