Written Answers Nos. 348-357
348. Deputy Marie Sherlock asked the Minister for Health to outline the assisted transport options in place for individuals attending a location (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [35129/25]
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.
349. Deputy William Aird asked the Minister for Health her plans for Stradbally health centre, Laois; if the centre will be considered for investment under the HSE Capital Plan 2026; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [35131/25]
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.
350. Deputy Brian Stanley asked the Minister for Health to extend the special leave with pay scheme, which is due to end on 30 June 2025, pending a long-term solution being put in place for those front-line healthcare workers who contracted long-Covid; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [35140/25]
Amharc ar fhreagraIn the public health sector, a temporary Special Scheme was put in place for 12 months in July 2022 to support eligible staff who were impacted by Long-Covid. At the request of my Department, approval to extend the Special Scheme was granted by the Department of Public Expenditure, NDP and Reform (DPENDPR) a number of times, it was extended for a further 12 months at the end of June 2024 on the existing terms for the existing cohort of employees already being supported by it.
The Department of Public Expenditure, NDP and Reform (DPENDPR) have been very clear that this was the final extension that would be granted, and as such, the Special Scheme will conclude on 30th June 2025. This matter has been referred to the Labour Court on 11th of June 2025. As this is an on going Industrial Relations matter it would be inappropriate to comment any further.
351. Deputy Alan Kelly asked the Minister for Health the reason there is only one speech and language therapist (SLT) working in the early intervention services team in Nenagh, County Tipperary and if there are any plans to increase that number as that SLT has to cover all of the north Tipperary area. [35161/25]
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.
352. Deputy Pat Buckley asked the Minister for Health to consider extending the temporary special leave with pay scheme for healthcare workers with prolonged and chronic effects of Covid-19; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [35178/25]
Amharc ar fhreagraIn the public health sector, a temporary Special Scheme was put in place for 12 months in July 2022 to support eligible staff who were impacted by Long-Covid. At the request of my Department, approval to extend the Special Scheme was granted by the Department of Public Expenditure, NDP and Reform (DPENDPR) a number of times, it was extended for a further 12 months at the end of June 2024 on the existing terms for the existing cohort of employees already being supported by it.
The Department of Public Expenditure, NDP and Reform (DPENDPR) have been very clear that this was the final extension that would be granted, and as such, the Special Scheme will conclude on 30th June 2025. This matter has been referred to the Labour Court on 11th of June 2025. As this is an on going Industrial Relations matter it would be inappropriate to comment any further.
353. Deputy Pádraig O'Sullivan asked the Minister for Health if the new neurological rehabilitation beds proposed for Blarney, County Cork are now going to Mallow General Hospital; if so, whether there is a business case prepared for Mallow; if it will be funded in Budget 2026; if not, whether funding will be included in Budget 2027; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [35179/25]
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.
354. Deputy Sorca Clarke asked the Minister for Health for an update on the review of the mental health service for the deaf; when the review report is expected to be published; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [35182/25]
Amharc ar fhreagraAs this is a service matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond directly to the Deputy as soon as possible.
355. Deputy John Connolly asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science the number of successful SUSI applicants in each of the 32 counties in the 2024-2025 academic year, in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [35118/25]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe decision on eligibility for a student grant is a matter, in the first instance, for the centralised student grant awarding authority SUSI (Student Universal Support Ireland) to determine.
The Student Grant Scheme, administered by Student Universal Support Ireland (SUSI), provides grant assistance to eligible students attending an approved course in an approved institution who meet the prescribed conditions of funding, including those relating to nationality, residency, previous academic attainment and means.
A Part-Time Fee Scheme for Specified Undergraduate Courses which commenced in September 2024 provides fee support to eligible part-time students attending specified publicly funded undergraduate courses leading to a major award. This includes specified in person and blended/hybrid courses and its aim is to provide additional flexibility in respect of course provision to students who are socioeconomically disadvantaged.
Please note that SUSI are unable to provide a total number of successful applicants broken down by county in Northern Ireland due to incomplete address details for the County section as provided by the applicant on the grant application form. However, I can confirm that 84 applicants who were awarded a grant in the academic year 2024/25 indicated a home address as Northern Ireland.
The attached table outlines the total number of successful applications awarded by the 26 counties in the Republic of Ireland for the academic year 2024/25 for both full and part time applications.
These figures are likely to change as SUSI continues to process applications for academic year 2024/25.
Number of successful SUSI applications awarded by 26 counties in Republic of Ireland in academic year 2024/25
|
Home Address County |
Awarded |
|
Carlow |
1,285 |
|
Cavan |
1,507 |
|
Clare |
2,392 |
|
Cork |
8,486 |
|
Donegal |
3,234 |
|
Dublin |
16,833 |
|
Galway |
5,133 |
|
Kerry |
2,744 |
|
Kildare |
3,776 |
|
Kilkenny |
1,701 |
|
Laois |
1,738 |
|
Leitrim |
730 |
|
Limerick |
3,385 |
|
Longford |
916 |
|
Louth |
2,988 |
|
Mayo |
2,654 |
|
Meath |
3,494 |
|
Monaghan |
1,220 |
|
Offaly |
1,514 |
|
Roscommon |
1,309 |
|
Sligo |
1,268 |
|
Tipperary |
2,674 |
|
Waterford |
2,266 |
|
Westmeath |
1,738 |
|
Wexford |
2,950 |
|
Wicklow |
2,302 |
|
Total |
80,237* |
356. Deputy Ryan O'Meara asked the Minister for Rural and Community Development and the Gaeltacht the steps being taken by his Department to encourage Irish businesses to provide bilingual labelling on product packaging, which would promote the Irish language; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [35168/25]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe Government's 20-Year Strategy for the Irish Language 2010-2030 contains a commitment to examine the feasibility of introducing a voluntary code for bilingual labelling and packaging of all goods sold in Ireland, as a mechanism to develop the range of areas available in which people can choose Irish as a language of exchange. In this context, Foras na Gaeilge, through its ‘Gnó Means Business’ programme, deliver a wide range of initiatives to support the use of the Irish language in business and economic life, including:
- a funding support scheme focused on small and medium enterprises: Under this scheme, funding of up to €3,000 is available to support the development of signage, stationery, printed marketing material, internet sites and other branding material in the Irish language or bilingually;
- a Business Support Resource Pack: Under this scheme, there are 31 specialist business support resources available free of charge. As part of the support package, there is a choice of self-adhesive signs, badges, leaflets and other support resources to enhance the visibility of Irish in a business environment;
- Bilingual Packaging: A Guide for Best Business Practice is the second in a series of guidance ebooks published by Foras na Gaeilge for the business sector focusing on the principles of bilingualism in signage and packaging. The guidebook aims to recognise best practice in the use of Irish in packaging and to demonstrate to the business community that the language is a valuable resource that can be used to attract consumers to their products. This ebook, which is a joint venture between Foras na Gaeilge and TU Dublin, was launched in 2017 and is available to download from the Foras na Gaeilge website www.forasnagaeilge.ie.
- Q-Mharc Gnó le Gaeilge is a voluntary code and newly-developed quality system for the Business Sector which focuses on giving official recognition to best bilingual practice based on the International Standard ISO 9001:2008. Small and medium sized enterprises throughout the island of Ireland can apply for this award.
My Department also supports GRADAIM, a recognition scheme for businesses either using Irish directly as part of their operations or providing a service through Irish to their customers. The awards are presented to businesses for their efforts in three main categories, namely Signage, Branding and Marketing and Irish Language Customer & Client Service. Over 330 businesses have received recognition under this scheme so far. The scheme is administered by Glór na nGael who are the lead Irish language organisation with responsibilities to promote the Irish language in business.
In addition to this, my Department provides funding to organisations such as Gnó Mhaigh Eo, Gaillimh le Gaeilge, Baile Átha Cliath le Gaeilge and Cill Dara le Gaeilge, to support and encourage businesses in the use of Irish.
357. Deputy Brendan Smith asked the Minister for Rural and Community Development and the Gaeltacht if that funding for the Leader Programme post 2027 will continue to be provided through CAP; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [35183/25]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe current LEADER programme is co-financed by the European Commission under the Common Agricultural Policy (CAP), through the European Agriculture Fund for Rural Development. It is connected to Objective 8 of the CAP Strategic Plan (CSP). The total amount of funding allocated to LEADER for the period of 2021-2027 is €250 million, maintaining the level of funding of the previous 2014-2020 programming period.
The European Commission is expected to publish the draft post-2027 CAP regulations later this year, after the Multiannual Financial Framework (MFF) proposals in mid-July 2025. As part of the CAP and MFF negotiations progress, Ireland will continue to advocate for a distinct, two pillar and ring-fenced EU funding programme for the CAP that supports farm resilience, environmental ambition, and rural development measures such as LEADER. My Department will work closely with colleagues in the Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine as part of this process and in respect of the future LEADER programme.
