Cork North-Central — week of Mon, 12 Jun

What your Cork North-Central TDs did this week

Mon, 12 Jun – 18 Jun 2023 · 5 TDs · 2 bills voted on · 78 questions · 0 new lobbying filings

Votes this week

Retained Fire Services

2023-06-14 · 2 votes

Amendment again put: · motion passed 71–62

Voted for 2 Colm Burke · Pádraig O'Sullivan

Voted against 1 Mick Barry

Did not vote 3 Eoghan Kenny · Ken O'Flynn · Thomas Gould

The motion · motion passed 70–62

Voted for 2 Colm Burke · Pádraig O'Sullivan

Voted against 1 Mick Barry

Did not vote 3 Eoghan Kenny · Ken O'Flynn · Thomas Gould

National Minimum Wage (Equal Pay for Young Workers) Bill 2022

2023-06-14 · 1 vote · People Before Profit-Solidarity PMB

A bill to amend the National Minimum Wage Act 2000 to remove the lower minimum wage rates imposed on those employed between the ages of 16 and 20

An amendment to the bill · motion passed 73–59

Voted for 2 Colm Burke · Pádraig O'Sullivan

Voted against 1 Mick Barry

Did not vote 3 Eoghan Kenny · Ken O'Flynn · Thomas Gould

Colm Burke — Fine Gael 3 votes · 39 questions · 0 new lobbying returns

Questions asked 39 total

Health 20 questions
- 2023-06-13 Deputy Colm Burke asked the Minister for Health if he will confirm the progress that has been made to date in developing the project of a new paediatric department in Cork University Hospital; the work that will be undertaken in relation to this project in the remainder of 2023; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [27062/23]
- 2023-06-13 Deputy Colm Burke asked the Minister for Health to confirm the reason that a person (details supplied) who has a diagnosis of paranoid schizoaffective disorder, dementia and several other physical health difficulties including a visual impairment, COPD, hypertension and arthritis and has been a patient of St. Vincent's Hospital, Fairview, Dublin, for the past two and a half years, has not had their funding request for placement with a nursing home approved, despite the person being assessed and approved for care in this facility, and the request for funding submitted to the HSE last year; when a decision will be made in respect of this case; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [27332/23]
- 2023-06-13 Deputy Colm Burke asked the Minister for Health if consideration will be given to altering the salary pay scale of radiation therapists, details supplied; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [28222/23]
- 2023-06-13 Deputy Colm Burke asked the Minister for Health if he will engage with the management of hospitals to abolish car parking charges for patients attending hospital for cancer treatment, such as radiotherapy or chemotherapy appointments; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [28239/23]
- 2023-06-13 Deputy Colm Burke asked the Minister for Health if he will ring-fence dedicated funding for the establishment of a treatment abroad fund to cover non-medical expenses incurred when travelling abroad for medical treatment; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [28240/23]
- 2023-06-13 Deputy Colm Burke asked the Minister for Health the steps he will take to ensure current parking concessions offered to cancer patients are highlighted through the HSE website and hospital websites and publications; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [28242/23]
- 2023-06-13 Deputy Colm Burke asked the Minister for Health if he will ring-fence funding to expand the catch-up programme for HPV vaccination between the ages of 15 to 24 years, as recommended by the national immunisation advisory committee; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [28244/23]
- 2023-06-13 Deputy Colm Burke asked the Minister for Health if he will reduce the threshold of the drugs payment scheme to a maximum of €50 per month; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [28245/23]
- 2023-06-13 Deputy Colm Burke asked the Minister for Health the steps he will take to ensure greater take up of the HPV vaccine, including a review of the current information campaign; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [28247/23]
- 2023-06-13 Deputy Colm Burke asked the Minister for Health if he will ring-fence funding to ensure that the provisions of the National Skin Cancer Prevention Plan 2023-2026 are implemented, in light of the fact that it is the most common cancer in Ireland; if he will engage with the relevant authorities to launch a public information campaign regarding skin cancer; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [28248/23]
- 2023-06-13 Deputy Colm Burke asked the Minister for Health if he will take the necessary steps to ensure that environmental health officers are adequately resourced to ensure that sun bed operators comply with current legislation, in light of the fact that it is the most common cancer in Ireland; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [28249/23]
- 2023-06-13 Deputy Colm Burke asked the Minister for Health if he will ring-fence multi-year funding dedicated to implementing all outstanding recommendations from the National Cancer Strategy to 2026; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [28250/23]
- 2023-06-13 Deputy Colm Burke asked the Minister for Health if he will engage with the HSE and other relevant bodies to develop education and awareness campaigns on the dangers associated with e-cigarettes usage; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [28251/23]
- 2023-06-13 Deputy Colm Burke asked the Minister for Health if he will allocate more funding towards targeted QUIT campaigns and support initiatives tailored towards sectors of the population more likely to smoke; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [28252/23]
- 2023-06-13 Deputy Colm Burke asked the Minister for Health if he will set aside funding to implement the National Cancer strategy 2017-2026 recommendations in relation to genetic services, by reducing genetic service wait times in order to optimise health benefit advancement in this area; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [28253/23]
- 2023-06-13 Deputy Colm Burke asked the Minister for Health if he will ring-fence funding for the implementation of the Genomic Strategy, to ensure that all child, adolescent and young adult (CAYA) patients aged between 16-25 years have access to genome sequencing; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [28254/23]
- 2023-06-13 Deputy Colm Burke asked the Minister for Health if consideration would be given to implementing a bursary of €5,000 per annum for the training of radiation therapists, similar to the scheme which is currently in place at UCC for the training of diagnostic radiography students and where the participants are required to work for a period of two years after graduation with the HSE South/Southwest Hospital Group; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [28369/23]
- 2023-06-13 Deputy Colm Burke asked the Minister for Health the action being taken by his Department to increase the number of training places that can be allocated to radiation therapy students in the HSE, in view of the current crisis in recruitment and retention of radiation therapists in the health sector; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [28370/23]
- 2023-06-13 Deputy Colm Burke asked the Minister for Health the action being taken by his Department to increase the number of training places that are allocated to radiation therapy students in each of the HSE hospitals where radiation treatment is being provided for cancer patients, in view of the current crisis in recruitment and retention of radiation therapists in the health sector; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [28371/23]
- 2023-06-14 Deputy Colm Burke asked the Minister for Health when a wheelchair will be provided to a child (details supplied) given an occupational therapist has approved same to the HSE resource allocation group; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [28794/23]
Social 4 questions
- 2023-06-13 Deputy Colm Burke asked the Minister for Social Protection if she will provide an update on the number of people who are on the live register in each town in County Cork; the number of people on the live register for more than 24 months in each town in County Cork; the number of people who have been referred to the local area employment service in each town in County Cork since September 2022; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [27815/23]
- 2023-06-13 Deputy Colm Burke asked the Minister for Social Protection if she will give due consideration to the review of the current means test requirement for the additional needs/exceptional needs' payment for children, adolescent and young adults (CAYA) cancer patients; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [28241/23]
- 2023-06-13 Deputy Colm Burke asked the Minister for Social Protection if she will give due consideration to expanding the criteria for the household benefits package to include all cancer patients upon diagnosis until treatment is finished; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [28243/23]
- 2023-06-13 Deputy Colm Burke asked the Minister for Social Protection if she will consider introducing a new statutory payment for employees and self-employed people with chronic illnesses to attend medical appointments; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [28246/23]
Further and Higher Education 4 questions
- 2023-06-13 Deputy Colm Burke asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science what action his Department is taking to attract people into agricultural and heavy vehicle mechanics apprenticeships, in view that there is a growing shortage of qualified mechanics in the farm machinery industry; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [27578/23]
- 2023-06-13 Deputy Colm Burke asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science the reason universities that are providing courses in radiation therapy have not increased their student capacity (details supplied); if consideration will be given to increasing the student capacity for this course in the two colleges; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [28221/23]
- 2023-06-13 Deputy Colm Burke asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science how second level students could be further incentivised to consider a career as a radiation therapist, given that in Ireland 54% of the population have attained a third level education, which demonstrates that the majority of the current second level students will consider attending third level education; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [28233/23]
- 2023-06-13 Deputy Colm Burke asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science the reason a change of circumstances of reckonable income was not taken into consideration for a student's (details supplied) SUSI application as the student's father's pension increased year-on-year and the family requested for their application to be re-assessed under a change in circumstances of reckonable income; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [28564/23]
Education 2 questions
- 2023-06-13 Deputy Colm Burke asked the Minister for Education when applications for roof repairs and reconfiguration of two rooms for a school (details supplied) will be processed, in view of the fact that these are urgently required to accommodate 41 children enrolled for September in the school, which has recently become co-educational; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [27459/23]
- 2023-06-13 Deputy Colm Burke asked the Minister for Education if consideration will be given to permitting second level students with a diagnosis of dyslexia additional time in the exam hall to complete their junior certificate and leaving certificate examination papers; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [28087/23]
Agriculture 2 questions
- 2023-06-13 Deputy Colm Burke asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if consideration would be given to increasing direct payments per sheep under the sheep improvement scheme which is a targeted scheme for sheep farmers, in order to provide much-needed additional support to sheep farmers, encourage young farmers to enter and continue sheep farming, and ensure that this type of farming is viable going forward; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [27310/23]
- 2023-06-13 Deputy Colm Burke asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine what action his Department is taking to support the farm machinery industry, in view of the current critical shortage of qualified mechanics in the farm machinery industry; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [27579/23]
Rural 2 questions
- 2023-06-13 Deputy Colm Burke asked the Minister for Rural and Community Development the current status of an appeal by an organisation (detail supplied) to the community services programme; when a decision is likely to be reached; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [28011/23]
- 2023-06-13 Deputy Colm Burke asked the Minister for Rural and Community Development when the 2023 town and village renewal scheme will open for applications; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [28567/23]
Foreign 2 questions
- 2023-06-15 Deputy Colm Burke asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs what action is being taken to improve processing times of paper-based renewal and first-time passport applications, in view that the current processing time is eight weeks, and in particular the efforts to fast-track those applications of which queries have been raised as this can often lead to extended delays in the processing; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [28824/23]
- 2023-06-15 Deputy Colm Burke asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs to advise what action his Department is taking to ensure there are no delays in the processing of passport applications during the busy summer months, in particular the efforts to fast-track those for which queries have been raised as this can often lead to extended delays in processing; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [28823/23]
Environment 1 question
- 2023-06-13 Deputy Colm Burke asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications the action his Department is taking to ensure that price gouging does not occur under energy grant schemes, including the deep retrofit grant scheme and the solar PV grant scheme (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [27574/23]
Enterprise 1 question
- 2023-06-13 Deputy Colm Burke asked the Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment if consideration will be given to including agricultural mechanics, construction plant fitters and heavy vehicle mechanics in his Departments critical skills occupations list, in view of the critical shortage of qualified mechanics in the farm machinery industry; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [27577/23]
Justice 1 question
- 2023-06-13 Deputy Colm Burke asked the Minister for Justice to provide an update on the application status of a person (details supplied) to the Afghan Admissions Programme; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [28232/23]

Eoghan Kenny — Labour Party 0 votes · 0 questions · 0 new lobbying returns

Quiet week — no questions filed or new lobbying returns.

Ken O'Flynn — Independent Ireland 0 votes · 0 questions · 0 new lobbying returns

Quiet week — no questions filed or new lobbying returns.

Pádraig O'Sullivan — Fianna Fáil 3 votes · 29 questions · 0 new lobbying returns

Questions asked 29 total

Health 12 questions
- 2023-06-13 Deputy Pádraig O'Sullivan asked the Minister for Health further to Parliamentary Question No. 737 of 30 May 2023, the number of times the Chief Clinical Officer of the NCPE has briefed him since he took office in 2020; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [27244/23]
- 2023-06-13 Deputy Pádraig O'Sullivan asked the Minister for Health the current members of the implementation working group set up to consider and progress the various recommendations contained in a report (details supplied) into governance arrangement to support HSE drug reimbursement; the dates of each of the meetings of the working group; the target month for the working group to report to Government; the consultation process; and the work that has been carried out to date by the group. [28449/23]
- 2023-06-14 Deputy Pádraig O'Sullivan asked the Minister for Health if he will engage with an organisation (details supplied) regarding concerns it has for future funding; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [28620/23]
- 2023-06-14 Deputy Pádraig O'Sullivan asked the Minister for Health if his Department has considered the introduction of a flat-fee model of care being reimbursed at €6.50 per medicine; if his Department has costed this proposal; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [28621/23]
- 2023-06-14 Deputy Pádraig O'Sullivan asked the Minister for Health if he has plans to expand the scope of practice for pharmacists; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [28622/23]
- 2023-06-14 Deputy Pádraig O'Sullivan asked the Minister for Health if he and his Department will engage with the community pharmacy sector to discuss a new contract and enhance its role in the delivery of healthcare in the community, as per the commitment in the Programme for Government; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [28623/23]
- 2023-06-14 Deputy Pádraig O'Sullivan asked the Minister for Health to outline the expenditure levels of new medicines and new uses of existing medicines in 2022 on an in-year basis under the oncology drug management system; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [28652/23]
- 2023-06-14 Deputy Pádraig O'Sullivan asked the Minister for Health to outline the expenditure levels of new medicines and new uses of existing medicines in 2022 on an in-year basis under the high-tech scheme; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [28653/23]
- 2023-06-14 Deputy Pádraig O'Sullivan asked the Minister for Health to outline the expenditure levels of new medicines and new uses of existing medicines in 2022 on an in-year basis under the general medical scheme; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [28654/23]
- 2023-06-14 Deputy Pádraig O'Sullivan asked the Minister for Health to outline the expenditure levels of new medicines and new uses of existing medicines in 2022 on an in-year basis under the long-term illness scheme; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [28655/23]
- 2023-06-14 Deputy Pádraig O'Sullivan asked the Minister for Health to outline the expenditure levels of new medicines and new uses of existing medicines in 2022 on an in-year basis under acute spending; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [28656/23]
- 2023-06-14 Deputy Pádraig O'Sullivan asked the Minister for Health further to Parliamentary Question No. 738 of 30 May 2023, if he could outline the planned publication date for the PCRS December 2022 Performance Report referred to; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [28657/23]
Environment 4 questions
- 2023-06-13 Deputy Pádraig O'Sullivan asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications the progress to provide broadband to a location (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [27605/23]
- 2023-06-13 Deputy Pádraig O'Sullivan asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications the progress to provide broadband to a location (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [27606/23]
- 2023-06-15 Deputy Pádraig O'Sullivan asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications if the Local Government Management Agency has submitted draft codes of practice so that standards can be set for the operation of CCTV by local authorities to tackle illegal dumping; the reason for the delay; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [28614/23]
- 2023-06-15 Deputy Pádraig O'Sullivan asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications when the 2% pension increase due to An Post workers will be authorised; the reason for the delay; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [28615/23]
Justice 3 questions
- 2023-06-13 Deputy Pádraig O'Sullivan asked the Minister for Justice if she will provide a list of the projects approved under the IIP project prior to the closing of the scheme which are still eligible to drawdown endowments to ensure completion, in tabular form; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [27094/23]
- 2023-06-13 Deputy Pádraig O'Sullivan asked the Minister for Justice the powers An Garda Síochána has to disclose personal information to a victim of a violent crime in relation to their perpetrator; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [28145/23]
- 2023-06-13 Deputy Pádraig O'Sullivan asked the Minister for Justice the powers she has granted An Garda Síochána to disclose an alleged perpetrator’s previous convictions where a victim’s life is believed to be in danger; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [28146/23]
Taoiseach 3 questions
- 2023-06-14 Deputy Pádraig O'Sullivan asked the Taoiseach if he will report on the Government’s response to Ireland’s Competitiveness Challenge 2022. [28115/23]
- 2023-06-14 Deputy Pádraig O'Sullivan asked the Taoiseach when the Cabinet committee on health will next meet. [27246/23]
- 2023-06-14 Deputy Pádraig O'Sullivan asked the Taoiseach when the Cabinet committee on health is next due to meet. [28116/23]
Rural 2 questions
- 2023-06-13 Deputy Pádraig O'Sullivan asked the Minister for Rural and Community Development if she will provide an update on the Broadband Connection Points Programme in Cork; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [28332/23]
- 2023-06-13 Deputy Pádraig O'Sullivan asked the Minister for Rural and Community Development the status of the local improvement scheme in Cork; the number of applications received and approved in Cork in 2022 and to date in 2023; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [28333/23]
Foreign 2 questions
- 2023-06-15 Deputy Pádraig O'Sullivan asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs when he expects the final report of the Consultative Forum on International Security to be published; if he has given the chair a timeline for same; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [28617/23]
- 2023-06-15 Deputy Pádraig O'Sullivan asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs if the Government will offer assistance to Moldova to help them prepare for EU membership; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [28616/23]
Children 1 question
- 2023-06-13 Deputy Pádraig O'Sullivan asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth when his Department will pay a contractor (details supplied) in Cork for accommodation and services rendered; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [27328/23]
Tourism 1 question
- 2023-06-14 Deputy Pádraig O'Sullivan asked the Minister for Tourism, Culture, Arts, Gaeltacht, Sport and Media if she will confirm how much money has been allocated to soccer clubs, sporting clubs (details supplied) and rugby clubs under the sports capital grant for the past four rounds of grants; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [28911/23]
Social 1 question
- 2023-06-15 Deputy Pádraig O'Sullivan asked the Minister for Social Protection if she will review the case of a person (details supplied) which has been ongoing for months; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [28910/23]

Thomas Gould — Sinn Féin 0 votes · 3 questions · 0 new lobbying returns

Questions asked 3 total

Health 2 questions
- 2023-06-13 Deputy Thomas Gould asked the Minister for Health the number of applications currently being assessed by the CHO4 Resource Allocation Group. [27797/23]
- 2023-06-13 Deputy Thomas Gould asked the Minister for Health the average wait, from time of prescription to allocation of funding, by the CHO4 Resource Allocation Group. [27798/23]
Public Expenditure 1 question
- 2023-06-13 Deputy Thomas Gould asked the Minister for Public Expenditure, National Development Plan Delivery and Reform for an update on plans to reopen Barryscourt Castle, Cork. [27235/23]