Longford-Westmeath — week of Mon, 8 Sept

Sorca Clarke — Sinn Féin 0 votes · 93 questions · 7 new lobbying returns

Questions asked 93 total

Health 38 questions
- 2025-09-08 Deputy Sorca Clarke asked the Minister for Health to provide details of general practitioners (GPs) in Mullingar, County Westmeath which are accepting new patients; and to provide a list of GPs who will accept a pregnant woman for her antenatal appointments under the HSE maternity scheme. [44586/25]
- 2025-09-08 Deputy Sorca Clarke asked the Minister for Health the number of vacant child psychologist and consultant psychiatrists posts. [44868/25]
- 2025-09-08 Deputy Sorca Clarke asked the Minister for Health the average wait times in Mullingar’s emergency department for urgent and non-urgent cases; and the longest recorded wait time in the past year. [44869/25]
- 2025-09-08 Deputy Sorca Clarke asked the Minister for Health if she is aware that a telephone support service (details supplied) will cease operation after November 2025; if she will outline the measures her Department will take to ensure that this vital support remains available; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [45312/25]
- 2025-09-08 Deputy Sorca Clarke asked the Minister for Health the number of children hospitalised for eating disorders in 2023, 2024 and to date in 2025. [45376/25]
- 2025-09-08 Deputy Sorca Clarke asked the Minister for Health the number of WTE consultant psychiatrists in old age based in Waterford in 2023, 2024 and to-date in 2025, in tabular form. [45480/25]
- 2025-09-08 Deputy Sorca Clarke asked the Minister for Health the vacancies currently, by job title within Carlow-Kilkenny mental health services; and when each of those vacancies will be filled, in tabular form. [45481/25]
- 2025-09-08 Deputy Sorca Clarke asked the Minister for Health the number of WTE consultant paediatric endocrinologists based at CHI Temple Street in 2024 and to-date in 2025, in tabular form. [45482/25]
- 2025-09-08 Deputy Sorca Clarke asked the Minister for Health the number of WTE advanced nurse practitioners in epilepsy based at St. James's Hospital in 2023, 2024 and to-date in 2025, in tabular form. [45483/25]
- 2025-09-08 Deputy Sorca Clarke asked the Minister for Health the number of WTE consultant child and adolescent psychiatrists based in Donegal in 2023, 2024 and to-date in 2025, in tabular form. [45484/25]
- 2025-09-08 Deputy Sorca Clarke asked the Minister for Health the number of individuals currently waiting for complex menopause services in County Westmeath, by length of time waiting that is up to 3 months, between 3-6 months, between 6-12 months and over 12 months, in tabular form. [45485/25]
- 2025-09-08 Deputy Sorca Clarke asked the Minister for Health the number of WTE paediatric haematologist registrars based at CHI Crumlin in 2024 and to-date in 2025, in tabular form. [45486/25]
- 2025-09-08 Deputy Sorca Clarke asked the Minister for Health the number of public referrals made to a mental health service (details supplied) in 2024; and the number of referrals refused, in tabular form. [45659/25]
- 2025-09-08 Deputy Sorca Clarke asked the Minister for Health the number of patients currently on the outpatient gynaecology waiting list at Mullingar Regional Hospital; and of these the number awaiting investigation or treatment for endometriosis. [45675/25]
- 2025-09-08 Deputy Sorca Clarke asked the Minister for Health the number of day-case and inpatient surgical procedures carried out for endometriosis at Mullingar Regional Hospital, in the past five years. [45676/25]
- 2025-09-08 Deputy Sorca Clarke asked the Minister for Health if she has plans to expand endometriosis services at Mullingar Regional Hospital. [45677/25]
- 2025-09-08 Deputy Sorca Clarke asked the Minister for Health to provide for each SATU in Ireland, including Mullingar Regional Hospital, the number of approved posts at every staff grade/role; the number of posts currently filled; and the number of posts currently vacant. [45712/25]
- 2025-09-08 Deputy Sorca Clarke asked the Minister for Health for each post in every SATU, if she will provide details of any position that has been unfilled or vacant for more than four weeks, specifying whether the vacancy is due to leave, sick leave, maternity leave or other reasons. [45713/25]
- 2025-09-08 Deputy Sorca Clarke asked the Minister for Health the reason the external retrospective review of children who have undergone unnecessary hip dysplasia surgery has been delayed until January 2026; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [45779/25]
- 2025-09-08 Deputy Sorca Clarke asked the Minister for Health the steps she is taking to ensure clear and transparent communication between the HSE and families affected by the retrospective review into unnecessary hip dysplasia surgeries; and if she will instruct the HSE to provide immediate updates. [45780/25]
- 2025-09-08 Deputy Sorca Clarke asked the Minister for Health if she has considered establishing a dedicated webpage or platform to provide families with timely updates on the review into unnecessary hip dysplasia surgeries. [45781/25]
- 2025-09-08 Deputy Sorca Clarke asked the Minister for Health whether psychological and practical support services are being offered to families whose children have undergone unnecessary hip surgeries; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [45782/25]
- 2025-09-08 Deputy Sorca Clarke asked the Minister for Health the status of the dual diagnosis pilot scheme; the current sites where the pilot is in operation; the number of service users who have been supported to date; the outcomes achieved; the staffing and funding allocated to the scheme in 2024 and 2025; the timeline for the full rollout of dual diagnosis teams; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [45834/25]
- 2025-09-08 Deputy Sorca Clarke asked the Minister for Health if she will provide clarity on the process followed by the Counsellors and Psychotherapists Registration Board of CORU in adopting the recently published Standards and Criteria for Counsellors and Psychotherapists; if a proportionality assessment was carried out before their adoption; the consultation process undertaken; the rationale for the changes made between the 2023 draft standards and the final published version; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [45872/25]
- 2025-09-08 Deputy Sorca Clarke asked the Minister for Health the reason BreastCheck failed to meet its annual screening targets in 2023 and 2024; her plans to ensure they meet their target in 2025; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [46131/25]
- 2025-09-08 Deputy Sorca Clarke asked the Minister for Health the total funding allocated to the BreastCheck programme in each of the years 2020-2025; the projected allocation for 2026; and her views on whether this funding is sufficient to meet the annual screening target. [46132/25]
- 2025-09-08 Deputy Sorca Clarke asked the Minister for Health the current number of radiographers, radiologists, breast surgeons, and triple assessment clinic staff employed by BreastCheck, compared to the number required to deliver screening and assessment to target capacity and the current. number of vacancies. [46133/25]
- 2025-09-08 Deputy Sorca Clarke asked the Minister for Health the breakdown of BreastCheck resources, by RHA, including staff numbers, budget and access to a triple assessment clinic; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [46134/25]
- 2025-09-08 Deputy Sorca Clarke asked the Minister for Health when the report into the review of CAMHS in north Kerry will be published; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [46135/25]
- 2025-09-08 Deputy Sorca Clarke asked the Minister for Health her views on the significantly higher cost of gluten-free food products compared with standard equivalents; the impact this has on people with coeliac disease and gluten intolerance; and the steps she is taking to make gluten free food more affordable. [46137/25]
- 2025-09-08 Deputy Sorca Clarke asked the Minister for Health her response to the announcement by an organisation (details supplied) that it will be forced to cut staff due to a fall in donations; her Department's assessment of the impact these cuts will have on the provision of suicide prevention and crisis intervention services; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [46139/25]
- 2025-09-08 Deputy Sorca Clarke asked the Minister for Health her views on the continued use of pharmaceutical products manufactured by Israeli companies within the HSE, in light of calls from CHI consultants to end the use of Israeli drugs; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [46140/25]
- 2025-09-08 Deputy Sorca Clarke asked the Minister for Health if she will provide a breakdown of the number of audiologists employed by the HSE, by county; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [46299/25]
- 2025-09-08 Deputy Sorca Clarke asked the Minister for Health the average waiting time for an audiology assessment and fitting of hearing aids, broken down by RHA; the steps being taken to reduce these waiting times; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [46300/25]
- 2025-09-08 Deputy Sorca Clarke asked the Minister for Health the number of persons on audiology waiting lists in the past 5 years, per year, in tabular form, and the number of persons that received audiology assessments and hearing aids in the same period. [46330/25]
- 2025-09-08 Deputy Sorca Clarke asked the Minister for Health the average waiting time for children and young people to access specialist eating disorder services in each RHA, in 2024 and to date in 2025. [46370/25]
- 2025-09-08 Deputy Sorca Clarke asked the Minister for Health if she will provide figures on the proportion of practising counsellors and psychotherapists who are contracted with or provide services directly to the HSE; and the proportion that operate privately and are subject to VAT. [46529/25]
- 2025-09-08 Deputy Sorca Clarke asked the Minister for Health the average waiting time for patients referred from primary care to dermatology services for assessment of potentially cancerous moles; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [46543/25]
Justice 15 questions
- 2025-09-08 Deputy Sorca Clarke asked the Minister for Justice, Home Affairs and Migration if she will outline the wraparound supports currently available to women accommodated in safe homes; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [46403/25]
- 2025-09-08 Deputy Sorca Clarke asked the Minister for Justice, Home Affairs and Migration the appeals process available to persons whose applications for subsidiary protection or humanitarian leave to remain have been refused; if he will ensure access to legal advice for applicants in such situations; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [45023/25]
- 2025-09-08 Deputy Sorca Clarke asked the Minister for Justice, Home Affairs and Migration the average processing time for applications for residence permission for de-facto partners of Irish citizens; the number of applications currently pending; and the measures being taken to reduce delays given reports of applicants waiting up to ten months for a decision. [45230/25]
- 2025-09-08 Deputy Sorca Clarke asked the Minister for Justice, Home Affairs and Migration the number of pending de-facto partner visa preclearance applications, by month of receipt; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [45231/25]
- 2025-09-08 Deputy Sorca Clarke asked the Minister for Justice, Home Affairs and Migration the number and percentage of de-facto partner visa applications refused in the past three years; the most common grounds for refusal; the number of successful appeals; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [45232/25]
- 2025-09-08 Deputy Sorca Clarke asked the Minister for Justice, Home Affairs and Migration the current waiting time for an appeal of a refused join family visa; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [45278/25]
- 2025-09-08 Deputy Sorca Clarke asked the Minister for Justice, Home Affairs and Migration the number of visa applications currently pending, by category, to date in 2025; and how this compares to the same date in 2023 and 2024. [45279/25]
- 2025-09-08 Deputy Sorca Clarke asked the Minister for Justice, Home Affairs and Migration the number of Palestinian nationals granted international protection in Ireland in 2023, 2024 and to date in 2025; the number of Palestinian nationals refused international protection in these years; and the number of Palestinian nationals currently awaiting a decision on their international protection application, to date in 2025, in tabular form. [45291/25]
- 2025-09-08 Deputy Sorca Clarke asked the Minister for Justice, Home Affairs and Migration the number of Ukrainian nationals that have been granted temporary protection or international protection in Ireland in 2022, 2023, 2024 and to date in 2025; the number that were refused; and the number currently awaiting a decision on their application for protection, in tabular form. [45292/25]
- 2025-09-08 Deputy Sorca Clarke asked the Minister for Justice, Home Affairs and Migration the average length of stay of residents in direct provision centres. [45302/25]
- 2025-09-08 Deputy Sorca Clarke asked the Minister for Justice, Home Affairs and Migration the number and location of all direct provision centres currently in operation. [45303/25]
- 2025-09-08 Deputy Sorca Clarke asked the Minister for Justice, Home Affairs and Migration the number of Gardaí, by rank attached to Mayo, Roscommon and Longford divisional protective services bureau, in tabular form. [45490/25]
- 2025-09-08 Deputy Sorca Clarke asked the Minister for Justice, Home Affairs and Migration the number of Gardai, by rank attached to Meath-Westmeath divisional protective services bureau, in tabular form. [45491/25]
- 2025-09-08 Deputy Sorca Clarke asked the Minister for Justice, Home Affairs and Migration the current number of safe homes available nationally for women fleeing domestic violence. [46401/25]
- 2025-09-08 Deputy Sorca Clarke asked the Minister for Justice, Home Affairs and Migration the number of women who have sought refuge or safe homes while fleeing domestic violence or addiction in the past five years; the number that were provided with accommodation; and the number that were turned away. [46402/25]
Transport 7 questions
- 2025-09-08 Deputy Sorca Clarke asked the Minister for Transport the steps his Department will take to ensure that a fully quorate representative committee, constituted strictly in accordance with the scheme’s governing statutory instrument (detail supplied) is restored as a matter of priority. [45040/25]
- 2025-09-08 Deputy Sorca Clarke asked the Minister for Transport if the Pension’s Authority is investigating the current concerns surrounding the governance arrangements of the CIÉ Superannuation Scheme 1951 as raised by members of the scheme (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [45041/25]
- 2025-09-08 Deputy Sorca Clarke asked the Minister for Transport if he will instruct the Pension’s Authority to investigate the current concerns surrounding the governance arrangements of the CIÉ Superannuation Scheme 1951 as raised by members of the scheme (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [45042/25]
- 2025-09-08 Deputy Sorca Clarke asked the Minister for Transport the total cost incurred by his Department and TII in 2024 and to date in 2025, for the repair and maintenance of the national road and rail network; the breakdown of these costs, by county; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [45191/25]
- 2025-09-08 Deputy Sorca Clarke asked the Minister for Transport the current waiting times for driving tests in each centre in counties Longford and Westmeath; and the number of applicants currently waiting beyond ten to 12 weeks in each test centre, in tabular form. [45400/25]
- 2025-09-08 Deputy Sorca Clarke asked the Minister for Transport the number of commercial flights that departed from each of the airports in Dublin, Cork, Shannon, Knock and Kerry in 2023 and 2024; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [45516/25]
- 2025-09-08 Deputy Sorca Clarke asked the Minister for Transport if consideration was given to extending the new child 5–8 Leap card beyond eight years of age; and the reasoning behind choosing the 5-8 age group for this scheme. [47264/25]
Housing 7 questions
- 2025-09-08 Deputy Sorca Clarke asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the number of social and affordable housing units currently under construction or approved for development in counties Longford and Westmeath; the estimated completion dates for these units; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [44856/25]
- 2025-09-08 Deputy Sorca Clarke asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the number of vacant and derelict properties in counties Longford and Westmeath; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [44857/25]
- 2025-09-08 Deputy Sorca Clarke asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the number of persons and families accessing emergency accommodation in counties Longford and Westmeath; the number of people that were turned away from emergency accommodation in 2024 and to date in 2025; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [44858/25]
- 2025-09-08 Deputy Sorca Clarke asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the number of households in counties Westmeath and Longford living in HAP supported accommodation. [44873/25]
- 2025-09-08 Deputy Sorca Clarke asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage if he will outline the current policy and guidelines for local authorities in prioritising housing allocations for individuals and families experiencing harassment or domestic abuse, including where the harassment involves repeated Garda welfare checks found to be unfounded; the measures in place to ensure such cases are treated as urgent; and the number of households currently in emergency accommodation for these reasons, in each local authority, in tabular form. [45412/25]
- 2025-09-08 Deputy Sorca Clarke asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the number of emergency accommodation beds available in each county. [46498/25]
- 2025-09-08 Deputy Sorca Clarke asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the number of vacant homes currently lying empty, per county, in tabular form. [47283/25]
Education 6 questions
- 2025-09-08 Deputy Sorca Clarke asked the Minister for Education and Youth the number of children with additional needs in County Westmeath who are currently without a suitable school place for the upcoming academic year. [44874/25]
- 2025-09-08 Deputy Sorca Clarke asked the Minister for Education and Youth when her Department will commence negotiations with a union (details supplied) regarding the school secretaries pension campaign; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [45247/25]
- 2025-09-08 Deputy Sorca Clarke asked the Minister for Education and Youth if she will ensure that children who previously held seats on a school bus are not unfairly displaced under the random allocation process on school transport, given the significant hardship this causes families with no alternative means of transport; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [45598/25]
- 2025-09-08 Deputy Sorca Clarke asked the Minister for Education and Youth if she will provide a breakdown of the number of primary and post primary schools that are Catholic, Church of Ireland, other religious patronage and non-denominational, by county, in tabular form; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [45948/25]
- 2025-09-08 Deputy Sorca Clarke asked the Minister for Education and Youth the number of children who have been refused a school bus ticket for the 2025-2026 academic year due to a lack of available spaces, per county, in tabular form. [45959/25]
- 2025-09-08 Deputy Sorca Clarke asked the Minister for Education and Youth if she will outline the steps being taken to ensure greater access to secure, full-time positions, for newly qualified and unemployed teachers; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [46771/25]
Climate 4 questions
- 2025-09-08 Deputy Sorca Clarke asked the Minister for Climate, Energy and the Environment the details of the funding that has been provided to Westmeath and Longford County Councils in the past 5 years to implement local climate action plans, in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [44798/25]
- 2025-09-08 Deputy Sorca Clarke asked the Minister for Climate, Energy and the Environment the number of households in counties Longford and Westmeath which had electricity or gas disconnection in the past year due to non-payment. [44867/25]
- 2025-09-08 Deputy Sorca Clarke asked the Minister for Climate, Energy and the Environment the number of home energy upgrades that have been supported through SEAI retrofitting schemes in Longford and Westmeath in the past five years. [45080/25]
- 2025-09-08 Deputy Sorca Clarke asked the Minister for Climate, Energy and the Environment if he will provide an update on the mechanisms available to homeowners whose properties have been damaged as a result of works carried out under SEAI approved retrofit schemes; the redress routes that are open to affected households in cases where contractors have carried out substandard and damaging works; if he will report on the monitoring and enforcement systems in place to ensure quality assurance and contractor accountability within SEAI retrofit programmes; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [45830/25]
Culture 4 questions
- 2025-09-08 Deputy Sorca Clarke asked the Minister for Culture, Communications and Sport the allocation of sports capital funding to clubs and facilities in Longford-Westmeath in the past five years; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [45370/25]
- 2025-09-08 Deputy Sorca Clarke asked the Minister for Culture, Communications and Sport the amount of funding that Sport Ireland provided to an organisation (details supplied) in 2023, 2024 and to-date in 2025, in tabular form. [45489/25]
- 2025-09-08 Deputy Sorca Clarke asked the Minister for Culture, Communications and Sport the amount of funding that has been allocated to the growth of basketball in Ireland the past five years, in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [45877/25]
- 2025-09-08 Deputy Sorca Clarke asked the Minister for Culture, Communications and Sport the total annual funding allocated to organisations (details supplied) over the past five years, in tabular form. [46208/25]
Finance 3 questions
- 2025-09-08 Deputy Sorca Clarke asked the Minister for Finance the estimated annual VAT revenue collected from counselling and psychotherapy services. [46527/25]
- 2025-09-08 Deputy Sorca Clarke asked the Minister for Finance if his Department has carried out an assessment of the fiscal impact of designating counselling and psychotherapy services as VAT exempt in line with other health services. [46528/25]
- 2025-09-08 Deputy Sorca Clarke asked the Minister for Finance the annual revenue generated by businesses from the sale of period products including pads, tampons and other menstrual hygiene products. [46571/25]
Taoiseach 2 questions
- 2025-09-08 Deputy Sorca Clarke asked the Taoiseach the revenue generated by the tourism sector for each of the past five years; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [44607/25]
- 2025-09-08 Deputy Sorca Clarke asked the Taoiseach the number of overseas visitors to Ireland for each of the past 5 years, in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [44608/25]
Social 2 questions
- 2025-09-08 Deputy Sorca Clarke asked the Minister for Social Protection if his Department plans to have a webchat service link on his Department website for members of the public to enquire regarding social welfare entitlements and so on. [45488/25]
- 2025-09-08 Deputy Sorca Clarke asked the Minister for Social Protection the supports or schemes available to qualified post primary teachers who are currently unemployed, particularly in cases where there are no suitable vacancies in their local area (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [46737/25]
Public Expenditure 1 question
- 2025-09-08 Deputy Sorca Clarke asked the Minister for Public Expenditure, Infrastructure, Public Service Reform and Digitalisation the number of WTE qualified architects and structural engineers employed by the OPW in 2024 and to-date in 2025, in tabular form. [45487/25]
Enterprise 1 question
- 2025-09-08 Deputy Sorca Clarke asked the Minister for Enterprise, Tourism and Employment the number of residential properties currently listed as short-term rentals on platforms (details supplied); and the percentage of these properties that are located in areas designated as RPZ. [46256/25]
Agriculture 1 question
- 2025-09-08 Deputy Sorca Clarke asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine to outline the funding and supports available to landowners who wish to engage in reforestation and native tree planting projects; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [46103/25]
Children 1 question
- 2025-09-08 Deputy Sorca Clarke asked the Minister for Children, Disability and Equality the status of the provision of childcare places under the NCS in Athlone, in particular for children with urgent developmental needs; the steps being taken to ensure that approved NCS beneficiaries are not left without access to creche facilities, including any emergency childcare measures; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [46566/25]
Further and Higher Education 1 question
- 2025-09-08 Deputy Sorca Clarke asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science the dropout rates for first-year students at TUS Athlone. [44872/25]

New lobbying 7 returns

Alcohol Action Ireland Health
- Alcohol health information labelling
Irish Wheelchair Association (IWA) Finance
- Lobbied Government officials on IWA's Prebudget submission, which included areas such as Cost of Disability Payment, Funding for services, Transport, Housing, Community Services Access and Sport
The Psychological Society of Ireland · 3 returns Health · Justice and Equality
- Meeting with Deputy Sorca Clarke to discuss changes to the proposed Mental Health Bill 2024
- Email sent to opposition party TDs circulating the PSI’s Press Release advocating for a Shared Governance Leadership Model in Child and Adolescent Mental Health Services (CAMHS).
- Circulation of PSI Press Release to Oireachtas Members (opposition TDs) Calling for an End to the Use of Therapy Notes in Rape and Sexual Assault Cases
Creative Retail Distribution Limited · 2 returns Taxation
- Support for Classification of HHC as a Schedule 1 Controlled Drug
- Email concerning the E-liquids Products Tax and concerns around the mechanism chosen to implement the tax via self-declaration rather than as a tax-stamp. Hale also referred to research commissioned from KPMG which raised several important policy considerations around the E-Liquids products tax including the potential for a surge in illicit and grey market sales.

What your Longford-Westmeath TDs did this week

New lobbying 4 returns

Questions asked 1 total

New lobbying 9 returns

New lobbying 18 returns

Questions asked 2 total

New lobbying 10 returns

Questions asked 93 total

New lobbying 7 returns