182. Deputy Matt Carthy asked the Minister for Social Protection whether any proposals have been submitted to him, or are under consideration within his Department, to increase the weekly means limit of €100 for the increase for a qualified adult for recipients of the State pension; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [22764/26]
183. Deputy Matt Carthy asked the Minister for Social Protection the rationale for maintaining the weekly means limit of €100 for the increase for a qualified adult for State pension recipients at the same level since 2007, notwithstanding increases in wages, pensions and the cost of living over that period; whether any assessment has been carried out on the real-terms value of this threshold; and if he will make a s…
184. Deputy Matt Carthy asked the Minister for Social Protection the number of State pension (contributory) recipients who are in receipt of a reduced rate increase for a qualified adult due to the current €100 weekly means threshold; the number who do not qualify due to means exceeding €310; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [22766/26]
200. Deputy Matt Carthy asked the Minister for Justice, Home Affairs and Migration the changes he proposes to bring to the criminal legal aid scheme, including all elements of the revised fee structure, whether any changes will require amendments to legislation or be enacted by regulation; the proposed timeframe for implementation of each change; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [22917/26]
201. Deputy Matt Carthy asked the Minister for Justice, Home Affairs and Migration whether, as part of the proposed changes to the criminal legal aid scheme, it is intended to introduce a flat-fee model for District Court criminal legal aid work; and if so, the proposed level of that fee and the work it is intended to cover; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [22918/26]
202. Deputy Matt Carthy asked the Minister for Justice, Home Affairs and Migration whether, under the proposed changes to the criminal legal aid scheme, fees payable to solicitors will vary based on case complexity, number of charges, number of accused persons or duration of proceedings, or any other consideration; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [22919/26]
203. Deputy Matt Carthy asked the Minister for Justice, Home Affairs and Migration if he will publish the analysis and evidence underpinning the proposed changes to the criminal legal aid scheme, including any review of District Court cases used to inform the proposals; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [22920/26]
204. Deputy Matt Carthy asked the Minister for Justice, Home Affairs and Migration the evidence he has received which supports the assertion that the current criminal legal aid scheme incentivises unnecessary adjournments or inefficiencies; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [22921/26]
205. Deputy Matt Carthy asked the Minister for Justice, Home Affairs and Migration the projected annual savings arising from the proposed changes to the criminal legal aid scheme; the details of any cost-benefit analysis undertaken, including potential downstream costs such as delays, appeals or retrials; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [22923/26]
206. Deputy Matt Carthy asked the Minister for Justice, Home Affairs and Migration whether the proposed fee structure under the revised criminal legal aid scheme represents an increase or decrease in effective remuneration for solicitors undertaking criminal legal aid work, including any modelling carried out in that regard; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [22924/26]
207. Deputy Matt Carthy asked the Minister for Justice, Home Affairs and Migration the assessments that have been carried out on the potential impact of the proposed changes to the criminal legal aid scheme on access to legal representation and the constitutional right to a fair trial; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [22925/26]
208. Deputy Matt Carthy asked the Minister for Justice, Home Affairs and Migration whether any assessment has been made of the risk that the proposed changes to the criminal legal aid scheme could result in reduced participation by solicitors in criminal legal aid work; the implications of any such reduction; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [22926/26]
209. Deputy Matt Carthy asked the Minister for Justice, Home Affairs and Migration the number of solicitors currently participating in the criminal legal aid scheme, the trends in participation in recent years; the workforce impact assessment conducted in relation to the proposed changes; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [22927/26]
210. Deputy Matt Carthy asked the Minister for Justice, Home Affairs and Migration the consultation process undertaken in relation to the proposed changes to the criminal legal aid scheme; the stakeholders consulted; the nature of that consultation and the way in which feedback has informed the proposals; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [22932/26]
211. Deputy Matt Carthy asked the Minister for Justice, Home Affairs and Migration the way in which the proposed changes to the criminal legal aid scheme align with commitments in the Programme for Government to restore criminal legal aid fees; the basis for any assertion that the proposals constitute a restoration rather than a reduction; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [22933/26]
212. Deputy Matt Carthy asked the Minister for Justice, Home Affairs and Migration the meetings that he or his officials held with the Law Society in respect of the criminal legal aid scheme since he took office and prior to the announcement of proposed changes to the fee structure under the scheme; whether any proposed meetings were cancelled or postponed by his Department; whether there are further meetings planned…
278. Deputy Matt Carthy asked the Minister for Children, Disability and Equality the current number of vacancies across children’s disability network teams in Cavan and Monaghan, by discipline; the length of time these posts have been vacant; the impact of these vacancies on waiting times for children accessing services; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [22582/26]
279. Deputy Matt Carthy asked the Minister for Children, Disability and Equality the number of children waiting more than 12 months for assessment or intervention by children’s disability network teams in Cavan and Monaghan; and the steps being taken to reduce these waiting lists. [22583/26]
280. Deputy Matt Carthy asked the Minister for Children, Disability and Equality whether additional funding or staffing approvals have been provided to address recruitment and retention challenges in disability services in Cavan Monaghan; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [22584/26]
328. Deputy Matt Carthy asked the Minister for Health further to commitments given in respect of extending the opening hours of the local injuries unit at Monaghan Hospital, the current status of this proposal; when additional staffing approval will be finalised; the timeline for implementation of extended hours, including an 8pm last check-in time; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [22574/26]
329. Deputy Matt Carthy asked the Minister for Health the current status of capital developments at Cavan and Monaghan General Hospital, including the proposed emergency department new build, oncology unit, and additional bed capacity; the timelines for each project; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [22575/26]
330. Deputy Matt Carthy asked the Minister for Health the current waiting list performance at Cavan Monaghan Hospital for outpatient, inpatient/day case and diagnostic services; the percentage of patients waiting longer than national targets; and the measures being taken to address delays in MRI and CT diagnostics in the region. [22576/26]
331. Deputy Matt Carthy asked the Minister for Health the current staffing levels within the suicide crisis assessment nurse service in Cavan Monaghan; whether there are plans to extend the service beyond standard weekday hours; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [22577/26]
332. Deputy Matt Carthy asked the Minister for Health the current status of recruitment for the youth worker post associated with the YouThrive Youth Service in Cavan Monaghan; the length of time the post has been vacant; and the impact of this vacancy on service delivery; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [22578/26]
335. Deputy Matt Carthy asked the Minister for Health the progress made on the development of the new 30-bed acute psychiatric unit at Cavan General Hospital; the current stage of the project; the expected timeline for delivery; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [22581/26]