Senator Micheál Carrigy

To ask the Minister for Health his views on the establishment of independent hospital trusts under the universal health insurance system particularly in relation to the agreement of funding and staffing levels; and if he will make a statement on the matter.

To ask the Minister for Health his views on the establishment of independent hospital trusts under the universal health insurance system particularly in relation to the agreement of funding and staffing levels; and if he will make a statement on the matter.

To ask the Minister for Social Protection if there is a review process for persons that are initially refused social welfare payments based on the same information on which they win their appeal; and if she will make a statement on the matter.

To ask the Minister for Education and Skills the research his Department have available regarding the current availability of student loans; the engagement his Department have undergone in relation to ensuring colleges offer a direct debit facility for student contribution fees or the plans he may have to follow this strategy; and if he will make a statement on the matter.

To ask the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government his views on his Departments recent proposal to offer families in social housing an incentive to buy their properties, while at the same time introducing a mortgage to rent scheme which will in turn bring private properties owned by a person and the bank to within the remit of his Department and social housing organisation; and if he will make a statement on the matter.

To ask the Minister for Health if the Health Service Executive tendering process for payroll services will be offered only to Irish service providers; and if he will make a statement on the matter.

To ask the Minister for Social Protection the length of time currently taken to process carer's allowance applications on average...

To ask the Minister for Social Protection the steps that have been taken to shorten the waiting period for the determination of appeals...

To ask the Minister for Social Protection if her attention has been drawn to the hardship and distress caused to applicants for local authority housing who are forced to rely on rent support in respect of private housing and are subject to a maximum rent which is applicable throughout County Kildare...

To ask the Minister for Social Protection the extent to which it has been found possible to expedite the process for the determination of entitlement to basic social welfare payments in respect of persons previously self-employed...