Written answers
Thursday, 24 October 2024
- Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth
- International Protection
14. To ask the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth the plans for Columb barracks, Mullingar; the extent of the lease or licence secured from the Department of...
- Childcare Services
15. To ask the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth how the national childcare scheme has grown in recent years; when he expects parents using registered...
- Early Childhood Care and Education
16. To ask the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth if he will provide an overview of the new equal start DEIS model for childcare; how many services are included;...
- International Protection
17. To ask the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth what assessment was carried out regarding the suitability of Lissywollen international protection centre for an...
- Mother and Baby Homes
18. To ask the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth further to Parliamentary Question No. 41 of 2 October 2024, the number of applications to the mother and baby...
- Early Childhood Care and Education
19. To ask the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth the measures his Department is taking to increase the number of facilities that will take children under two...
- Equality Issues
21. To ask the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth if there are plans to add the tenth ground of discrimination and codify socioeconomic status as a protected...
- Disabilities Assessments
23. To ask the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth the process that follows a legal challenge taken against the HSE by parents of a child not given an assessment of...
- Disability Services
27. To ask the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth the nature and type of new therapies, including new technologies, to assist children with autism and disabilities...
- Childcare Services
28. To ask the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth how many childcare providers have applied for fee increases within core funding; the size of the fee increases...
- International Protection
29. To ask the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth if he will provide details of the policy his Department uses to determine if accommodation contracts relating to...
- Early Childhood Care and Education
30. To ask the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth the level of capital grant-aid that will be made available to assist in the provision of additional childcare...
- Child Poverty
31. To ask the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth the supports his Department provides for local area child poverty action plans; and if he will make a statement...
- Early Childhood Care and Education
32. To ask the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth if the level of shortage in childcare being experienced at present has been identified; if proposals are being...
- Health Service Executive
33. To ask the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth further to Parliamentary Question No. 53 of 18 June 2024, if he will provide an update on how many assessments...
- Special Educational Needs
34. To ask the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth to provide further information and details of the arrangement between the HSE and his Department in relation to...
- International Protection
35. To ask the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth if his Department has a policy as to how accommodation provision for beneficiaries of temporary protection and...
- Disability Services
36. To ask the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth to provide an update on his Department's efforts to address CDNT waiting lists in CH09; and if he will make a...
- Rights of People with Disabilities
37. To ask the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth what plans there are to vindicate the rights of disabled people to access the complaints mechanisms contained in...
- Child Protection
38. To ask the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth the degree to which the ongoing welfare of children is adequately protected in all situations where the State is...
- Disability Services
39. To ask the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth the role his Department has played in the crisis within Children’s Disability Network Teams in Donegal,...
- Mother and Baby Homes
40. To ask the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth the plans to address the urgency of a request by a group (details supplied) for a meeting regarding the report on...
- Early Childhood Care and Education
41. To ask the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth if he will examine flexibility under the national childcare scheme as regards hours attended by children; and if...
- Disability Services
42. To ask the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth the new services for children with special needs that will be delivered in County Monaghan in 2025. [43207/24]
- Equality Issues
43. To ask the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth when he will publish the next national LGBTQI+ inclusion strategy; what the broad aims of the strategy will be;...
- Early Childhood Care and Education
44. To ask the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth if he can share either domestic or international indicators on the State’s performance in the area of...
- Youth Services
45. To ask the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth if she and her Department have mapped the existence of youth-focused community projects and staff across the...
- Early Childhood Care and Education
46. To ask the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth if there are any supports in place from his Department for existing pre-school/crèche providers that are...
- Childcare Services
47. To ask the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth further to Parliamentary Question No. 541 of 15 October 2024, the number of childcare centres it is estimated...
- Guardians Ad Litem
48. To ask the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth if he is satisfied that the welfare and interests of children remain adequately protected in all guardian ad...
- Early Childhood Care and Education
49. To ask the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth if he will consider raising the pay of early years educators by €1.50 per hour, as sought by a union...
- Disabilities Assessments
50. To ask the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth to outline any engagement his Department has had with other Departments regarding the division of...
- Early Childhood Care and Education
51. To ask the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth whether he intends to provide a capital grant scheme for childcare providers. [43206/24]
- Departmental Projects
52. To ask the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth when the proposed national centre for research and remembrance will open in Dublin; his plans for remembrance...
- Youth Services
53. To ask the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth how his Department is supporting youth services; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [43538/24]
- Department of Enterprise, Trade and Employment
- Employment Rights
54. To ask the Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment to set out the legislative action the Government plans to take to combat union-busting and to protect workers from victimisation in...
- Social Enterprise Sector
55. To ask the Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment given recent research from Social Enterprise Ireland revealing challenges for social enterprises in accessing local enterprise office...
- Business Supports
58. To ask the Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment if he is concerned regarding the high cost of energy prices for businesses; what actions his Department is taking outside of those...
- Wage-setting Mechanisms
60. To ask the Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment if he is planning to abolish sub-minimum wages, as recommended by the Low Pay Commission and the ESRI; and if he will make a statement...
- Enterprise Policy
62. To ask the Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment for a report on the implementation of the South East Regional Enterprise Plan; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [43434/24]
- Business Supports
63. To ask the Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment the number of businesses in Cork city and county that have registered for, and drawn down, the increased cost of business grants since...
- Insurance Industry
70. To ask the Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment if he is satisfied that savings resulting from the work of the Injuries Resolution Board are being passed onto insurance policy...
- Biotechnology Industry
72. To ask the Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment the State’s response to the proposed Biosecure Act in the United States, to include the measures being taken to address the...
- Industrial Development
73. To ask the Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment for an update on the IDA’s efforts to attract inward investment to Cavan and Monaghan; and if he will make a statement on the...
- Business Supports
74. To ask the Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment the supports being provided to support small and medium enterprises to deal with the increased cost of business; and if he will make a...
- Industrial Development
75. To ask the Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment the extent to which there is untapped potential for clustering in Ireland; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [43501/24]
- Middle East
77. To ask the Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment further to Parliamentary Question No. 49 of 11 July 2024, the details of his engagement with the Department of Foreign Affairs in...
- Insurance Industry
78. To ask the Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment with regard to his recent statement that “it is imperative that all stakeholders fully commit to supporting the reforms...
- EU Directives
79. To ask the Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment if he will report on the status of proposed legislation to remove the blanket exclusion of members of the Defence Forces from the...
- Departmental Schemes
80. To ask the Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment if he will consider introducing an export credit guarantee scheme. [43435/24]
- Enterprise Policy
81. To ask the Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment the extent to which he and his Department continue to make efforts to ensure an adequacy of both manufacturing and service jobs in the...
- Middle East
82. To ask the Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment his plans to suspend the export of dual-use goods to Israel in light of the finding in the International Court of Justice of a case of...
- Insurance Industry
83. To ask the Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment his response to the annual report from the Injuries Resolution Board; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [43335/24]
- Export Controls
84. To ask the Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment the assurances he can provide that dual use export licences have not been granted in relation products or services with military...
- Enterprise Policy
85. To ask the Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment further to Parliamentary Question No. 480 of 9 September 2024, when the next meeting of the business and human rights stakeholder...
- Enterprise Support Services
86. To ask the Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment to report on the progress of the Enterprise Ireland innovation scheme; the plans for the future of the scheme; and if he will make a...
- Enterprise Policy
87. To ask the Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment further to Parliamentary Question No. 479 of 9 September 2024, the status of the development of the next Action Plan on Business and...
- Insurance Industry
88. To ask the Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment how the Injuries Resolution Board is generating savings which would otherwise have been spent on expensive and prolonged litigation;...
- Export Controls
89. To ask the Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment if he has introduced additional controls on non-listed dual-use items because of human rights considerations; and if he will make a...
- EU Directives
90. To ask the Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment if he is going to implement the EU Directive on adequate minimum wages by 15 November; and if he will make a statement on the matter....
- Small and Medium Enterprises
91. To ask the Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment how his Department assists small businesses to boost productivity; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [43533/24]
- Employment Rights
92. To ask the Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment if he is planning to increase paid sick leave days to seven days, from 1 January 2025 as previously promised; and if he will make a...
- Film Industry
93. To ask the Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment whether he has had any recent engagements with stakeholders in the Irish film and audiovisual industry about improving income,...
- Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade
- Passport Services
94. To ask the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade when a passport will issue to a person (details supplied); the reason for the delay in issuing said passport; and if he will make a statement...
- Foreign Birth Registration
95. To ask the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade the likely timescale for completion of the processing of an application for an Irish citizenship foreign birth registration, and a...
- Department of Communications, Climate Action and Environment
- Renewable Energy Generation
96. To ask the Minister for Communications, Climate Action and Environment further to Parliamentary Question No. 115 of 15 October 2024, if he will identify each individual provider of legal...
- Energy Conservation
98. To ask the Minister for Communications, Climate Action and Environment the cost of achieving the targets to retrofit the equivalent of 500,000 homes to a building energy rating of B2/cost...
- Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport
- Electric Vehicles
100. To ask the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport the cost of trebling the number of publicly available charging points, based on the average cost to date, if future projections are not...
- Road Tolls
101. To ask the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport if he could exempt public service vehicles, such as taxis, from the peak-time toll prices (€12.50) at the Dublin Port Tunnel, as...
- Road Network
102. To ask the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport the days the Jack Lynch Tunnel has been closed in each of the years 2021 to 2023 and to date in 2024; the nature of the closures; and if...
- Road Projects
103. To ask the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport if the recent submission from Kilkenny County Council regarding the Northern extension of the ring road meets the requirements of the...
- Road Safety
104. To ask the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport when he envisions a reduced speed limit on national roads being imposed as outlined in the Road Traffic Act 2024; and if he will make a...
- Transport Costs
105. To ask the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport the cost of maintaining the 20% reduction in public transport fares on public service obligation routes until 2030; and the cost of...
- Córas Iompair Éireann
106. To ask the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport further to Parliamentary Questions Nos. 63 and 64 of 8 October 2024, if he will clarify matters in respect of correspondence received...
- Public Sector Pensions
107. To ask the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport the reason no formal acknowledgment was issued by his Department to members of the CIÉ 1951 pension scheme in relation to their...
- Bus Services
108. To ask the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport if the bus service linking Kenmare to Castletownbere could be reinstated as it is a much needed and wanted service; and if he will make a...
- Traffic Management
109. To ask the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport if he has given any instruction or directive, or is aware of one which might affect the recalibration of traffic lights in Dublin City...
- Department of Finance
- Tax Code
110. To ask the Minister for Finance the income tax liability to date in 2024 in the case of a person (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [43828/24]
- Insurance Industry
111. To ask the Minister for Finance if an investigation will be carried out into the insurance companies who have been charging larger annual premiums for lesser insurance cover when homeowners...
- Tax Credits
112. To ask the Minister for Finance if he will reconsider allowing the children of landlords registered with the Residential Tenancies Board (RTB) to claim the rent tax credit; if he will...
- Tax Exemptions
113. To ask the Minister for Finance if he will consider extending exemptions on property tax to people who are on fixed pensions; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [43651/24]
- Tax Data
114. To ask the Minister for Finance the number of taxpayer units who may have either underpayments or overpayments for the 2022 and 2023 tax years respectively; the number who have not yet...
- Primary Medical Certificates
115. To ask the Minister for Finance to provide an update on the report expected this Autumn on proposed changes to the criteria for the primary medical certificate; if he has received the...
- Tax Yield
116. To ask the Minister for Finance to outline the amount of revenue collected each year since 2019 in capital gains tax, deposit interest retention tax and capital acquisitions tax as a result...
- Tax Code
118. To ask the Minister for Finance the cost of increasing the personal, employee and earned income credits by €50, €100, €150 and €200 every year between 2026 and...
- Tax Reliefs
131. To ask the Minister for Finance the current annual cost of the help to buy scheme, based on the latest data available. [43737/24]
- Tax Yield
138. To ask the Minister for Finance the revenue generated by increasing the domestic tax on e-cigarettes to all e-liquids at a rate of an extra 50c per ml of e-liquid per year, reaching...
- Tax Code
140. To ask the Minister for Finance if a revision of tax-free allowances with regard to inheritance will be examined (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [43797/24]
- Tax Reliefs
141. To ask the Minister for Finance the number of help-to-buy claims approved since 1 July 2020, broken down by county, along with the number of applicants associated with these claims; and the...
- Mortgage Resolution Processes
142. To ask the Minister for Finance the extent to which finance investment companies are currently in engaged in the repossession of family homes, the mortgages for which they acquired at a...
- Department of Public Expenditure and Reform
- Flood Risk Management
143. To ask the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform the reason the OPW has not prepared a national strategy for river drainage and maintenance measures to manage flood risk, and allocate...
- Public Sector Pay
145. To ask the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform the cost of a new public sector deal from 2026 to 2030, based on the same parameters and percentage increases in place under the current...
- Department of Enterprise, Trade and Employment
- Small and Medium Enterprises
146. To ask the Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment for further measures for SMEs, including the hospitality and retail sectors, to assist with ongoing impacts due to rising costs; and...
- Enterprise Support Services
148. To ask the Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment the number of site visits that were taken by IDA Ireland and Enterprise Ireland clients to each of the local electoral areas (LEAs)...
- Work Permits
150. To ask the Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment when a person (details supplied) will receive a decision on their general employment permit application. [43679/24]
- Health and Safety
151. To ask the Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment the number of submissions made by the HSA to An Bord Pleanála, half yearly from 2018 to date (by submission date), categorised...
- Exports Growth
153. To ask the Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment the extent to which new markets for Irish exports overseas are being sourced on an ongoing basis; and if he will make a statement on...
- Foreign Direct Investment
154. To ask the Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment the countries with which Ireland remains in competition in respect of foreign direct investment; and if he will make a statement on...
- Job Creation
155. To ask the Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment the extent to which job opportunities in the services and manufacturing sectors remain bright for County Kildare and the country at...
- Economic Growth
156. To ask the Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment the countries he sees as the greatest competition for Ireland over the next five years in respect of the manufacturing and services...
- Enterprise Policy
157. To ask the Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment the extent to which he can encourage the return of Irish emigrants currently based abroad, with a view to meeting the workplace...
- Enterprise Support Services
159. To ask the Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment the extent to which he foresees the availability of sufficient resources to ensure adequate investment and activity in the...
- Enterprise Policy
160. To ask the Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment his views on the extent to which women continue to head up new enterprises; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [43865/24]
- Business Supports
161. To ask the Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment the financial supports currently being made available to small businesses; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [43867/24]
- Job Creation
162. To ask the Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment the degree to which he continues to encourage and foster job opportunities throughout the regions with particular reference to the...
- Industrial Development
164. To ask the Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment to indicate the extent to which an industrial park for Kilcock, County Kildare continues to be considered; and if he will make a...
- Department of Education and Skills
- Schools Building Projects
165. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills further to Parliamentary Question No. 196 of 17 October 2024, if she will provide a breakdown, on a local authority, basis of the overall totals...
- Educational Disadvantage
166. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills if she will address the concerns of a school (details supplied) regarding the lack of DEIS status despite significant indicators of social...
- School Funding
168. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills if she is aware that a school (details supplied) is no longer going to receive financial backing from the Central Remedial Clinic; if she will...
- Schools Building Projects
169. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills if funding is available to secure a new playground development (details supplied) to prevent damage; and if she will make a statement on the...
- Education Costs
170. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills if there is funding available to a person (details supplied) to provide financial assistance with paying the fees for a transition year course...
- Special Educational Needs
171. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills the current situation regarding an application for the provision of a special class at a primary school in County Cork (details supplied). [43660/24]
- Schools Building Projects
172. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills for an update on an extension to a school (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [43673/24]
- Special Educational Needs
175. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills to outline the manner in which the Department ascertains secondary special school places needed through the demand experienced in primary level;...
- School Staff
181. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills if an increase in the hourly rate being paid to school bus escorts has been sanctioned; and if so, when will the increase be applied and when...
- Departmental Budgets
182. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills following the recent announcement regarding the additional €1 billion in funding for education, to provide clarity on the way in which...
- Pupil-Teacher Ratio
183. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills the average class size at primary level in each school year since 2015-2016, in tabular form; and if she will make a statement on the matter....
- Special Educational Needs
184. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills the number of special needs assistants in primary schools in each school year since 2015-2016, in tabular form; and if she will make a statement...
- School Staff
185. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills the number of approved teacher posts in primary schools in each school year since 2015-2016, in tabular form; and if she will make a statement on...
- Schools Building Projects
186. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills for an update on a building project (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [43723/24]
- School Accommodation
190. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills how a school (details supplied) can submit an application for an SEN room; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [43798/24]
- Teaching Qualifications
191. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills the number of unregistered and unqualified teachers that are currently teaching in primary and secondary schools; and if she will make a...
- School Staff
192. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills the number of vacant posts in primary schools and secondary schools nationwide; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [43800/24]
- Schools Building Projects
193. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills for an update on building works at a school (details supplied). [43810/24]
- School Staff
197. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills to review an urgent case (details supplied); if her Department can overturn this decision given the extenuating circumstances in this case; and...
- Education and Training Provision
198. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills the total unit cost for the provision of education in alternative education settings within the State, excluding Youthreach provision; how this...
- Special Educational Needs
199. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills if she is aware of the SENO recommendation for two ASD classes in a school (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter....
- School Staff
200. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills if she will ensure that a school (details supplied) will not lose a teaching post in view of the extreme difficulties such a loss would create...
- School Admissions
201. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills if she will ensure that a proposal is progressed without further delay which would ensure the best school provision for an area (details...
- School Enrolments
203. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills to indicate the preparations currently in hand or anticipated in respect of the provision of additional school places and new accommodation as...
- Schools Building Projects
208. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills the reason building works for a school (details supplied), due to commence on 19 August, have still not commenced; if it can be ensured that...
- School Accommodation
209. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills if she accepts that a school (details supplied) is in a poor state of disrepair and that elements pose a health and safety risk; if she can...
- Department of Culture, Heritage and the Gaeltacht
- Swimming Pools
211. To ask the Minister for Culture, Heritage and the Gaeltacht to indicate the current progress in regard to a swimming pool for Maynooth, County Kildare, which has a very wide catchment area...
- Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government
- Housing Schemes
213. To ask the Minister for Housing, Planning, and Local Government the cost to the State of extending the first home scheme to first time buyers of second hand properties, based on the same...
- Wind Energy Guidelines
214. To ask the Minister for Housing, Planning, and Local Government to provide a copy of public submissions made to the draft 2019 wind energy development guidelines, specifically those made by...
- Departmental Funding
215. To ask the Minister for Housing, Planning, and Local Government the status of an application for capital assistance scheme funding for a service (detail supplied); the date on which it will...
- Wildlife Protection
216. To ask the Minister for Housing, Planning, and Local Government if his Department will publish the bird surveys that was a condition attached to the granting of planning approval for a wind...
- Library Projects
217. To ask the Minister for Housing, Planning, and Local Government to outline the funding, if any, allocated under any scheme administered by his Department to a building (details supplied),...
- Departmental Budgets
218. To ask the Minister for Housing, Planning, and Local Government the amount of additional funding, if any, allocated for the capital assistance scheme, in Budget 2025; and if he will make a...
- Defective Building Materials
222. To ask the Minister for Housing, Planning, and Local Government if he is considering changing the defective blocks scheme legislation for exceptional cases to allow side-by-side...
- Grant Payments
223. To ask the Minister for Housing, Planning, and Local Government to advise when the household limit thresholds will rise for the housing adaptation grants for persons with a disability; and...
- Local Authorities
224. To ask the Minister for Housing, Planning, and Local Government the cost of extending the waiver of local authority ‘section 48’ development contributions, and the refunding of...
- Housing Schemes
225. To ask the Minister for Housing, Planning, and Local Government if he will align the reckonable income for social housing and the local authority home loan to ensure that no family is...
- Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection
- Departmental Funding
226. To ask the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection for assistance with a matter regarding a national school in County Kerry (details supplied); and if she will make a statement...
- State Pensions
227. To ask the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection if a person born before 1946 can get credit for caring for family members in order to qualify for the contributory pension,...
- Social Welfare Benefits
228. To ask the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection the processing time for carer's allowance reviews for each month in 2023 and to date in 2024, in tabular form; and if she...
- State Pensions
230. To ask the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection the cost of increasing the weekly State pension to €310, €320, €330, €340, €350, and...
- Social Welfare Rates
231. To ask the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection the cost of increasing all social welfare payments by €5, €10, and €15 each year from 2026 to 2030....
- Social Welfare Payments
234. To ask the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection the cost of introducing a permanent double child benefit payment each August. [43787/24]
- Departmental Data
236. To ask the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection the number of 16- and 17-year-olds living in Ireland, based on child benefit data for 2023 or the latest data available....
- School Meals Programme
237. To ask the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection the cost of rolling out hot school meals to Junior Certificate level, and to all students up to Leaving Certificate level....
- Social Insurance
238. To ask the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection if the PRSI increases are included in the base. [43791/24]
- Social Welfare Payments
239. To ask the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection the income received from social welfare for 2024 to date in the case of a person (details supplied); and if she will make a...
- Social Welfare Eligibility
240. To ask the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection the entitlement to treatment benefit in the case of a person (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the...
- State Pensions
245. To ask the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection the progress to date in the determination of eligibility for State pension (non-contributory) in the case of payment in their...
- Social Welfare Eligibility
246. To ask the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection the progress to date in the determination of an application for job seekers allowance in the case of a person (details...
- Department of Justice and Equality
- Family Law Cases
259. To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Justice and Equality the extent to which he is satisfied that equality prevails in all situations affecting children whose rights and entitlements...
- Citizenship Applications
260. To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Justice and Equality to outline the entitlements bestowed on the bearer of an honorary citizenship; the rights bestowed on their descendants; if it...
- Travel Documents
261. To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Justice and Equality the number of people who arrived at each airport and ferry port for each of the last five years with no travel documents. [43682/24]
- An Garda Síochána
262. To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Justice and Equality the breakdown of Garda personnel, by rank, assigned to the Mayo division of An Garda Síochána for all years from 2016...
- Crime Prevention
264. To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Justice and Equality the number of burglaries carried out in the Mayo Garda division in each year between 2016 and 2024; whether she intends to...
- Anti-Terrorism Measures
265. To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Justice and Equality the position regarding the public display of banners, flags and emblems of international terror groups (details supplied);...
- An Garda Síochána
266. To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Justice and Equality the cost of recruiting 1,200 new Gardaí annually, notwithstanding the capacity constraints of the current Garda Training...
- Prison Service
269. To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Justice and Equality the number of prisoners per annum in Cork Prison from 2020 to 2024, in tabular form; and if she will make a statement on the...
- Immigration Status
271. To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Justice and Equality if and when leave to remain, permanent residency, naturalisation, stamp 4 status might be approved in the case of a person...
- Visa Applications
272. To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Justice and Equality if she might review the application for an employment visa in the case of a person (details supplied); and if she will make a...
- Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine
- Foreshore Issues
273. To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the status of an application (details supplied); the timeline for sanctioning of same; and if he will make a statement on the matter....
- Fishing Industry
274. To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine for urgent assistance with a matter regarding pair trawling in Kenmare Bay (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the...
- Food Industry
275. To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the level of importation of potatoes into this country in each of the past three years to date including seed potatoes; and if he...
- Animal Culls
277. To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine to indicate the extent to which the deer population is monitored and controlled throughout the country with a view to ensuring that...
- Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth
- School Meals Programme
278. To ask the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth the cost of expanding the hot school meals programme to include all early childhood education and care settings....
- Children in Care
279. To ask the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth to indicate the number of children deemed to have been subject to abuse, whether physical, sexual or...
- Public Transport
280. To ask the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth if he has engaged with the Minister for Transport to ensure that all public transport services are...
- Disability Services
281. To ask the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth the measures being taken to ensure capacity in respite care in County Cork for children with disabilities can...
- Childcare Services
282. To ask the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth whether an up-to-date audit of the gaps in childcare provision is being planned to inform future capital...
- Ukraine War
283. To ask the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth further to his stated policy of ensuring that as far as possible beneficiaries of temporary protection (BOTPs)...
- Early Childhood Care and Education
284. To ask the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth if he will recognise the ongoing work and dedication of educators in the early years by listening to their...
- Disability Services
285. To ask the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth the number of home personal assistant hours delivered in years 2016 to 2024, in tabular form; and if he will...
- Home Care Packages
287. To ask the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth the number of persons awaiting home care support in County Wexford; the number of hours allocated in each of the...
- Emergency Accommodation
288. To ask the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth if private owners of B&Bs require permission from his Department, or from local authorities, to provide...
- Disability Services
290. To ask the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth how his Department plans to address the low rate of disability employment in this country; and if he will make a...
- Grant Payments
291. To ask the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth if his Department will engage with a person (details supplied) to explore opportunities for grant aid and...
- Childcare Services
292. To ask the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth the estimated cost of reducing childcare costs to a maximum of €200 per child per month. [43754/24]
- School Staff
294. To ask the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth the average annual earnings for early years educators, lead educators, deputy managers and managers, in tabular...
- Departmental Budgets
295. To ask the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth the total estimated cost of converting early years educators, lead educators, deputy managers and managers to...
- Early Childhood Care and Education
299. To ask the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth the full-year cost of increasing the NCS universal subsidy so that a family pays no more than €200 per...
- Departmental Funding
305. To ask the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth the progress to date in providing new and much needed accommodation (details supplied); and if he will make a...
- Health Services
306. To ask the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth the extent to which health services for children with special needs are being improved; his plans for the future...
- Departmental Priorities
307. To ask the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth the extent to which he continues to promote integration in all circumstances throughout Ireland; and if he will...
- Early Childhood Care and Education
308. To ask the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth the extent to which he continues to prioritise funding the childcare sector with a view to continued...
- Departmental Priorities
309. To ask the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth the steps he proposes to take to address any or all inequalities affecting children; and if he will make a...
- Departmental Policies
311. To ask the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth the extent to which children’s rights continue to be maintained in accordance with the children’s...
- Child and Family Agency
312. To ask the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth the extent to which he is satisfied that Tusla is free to carry out its statutory requirements in all situations...
- Department of Health
- Children in Care
315. To ask the Minister for Health for the up-to-date position from HIQA on a letter issued to them from his Department on the future role for foster carer's under the draft national standards...
- Medical Aids and Appliances
316. To ask the Minister for Health if there is funding available for people with multiple sclerosis who require motorised scooters in view of their mobility issues; what other financial supports...
- Medical Cards
317. To ask the Minister for Health if dental and optical benefits on foot of medical cards in the case of a person can be progressed (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the...
- Dental Services
318. To ask the Minister for Health if he is aware of the case of a person (details supplied) who had dentures made that were not fit for purpose, and who, having been advised by the HSE locally...
- Hospital Waiting Lists
320. To ask the Minister for Health to examine an issue where a person has been waiting for a hip replacement surgery for an extended period of time (details supplied); and if he will make a...
- General Practitioner Services
321. To ask the Minister for Health the action he is taking to ensure that people can access GP care in rural communities; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [43613/24]
- Medicinal Products
322. To ask the Minister for Health if a person in County Cork (details supplied) can continue to be reimbursed for the same medication under the GMS rather than changing to generic medication;...
- General Practitioner Services
323. To ask the Minister for Health to examine a major lack in GPs in the Naas area (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [43618/24]
- Health Service Executive
324. To ask the Minister for Health to provide the total budget allocation to the HSE (current and capital) in each of the years 2015 to 2025, in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on...
- Health Services Staff
326. To ask the Minister for Health the total number of staff working in the health service in June each year from 2016 to 2024, in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter....
- Hospital Facilities
335. To ask the Minister for Health the permanently funded acute hospital bed capacity in June each year from 2016 to 2024, in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [43631/24]
- General Practitioner Services
338. To ask the Minister for Health the number of GPs working in the State in each year from 2016 to 2024, in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [43634/24]
- Departmental Expenditure
339. To ask the Minister for Health the cumulative spending on medicines in each year from 2016 to 2024, in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [43635/24]
- Departmental Funding
340. To ask the Minister for Health the cumulative new development funding for new medicines in each year from 2016 to 2024, in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [43636/24]
- Home Help Service
341. To ask the Minister for Health the number of home help hours delivered in the following years 2016 to 2024, in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [43637/24]
- Primary Care Centres
342. To ask the Minister for Health to provide a list of primary care centres that opened in each year from 2014 to 2024, in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [43639/24]
- General Practitioner Services
343. To ask the Minister for Health the number of doctors who began specialist GP training each year from 2012 to 2024, in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [43640/24]
- Health Services Staff
344. To ask the Minister for Health the number of advanced nurse practitioners employed each year (June) from 2016 to 2024, in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [43641/24]
- Health Strategies
345. To ask the Minister for Health the number of women who accessed the free contraception scheme in each year since it launched, in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter....
- Health Services Waiting Lists
349. To ask the Minister for Health the average amount of time patients were waiting on the OPD waiting list in June and December each year between 2016 and 2024, in tabular form; and if he will...
- Hospital Appointments Status
350. To ask the Minister for Health to provide an update on the case of a person (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [43648/24]
- Departmental Data
351. To ask the Minister for Health to provide a breakdown of all respite beds in County Wexford; the number of these beds that are currently operational and the number that are currently closed,...
- Departmental Funding
352. To ask the Minister for Health if the HSE currently provides any funding to a local service (details supplied) or if the HSE has provided funding to it at any time in the past; if not,...
- Covid-19 Pandemic Supports
353. To ask the Minister for Health if HSE staff are entitled to an additional five days of sick pay if they contract Covid; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [43671/24]
- Health Services Staff
355. To ask the Minister for Health the current staffing levels, current vacancies, and how long these positions have been vacant in HSE home support positions, for each sector in County Donegal,...
- Home Care Packages
356. To ask the Minister for Health the total number of approved home care package applications in County Donegal which remain without home support, per sector and area, per month, to date in...
- Health Services Staff
357. To ask the Minister for Health if a recruitment embargo is in place within the HSE home support service in County Donegal in the older persons service and disability service; and if he will...
- Hospital Facilities
358. To ask the Minister for Health to confirm the income amount generated by the car park at St Luke's General Hospital, Kilkenny in each of the last five years; the number of vehicles clamped...
- Health Services
359. To ask the Minister for Health the number of contracts in place in Carlow and Kilkenny for the provision of taxi and transport services for use by hospitals to accommodate patients attending...
- Hospital Appointments Status
360. To ask the Minister for Health if an appointment for a scope will be arranged at St Luke's General Hospital, Kilkenny, as a matter of urgency for a person (details supplied). [43700/24]
- Health Services
361. To ask the Minister for Health if a person (details supplied) will be admitted to the National Rehabilitation Hospital, Dún Laoghaire, as his case is said to be urgent. [43708/24]
- Medical Cards
362. To ask the Minister for Health if a person (details supplied) will be issued with an emergency medical card immediately based on his critical medical circumstances and urgent need to access...
- Departmental Bodies
363. To ask the Minister for Health to confirm the existence of an oversight agreement between his Department and the National Centre for Pharmacoeconomics ((NCPE) as of 1 October 2024 as is...
- Medicinal Products
364. To ask the Minister for Health the number of newly-authorised medicines under the European centralised procedure in 2018 to 2024 in respect of which the Health Information and Quality...
- Home Help Service
365. To ask the Minister for Health to provide an update on the Health (Amendment) (Licensing of Professional Home Support Providers) Bill; the measures taken to date to provide a licensing...
- Vaccination Programme
366. To ask the Minister for Health if he will accept HIQA advice and instruct the HSE to put in place a procurement tender for enhanced flu vaccines for older people; if a decision will be made...
- General Practitioner Services
367. To ask the Minister for Health the cost of expanding free GP care for children and young people up to 18 years. [43774/24]
- Medicinal Products
368. To ask the Minister for Health the cost of reducing the monthly cost of drugs to €50. [43775/24]
- Health Services
369. To ask the Minister for Health the cost of extending access to free contraception to all women over the age of 35 years. [43776/24]
- Medical Cards
370. To ask the Minister for Health the cost of increasing each of the medical card income limits by 10%. [43777/24]
- Hospital Staff
371. To ask the Minister for Health if he will ensure that a healthcare facility is facilitated with the allocation of personnel (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter....
- Hospital Facilities
372. To ask the Minister for Health the progress to date in advancing new accommodation at a healthcare facility (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [43819/24]
- Hospital Services
373. To ask the Minister for Health the reason the ophthalmology services in University Hospital Kerry have been shut down; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [43823/24]
- Substance Misuse
374. To ask the Minister for Health to indicate the extent to which drug abuse has been measured on a county-by-county basis in each of the past five years to date; the level of increased use or...
- Department of Education and Skills
- Third Level Staff
375. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills if he is aware of the significant divergence between the hourly rates of pay afforded to personal assistants working in the ETB sector, and...
- State Properties
377. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills the current position regarding the development of the old Pretty Polly facility in Killarney as a new training centre of excellence; if the site...
- Third Level Education
378. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills the third level educational opportunities available in Ireland for applicants living in the Palestinian Territory; and if he will make a...
- Third Level Fees
381. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills the cost of abolishing the student contribution fee in equal annual instalments to 2030. [43771/24]
- Third Level Education
382. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills the cost of increasing student maintenance grants by 1%, and 5% per year. [43772/24]
- Department of Rural and Community Development
- Rural Schemes
384. To ask the Minister for Rural and Community Development to outline the funding, if any, allocated under any scheme administered by her Department to a building (details supplied), from 2019...
