Parliamentary questions

Electric Vehicles

Mattie McGrath

21. Deputy Mattie McGrath asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications if he agrees with detailed scientific analysis on metal mining requirements for EVs carried out by scientists at the UK National History Museum (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [52683/23]

Foreign Birth Registration

Mattie McGrath

102. Deputy Mattie McGrath asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs when a decision will be made on an application for foreign birth registration (details supplied); the reason for the delay in processing the application; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [52276/23]

Energy Infrastructure

Mattie McGrath

124. Deputy Mattie McGrath asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications to provide a comprehensive list of energy-generating stations in Ireland that are scheduled for closure; their closure timeline; including stations, if any, that have already closed or decommissioned; the fuel source serving each respective station; their respective energy-generating capacity; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [52277/23]

Energy Infrastructure

Mattie McGrath

125. Deputy Mattie McGrath asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications to provide the mapped locations and acreage around power stations scheduled for closure, decommissioned, and active; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [52278/23]

Energy Infrastructure

Mattie McGrath

126. Deputy Mattie McGrath asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications to provide a detailed breakdown of the entire infrastructure present at energy stations that are current, decommissioned and scheduled for closure; the types of facilities, equipment, and technologies employed in energy generation, in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [52279/23]

Personal Debt

Mattie McGrath

196. Deputy Mattie McGrath asked the Minister for Finance how a person who fell into personal difficulty and fell behind on their loan repayments due to personal circumstances can have their credit report amended (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [52131/23]

Hospital Staff

Mattie McGrath

601. Deputy Mattie McGrath asked the Minister for Health if he will provide an update on the provision of a Parkinson’s nurse specialist for Waterford and Tipperary University Hospitals, following a funding allocation under Budget 2023 for the provision of 22 neurologist speciality nurses; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [52110/23]

Foreign Birth Registration

Mattie McGrath

89. Deputy Mattie McGrath asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs when a decision will be made on an application for a foreign birth registration (details supplied); the reason for the delay in processing the application; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [50730/23]

Ukraine War

Mattie McGrath

120. Deputy Mattie McGrath asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Defence to provide details of the total military aid given by the EU to Ukraine since the beginning of the Ukrainian war; the amount promised but not yet given; if he will provide information on the contribution given by Ireland to date; how it is spent; the contribution promised in the future by Ireland; whether Ireland supported the giving of such aid in the EU Council; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [50784/23]

European Union

Mattie McGrath

169. Deputy Mattie McGrath asked the Minister for Finance the annual contribution to the EU by the Exchequer in each of the past ten years; the estimated contribution forecast for the whole of 2023; the income from the EU to the Exchequer in each of these years; the estimate for this year; Ireland's expected net contribution to the EU over the next ten years; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [50783/23]

Housing Schemes

Mattie McGrath

297. Deputy Mattie McGrath asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the total number of grant applications and the number issued, by county, under the vacant property refurbishment grant scheme through the croí cónaithe (towns) for 2022 and to date in 2023, in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [50780/23]

Housing Schemes

Mattie McGrath

298. Deputy Mattie McGrath asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage if he acknowledges that the two-year vacancy condition attached to the vacant property refurbishment grant scheme through the Croí Cónaithe (towns) is having a negative impact on uptake, deterring many people from availing of the grant aid; if this condition will be amended; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [50781/23]

Departmental Expenditure

Mattie McGrath

299. Deputy Mattie McGrath asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage to provide an overview of the total capital allocation announced for investment in housing in 2024; the amount of this funding allocated to date in 2023; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [50782/23]

Citizenship Applications

Mattie McGrath

368. Deputy Mattie McGrath asked the Minister for Justice when a decision will be made on an application for Irish citizenship (details supplied); the reason for the delay in processing the application; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [50729/23]

Health Services Staff

Mattie McGrath

461. Deputy Mattie McGrath asked the Minister for Health if he will urgently commence a recruitment drive to fill the six vacancies within the south Tipperary service which remain unfilled, in view of the 45km rule, and that national recruitment drives have not resulted in recruitment within the south Tipperary service; when the vacancies will be filled; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [50593/23]

Disability Services

Mattie McGrath

509. Deputy Mattie McGrath asked the Minister for Health to outline all conditions related to the HSE recruitment embargo; whether speech and language, physiotherapists, occupational therapists and other therapists associated with disability services both adult and children’s services will be impacted by the embargo given the severe shortage of such therapists operating within the system; if persons who have been going through the recruitment process but whose contracts have not been signed will be impacted by the embargo; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [50668/23]

Health Services

Mattie McGrath

585. Deputy Mattie McGrath asked the Minister for Health where a person (details supplied) presents as homeless but is suffering from mental health difficulties, what supports are immediately available in south Tipperary to avoid possible harm to oneself; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [51122/23]

EU Directives

Mattie McGrath

51. Deputy Mattie McGrath asked the Minister for Finance to explain the reasons for delays in transposing EU Directive 2167 of 2021 into Irish law; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [50174/23]

EU Directives

Mattie McGrath

52. Deputy Mattie McGrath asked the Minister for Finance if he will accept that each day he delays signing the EU Directive 2167 of 2021 into Irish law, it results in family homes and farms which could otherwise remain with borrowers under forbearance arrangements being lost to banks and vulture funds; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [50175/23]

EU Directives

Mattie McGrath

53. Deputy Mattie McGrath asked the Minister for Finance to provide a specific date by which he expects to have EU Directive 2167 of 2021 transposed into Irish law; whether this will be done by ministerial order or primary legislation; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [50176/23]

EU Directives

Mattie McGrath

54. Deputy Mattie McGrath asked the Minister for Finance if he will investigate or instruct the Central Bank to investigate the interest rate gouging undertaken by vulture funds, which contradicts the objectives of EU Directive 2167 of 2021; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [50177/23]

EU Directives

Mattie McGrath

55. Deputy Mattie McGrath asked the Minister for Finance if he will publish the submission made by the Central Bank for the public consultation on the Credit Servicers Directive; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [50179/23]

EU Directives

Mattie McGrath

56. Deputy Mattie McGrath asked the Minister for Finance the number and specific details (including the name of the institution, date, and topics discussed) of any meeting or discussion he has had with a bank, credit service firm, vulture fund or their representatives in 2022 and 2023; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [50180/23]

Educational Disadvantage

Mattie McGrath

85. Deputy Mattie McGrath asked the Minister for Education to review the application for DEIS status for a school (details supplied) that was unsuccessful in 2022, if the reasons for the refusal could be outlined in detail regarding the data sets used; what information may be required to satisfy a future application; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [50141/23]

Educational Disadvantage

Mattie McGrath

86. Deputy Mattie McGrath asked the Minister for Education when the next review or opportunity for schools will be to apply for DEIS status given that the data used in the 2022 review was based on the 2016 Census and that new data is now available to use from the 2022 Census; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [50142/23]

Educational Disadvantage

Mattie McGrath

87. Deputy Mattie McGrath asked the Minister for Education if it is accurate to rely on PPOD data relating to Traveller or Roma ethnic background indicators as outlined in circular 0019/2022 when adjudicating DEIS status applications, as schools are unable to ask students about their ethnic status or background when enrolling, and therefore this may not be a true reflection of the diverse ethnic backgrounds of students in a school; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [50143/23]

Hospital Waiting Lists

Mattie McGrath

138. Deputy Mattie McGrath asked the Minister for Health to outline the waiting times for DEXA bone scans in Tipperary University Hospital and across all hospitals in the country; the numbers waiting for such scans; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [50050/23]

Bus Éireann

Mattie McGrath

100. Deputy Mattie McGrath asked the Minister for Transport if he will request Bus Éireann to change their 355 route from Waterford at 5:40pm to continue their journey to Cahir (details supplied); the reason the 5:40pm bus only travels as far as Carrick-on-Suir, whereas at all other times the 355 route continues to Cahir; the fact that the 5:40pm route includes Waterford SETU (departing at 5:20pm) but does not travel as far as Clonmel or Cahir means that students in Clonmel and Cahir cannot avail of direct public transport to and from both towns to the South East Technological Institute, and a very slight change to continue the route would allow a large number of students to avail of this route without encountering significant delays in Waterford; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [49476/23]

Employment Rights

Mattie McGrath

209. Deputy Mattie McGrath asked the Minister for Education when the circular relating to the management of sick leave will issue for the education sector, similar to the one that issued for the civil service (circular 12/2023 issued on 4 September 2023); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [49520/23]

Employment Rights

Mattie McGrath

612. Deputy Mattie McGrath asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science when the circular relating to the management of sick leave will issue for the higher education sector, similar to the one that issued for the civil service (circular 12/2023 issued on 4 September 2023); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [49520/23]

Departmental Contracts

Mattie McGrath

300. Deputy Mattie McGrath asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth to release the full record of communication between his Department and the owner of an accommodation provider (details supplied); to outline who made the initial contract; the value of the 12-month contract for this property; to release all communication between his Department and Tipperary County Council, particularly in terms of the current use of the building as an emergency accommodation facility; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [49183/23]

Business Supports

Mattie McGrath

36. Deputy Mattie McGrath asked the Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment if he will make funding available to businesses in County Tipperary that have been damaged by flooding following recent storms; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [48919/23]

Sports Funding

Mattie McGrath

48. Deputy Mattie McGrath asked the Minister for Tourism, Culture, Arts, Gaeltacht, Sport and Media to outline the provisional timelines of announcements for the sports capital and sports capital equipment programme 2023; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [48920/23]

Weather Events

Mattie McGrath

72. Deputy Mattie McGrath asked the Minister for Social Protection if she will make funding available to homes in County Tipperary that have been damaged by flooding following recent storms; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [48919/23]

Asylum Seekers

Mattie McGrath

34. Deputy Mattie McGrath asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth if he will outline, in light of recent statements by members of Government in relation to the pressures currently being faced in terms of the level of people seeking refuge and asylum in this country, the plans his Department has to urgently address these high levels; to address the concerns in relation to the “pull factors” which may be leading to the high levels; his plans to impose further restrictions to reduce pressures on capacity; if he will outline the full level of expenditure by his Department on housing asylum seekers and refugees in this country from 1 January to 31 October; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [48842/23]

National Development Plan

Mattie McGrath

154. Deputy Mattie McGrath asked the Minister for Public Expenditure, National Development Plan Delivery and Reform the performance in relation to timely and value-for-money delivery of the national development plan to date against the revised NDP adopted when the Government came to power; the overspend or underspend involved to date; the steps being taken to expedite the delivery of the plan in full; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [47086/23]

National Development Plan

Mattie McGrath

155. Deputy Mattie McGrath asked the Minister for Public Expenditure, National Development Plan Delivery and Reform the discussions he has had with Ministers in relation to the non-delivery of NDP projects to date; the result of these discussions; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [47087/23]

Agriculture Schemes

Mattie McGrath

227. Deputy Mattie McGrath asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine to provide a detailed breakdown of the number of farmers in each county impacted by the reduction from 250 kg of N to 220 kg of N based on the land as declared for the 2023 basic income support for sustainability scheme; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [47085/23]

School Accommodation

Mattie McGrath

96. Deputy Mattie McGrath asked the Minister for Education where a preschool facility is currently being operated within a school and where her Department is seeking an ASD unit within the school that will result in the closure of the preschool facility, if her Department can force the closure of the preschool facility to take over the space within which it is operating; if her Department will provide funding in circumstances (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [46888/23]

Special Educational Needs

Mattie McGrath

165. Deputy Mattie McGrath asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth if he will outline, where a preschool facility is currently being operated within a school and where his Department is seeking an ASD unit within the school that will result in the closure of the preschool facility, what supports or funding options may be available to the school to construct an additional space on the school grounds to maintain the preschool and to avoid its closure; the funding available to rural communities to build a childcare-preschool facility within their community; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [46895/23]

Departmental Funding

Mattie McGrath

139. Deputy Mattie McGrath asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications the reason behind the removal of funding for the 'getting citizens online fund'; if it will be restored going forward to assist vulnerable and isolated members of the community in accessing services online; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [46605/23]

School Staff

Mattie McGrath

283. Deputy Mattie McGrath asked the Minister for Education the status of an appeal under the Primary Staffing Appeals Board for the 2023-2024 school year; if she will consider this appeal given the exceptional accommodation difficulties being faced by the school and the disruption that will be caused if the school loses a teacher (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [46346/23]

Schools Building Projects

Mattie McGrath

213. Deputy Mattie McGrath asked the Minister for Education the current status of a construction project at a school (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [44663/23]

Special Educational Needs

Mattie McGrath

214. Deputy Mattie McGrath asked the Minister for Education further to Parliamentary Question No. 708 of 11 September 2023, the current status of an application to build an extension to a school (details supplied) for the provision of two permanent ASD class units and classroom; if there is a role for Cavan Monaghan ETB in this regard; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [44664/23]

Disabilities Assessments

Mattie McGrath

451. Deputy Mattie McGrath asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth to confirm that assessment of needs hubs in all CHO areas are now fully operational and providing assessment of needs; the number of assessment of needs carried out by such hubs to date; to confirm where hubs are not yet fully operational if she will repurpose that money to ensure that families can privately access assessments themselves as committed to in Dáil Éireann on 23 May (details supplied); if she has included such measures as part of Budget 24; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [44777/23]

Driver Test

Mattie McGrath

67. Deputy Mattie McGrath asked the Minister for Transport the current waiting time for the driver theory test in all centres across the country; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [44315/23]

Emigrant Support Services

Mattie McGrath

9. Deputy Mattie McGrath asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs to provide a detailed breakdown of the organisations in Canada that have made applications under the emigrant support programme since January 2021, including the names and funding amount approved to each respective applicant, in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [43728/23]

Emigrant Support Services

Mattie McGrath

10. Deputy Mattie McGrath asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs to provide an overview of the status of an application made under the emigrant support programme by an organisation (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [43729/23]

Domestic Violence

Mattie McGrath

257. Deputy Mattie McGrath asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the housing supports available to women who have suffered domestic abuse and have had to flee the marital home (details supplied); if such persons will be approved for housing; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [43495/23]

National Treatment Purchase Fund

Mattie McGrath

468. Deputy Mattie McGrath asked the Minister for Health if private autism assessments can be funded under the National Treatment Purchase Fund; if so, the steps; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [43489/23]

Social Welfare Eligibility

Mattie McGrath

278. Deputy Mattie McGrath asked the Minister for Social Protection the reason a person (details supplied) has not had their disability allowance awarded as per section 210(1)(b) of the Social Welfare Consolidation Act 2005 as amended and Article 137 of the Social Welfare (Consolidated Claims, Payments and Control) Regulations 2007 as amended; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [43318/23]

Housing Schemes

Mattie McGrath

140. Deputy Mattie McGrath asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage to clarify the position regarding local authority and Croí Cónaithe grant applicants drawdown where the local authority legal fees are in excess of €550; which party has the responsibility to pay the excess cost; if responsibility lies with the local authority, if he will allocate an additional discretionary budget to cover such additional costs above €550; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [43019/23]

Covid-19 Pandemic Supports

Mattie McGrath

202. Deputy Mattie McGrath asked the Minister for Health when all remaining agency staff will receive their pandemic payment; the reason for the delay; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [42968/23]

Climate Action Plan

Mattie McGrath

4. Deputy Mattie McGrath asked the Taoiseach when the Cabinet committee on environment and climate change will next meet. [42249/23]

Departmental Funding

Mattie McGrath

246. Deputy Mattie McGrath asked the Minister for Finance the funding provided by the State to an organisation (details supplied), per year, in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [42404/23]

School Funding

Mattie McGrath

319. Deputy Mattie McGrath asked the Minister for Education to provide an update on plans to roll out of the ICT grant to schools (primary and secondary) for the current school year under the digital strategy for schools; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [42515/23]

Planning Issues

Mattie McGrath

368. Deputy Mattie McGrath asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage if a change can be made to planning regulations for houses that were developed as holiday homes, that they can be bought now for full-time residential homes where the septic tank meets or can be adapted to meet regulations, given the ongoing housing crisis; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [42514/23]

Disability Services

Mattie McGrath

528. Deputy Mattie McGrath asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth the number of psychologists available to children in south Tipperary within the CDNT/ primary care services; the number of vacancies; if, where a child is unable to access a psychologist within the CDNT services, they can be transferred to primary care; the number of psychologists recruited to each service over the past 12 months; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [42321/23]

Disability Services

Mattie McGrath

529. Deputy Mattie McGrath asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth to outline the full extent of the staff available to CDNT teams 4 and 5 in south Tipperary; the contact details for both teams; the names and roles of all staff and therapists attached to the teams; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [42322/23]

Home Care Packages

Mattie McGrath

592. Deputy Mattie McGrath asked the Minister for Health the number of applicants for home support who have been approved but placed on a waiting list in each county in community healthcare organisation or CHO 5; the numbers in each CHO area; the average waiting times for those approved and waiting for services; the steps being taken to urgently provide home supports to those waiting; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [42268/23]

Home Care Packages

Mattie McGrath

593. Deputy Mattie McGrath asked the Minister for Health if he plans to extend the fair deal scheme to include the cost of home care and home supports being provided privately due to the lack of home supports being provided to those who require full-time care and attention in the home; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [42269/23]

Departmental Funding

Mattie McGrath

601. Deputy Mattie McGrath asked the Minister for Health for a progress report on the spending of the €110,000 which was allocated in budget 2023 for the development of a diabetes register (details supplied); if he will request the HSE to immediately begin recruiting for this new post; if he can confirm if unused funding from budget 2023 will carry over to 2024, while providing a timeline as to when the HSE recruitment freeze will end; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [42290/23]

Departmental Funding

Mattie McGrath

602. Deputy Mattie McGrath asked the Minister for Health for a progress report on the spending of the funding which was allocated in budget 2023 for the development of a national paediatric diabetes audit in conjunction with NOCA, following the publication of a detailed feasibility study (details supplied); if he will request the HSE to immediately begin recruiting for these new posts; if he can confirm if unused funding from budget 2023 will carry over to 2024, while providing a timeline as to when the HSE recruitment freeze will end; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [42291/23]

Hospital Appointments Status

Mattie McGrath

633. Deputy Mattie McGrath asked the Minister for Health when a person (details supplied) will be scheduled for their urgent neuro-surgical operation at Beaumont Hospital. [42430/23]

Work Permits

Mattie McGrath

223. Deputy Mattie McGrath asked the Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment if he will move urgently to extend the current work permits/visa requirements to allow farm operatives to be employed under the work permit scheme to alleviate the crisis facing the pig industry and their inability to recruit staff; if he is aware of the research showing that almost 50% of pig farmers will be forced to exit the market if the acute staff shortages cannot be sorted as a matter of urgency; if he is aware that 48% of pig farmers have vacancies which they cannot fill and are prevented from recruiting outside the State due to the restrictions on the work permits scheme; what steps he will take to alleviate this crisis; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [41176/23]

Work Permits

Mattie McGrath

438. Deputy Mattie McGrath asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine what immediate efforts he is taking to help reduce the acute staff shortages being experienced by pig farms; if he has engaged with the Department of Enterprise, Trade and Employment to have the current work permits and visa requirements extended to allow farm operatives to be employed under the work permit scheme; his views on the risk of closure by many pig farms unless this matter is resolved; what steps he will take as Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine to alleviate this crisis; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [41175/23]

Road Projects

Mattie McGrath

121. Deputy Mattie McGrath asked the Minister for Transport to increase the discretionary roads funding from his Department to local authorities to meet the increasing cost of inflation to enable them to continue their daily road maintenance duties; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [40224/23]

Housing Provision

Mattie McGrath

150. Deputy Mattie McGrath asked the Minister for Finance for a breakdown of Home Building Finance Ireland's funding support to developers for the construction of housing, by county, annually, since its establishment; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [39585/23]

School Transport

Mattie McGrath

273. Deputy Mattie McGrath asked the Minister for Education the number of students who have applied for a school transport but are left without transport this September; the urgent steps she is taking to alleviate the issues; if she has engaged with Bus Éireann to increase the retirement age for school bus drivers, which would immediately increase the supply of school bus drivers; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [39691/23]

Schools Building Projects

Mattie McGrath

337. Deputy Mattie McGrath asked the Minister for Education the reason for delays with regard to the new building works at a special education school in County Tipperary; the immediate efforts she will make to expedite this project; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [40197/23]

Housing Schemes

Mattie McGrath

502. Deputy Mattie McGrath asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage if he will extend the croí cónaithe grant timeframe from 13 to 18 months; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [40007/23]

Housing Schemes

Mattie McGrath

503. Deputy Mattie McGrath asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage to clarify who is responsible to pay the legal fees incurred by the local authority as part of the croí cónaithe grant scheme regarding the legal charge/clawback on the property receiving the grant; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [40009/23]

Departmental Funding

Mattie McGrath

889. Deputy Mattie McGrath asked the Minister for Health if he will designate special funding to the healthy homes co-ordinators in local authorities to assist them in their role to help older and vulnerable people; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [39541/23]

Driver Test

Mattie McGrath

543. Deputy Mattie McGrath asked the Minister for Public Expenditure, National Development Plan Delivery and Reform the OPW's plans with regard to the driver testing centre currently located in a centre (details supplied) in Tipperary; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [39077/23]

School Staff

Mattie McGrath

760. Deputy Mattie McGrath asked the Minister for Education to outline her plans to improve the pay and conditions for special needs assistants; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [39153/23]

Schools Building Projects

Mattie McGrath

442. Deputy Mattie McGrath asked the Minister for Education the status of an additional accommodation application for a school (details supplied) in Tipperary; when it will progress to planning stage; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [36042/23]

School Transport

Mattie McGrath

468. Deputy Mattie McGrath asked the Minister for Education how parents can contact the school transport section in Bus Éireann (details supplied). [36339/23]

Social Welfare Payments

Mattie McGrath

674. Deputy Mattie McGrath asked the Minister for Social Protection if the widowed or surviving civil partner grant can be made payable to the guardian of the dependent child where the widow has abandoned the dependent child and where the grant would be of huge benefit to the child to assist with educational expenses; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [35665/23]

Raidió Teilifís Éireann

Mattie McGrath

25. Deputy Mattie McGrath asked the Taoiseach when the Cabinet Committee on Social Affairs and Public Services will next meet. [33234/23]

Public Sector Staff

Mattie McGrath

139. Deputy Mattie McGrath asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the reason only grade 1 conservation architects are considered eligible under the required qualifications of the national built heritage conservation officer under the Planning and Development (Built Heritage Protection) Bill 2022; the reason building conservation accredited surveyors, which is equivalent to a grade 1 architect, are not considered eligible for the role of the national built heritage conservation officer; if he will review this matter and amend the Bill accordingly; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [34497/23]

Fire Safety

Mattie McGrath

140. Deputy Mattie McGrath asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage if he will report on the outcome of the Public Consultation on the Review of Part B (Fire Safety) of the Building Regulations; what the aim of the review was; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [34534/23]

State Bodies

Mattie McGrath

141. Deputy Mattie McGrath asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage if he will examine the delays in receiving timely responses from Uisce Éireann; if he can address the difficulties of public representatives to meet with/speak to Uisce Éireann representatives other than the call centre, which can only advise that the matter is being investigated; if he will provide all members with contact details of Uisce Éireann local management teams; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [34536/23]

Departmental Schemes

Mattie McGrath

177. Deputy Mattie McGrath asked the Minister for Justice further to Parliamentary Question No. 1053 of 21 March 2023, the reason some groups have not yet received their rebate from Muintir na Tíre; the groups that have not received a rebate, by county, under the headings (details supplied) together with her explanation regarding the non-payment. [34535/23]

Health Service Executive

Mattie McGrath

235. Deputy Mattie McGrath asked the Minister for Health in terms of the procurement process for the HSE, what efforts are being made to ensure best value for money where potential suppliers can demonstrate that alternative products can meet the technical requirements; the process for examining alternative solutions which can demonstrate adherence to the technical requirements; how product specification is determined; who creates the technical product data requirements for the HSE; where a company was rejected on technical points which were contradictory or hold no technical credibility, what avenue is available to have the technical requirements examined to ensure best value for money is being met and the technical requirements hold weight; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [34422/23]

School Staff

Mattie McGrath

282. Deputy Mattie McGrath asked the Minister for Education the reason there is such a large discrepancy between the pension entitlement for a primary school teacher and that of an SNA, where both staff pay the same percentage of their salary to their pension and the SNA pension entitlement is two-and-a-half times less than that of teachers; the reason for the discrepancy; if he will urgently review the matter; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [33870/23]

Healthcare Policy

Mattie McGrath

736. Deputy Mattie McGrath asked the Minister for Health who decided to go ahead with reconfiguration of the mid-west region despite the 600 beds required by the Hanly Report to offer safe patient safety not being in place; if he will launch an investigation into this decision, given that it has caused untold suffering on patients and staff in the mid-west region for 14 years; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [33755/23]

Hospital Overcrowding

Mattie McGrath

737. Deputy Mattie McGrath asked the Minister for Health if he will publish the figures he relied on when speaking on a radio station (details supplied) when he stated that trolley numbers were down at UHL while comparing trolley numbers at the same period in 2019; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [33756/23]

Healthcare Policy

Mattie McGrath

738. Deputy Mattie McGrath asked the Minister for Health following his comments that reconfiguration was not working (details supplied), if he will put an urgent plan in place to reopen Nenagh, Ennis and St. Johns accident and emergency departments, given the new 96-block bed unit will only actually realise 48-beds meaning that the mid-west region will still not be at the 600-beds needed to provide patient safety according to the Hanly Report; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [33757/23]

Healthcare Policy

Mattie McGrath

739. Deputy Mattie McGrath asked the Minister for Health if he will publish the evidence he relied upon when he stated that reopening an accident and emergency department in Ennis Hospital was inadvisable on safety grounds; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [33758/23]

Healthcare Policy

Mattie McGrath

740. Deputy Mattie McGrath asked the Minister for Health if he will commit to meeting with TDs and Health Forum members from the mid-west as requested by the HSE Mid-West Forums meeting recently; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [33759/23]

Departmental Policies

Mattie McGrath

140. Deputy Mattie McGrath asked the Minister for Justice in light of her statement that there exists a serious and genuine, present or foreseeable threat to the security of the State and that such a threat is likely to continue for at least the next 12 months, to outline the details of such threats to the security of the State; to outline the nature of her concerns in this regard; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [32895/23]

School Staff

Mattie McGrath

277. Deputy Mattie McGrath asked the Minister for Education how SNAs can contact staff working in the payroll section with queries (details supplied). [32089/23]

Third Level Education

Mattie McGrath

282. Deputy Mattie McGrath asked the Minister for Education the number of psychology students who graduate from Irish universities every year; the number of psychology placements available every year; if there are any plans to increase the number of placements considering the shortage of psychologists in the country; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [32141/23]

Social Welfare Payments

Mattie McGrath

387. Deputy Mattie McGrath asked the Minister for Social Protection to outline the clear guidelines for carers in receipt of carer’s allowance where the person being cared for must travel abroad for treatment not available in this State (details supplied); what the carer must do to ensure that they will not have their payment stopped or be threatened with having their payment stopped if they have to leave the State for treatment; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [32097/23]

Asylum Seekers

Mattie McGrath

418. Deputy Mattie McGrath asked the Minister for Justice the number of Ukrainian refugees who have transferred or sought a transfer to Ireland from another EU country having originally sought protection in that country; the country from which they have transferred or sought a transfer; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [32140/23]

Departmental Data

Mattie McGrath

424. Deputy Mattie McGrath asked the Minister for Justice the number of convictions there was between 2015 to 2023 for rape or sexual assault of children under 18 years. [32221/23]

Charitable and Voluntary Organisations

Mattie McGrath

189. Deputy Mattie McGrath asked the Minister for Finance if not-for-profit, community organisations that are not registered charities are liable for tax, or if there are any exemptions for same; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [31726/23]

Community Care

Mattie McGrath

413. Deputy Mattie McGrath asked the Minister for Health the availability of funding for the construction of adult day services within the community; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [31727/23]

National Asset Management Agency

Mattie McGrath

200. Deputy Mattie McGrath asked the Minister for Finance if he will investigate if, and the reason why, NAMA-NALM is permitted to use an Irish citizen’s personal tax number in its own interest (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [30642/23]

National Asset Management Agency

Mattie McGrath

201. Deputy Mattie McGrath asked the Minister for Finance to investigate the reason NAMA-NALM was able to use the personal tax number of a person (details supplied)); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [30643/23]