Parliamentary questions

Official Engagements

Brendan Smith

116. Deputy Brendan Smith asked the Minister for Rural and Community Development if she will report on her recent attendance at the OECD rural conference. [49953/22]

Animal Diseases

Brendan Smith

83. Deputy Brendan Smith asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine when provision will be made in the TB compensation scheme to provide for realistic payments for pedigree animals that are depopulated; if his attention has been drawn to the adverse impact that the loss of some pedigree herds will have on the livestock sector; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [52959/22]

Animal Diseases

Brendan Smith

93. Deputy Brendan Smith asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine when compensation payments will be increased in respect of the depopulation of animals and herds due to TB; if particular provision will be made to pay proper compensation to owners of pedigree animals to reflect their market value; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [52958/22]

Family Resource Centres

Brendan Smith

494. Deputy Brendan Smith asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth the funding that is available for a service (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [52795/22]

Drug Dealing

Brendan Smith

7. Deputy Brendan Smith asked the Minister for Justice the additional measures that will be introduced to reduce access to illegal drugs which are causing serious problems in communities throughout the country; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [52114/22]

Nursing Homes

Brendan Smith

126. Deputy Brendan Smith asked the Minister for Health when additional supports will be provided to small-scale nursing home providers in view of the substantial pressures on such providers due to increased costs at present; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [52111/22]

Nursing Homes

Brendan Smith

178. Deputy Brendan Smith asked the Minister for Health the measures that will be introduced to eliminate the differential in payments to nursing homes across different geographical areas under the Nursing Homes Support Scheme Act 2009; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [52112/22]

Dental Services

Brendan Smith

245. Deputy Brendan Smith asked the Minister for Health if he will ensure that additional resources are provided, without delay, to enhance an inadequate health service at present (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [52306/22]

Economic Policy

Brendan Smith

11. Deputy Brendan Smith asked the Taoiseach if he will report on the work of the economic policy unit of his Department. [51688/22]

Cabinet Committees

Brendan Smith

21. Deputy Brendan Smith asked the Taoiseach when the Cabinet committee on Brexit and Northern Ireland will next meet. [49952/22]

School Transport

Brendan Smith

408. Deputy Brendan Smith asked the Minister for Education if experienced bus drivers aged 70 years and over, and meeting all health criteria, will be eligible for employment by Bus Éireann or by private contractors carrying out public contracts; if she will ensure that this issue is given further consideration in view of the shortage of such drivers at present; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [51998/22]

Third Level Costs

Brendan Smith

630. Deputy Brendan Smith asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science further to Parliamentary Question No. 511 of 4 October 2022, if he will give further consideration to the need to provide the once-off €1,000 State financial support towards fees for students attending college outside the State, taking into account the substantial increase in costs for such students studying in Northern Ireland and Britain (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [52026/22]

Social Welfare Benefits

Brendan Smith

21. Deputy Brendan Smith asked the Minister for Social Protection if she will improve the criteria for the free fuel allowance in circumstances where a family member returns to live on a temporary basis with a parent or a sibling who are in receipt of the free fuel allowance and ensure the continuation of this payment where the changed household composition is of a temporary nature; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [50388/22]

Social Welfare Benefits

Brendan Smith

25. Deputy Brendan Smith asked the Minister for Social Protection the proposals to improve the criteria for the free fuel allowance in cases in which a family member, due to housing or domestic difficulties, may return to live with a parent on a temporary basis and that parent normally resides on their own and had been in receipt of free fuel allowance; if she will ensure that such a recipient of this allowance will continue to receive this payment; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [50387/22]

Early Childhood Care and Education

Brendan Smith

164. Deputy Brendan Smith asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth if he has had discussions recently with representative organisations concerning the impact of recent changes in relation to the core funding model given that concerns have been experienced by some ECCE childcare providers; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [50623/22]

Education Policy

Brendan Smith

248. Deputy Brendan Smith asked the Minister for Education the timeline for the roll-out of accessibility statements in schools for school websites to be achieved; and the work that her Department is conducting on this; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [50784/22]

Education Policy

Brendan Smith

249. Deputy Brendan Smith asked the Minister for Education her Department's plans, if any, to review its policy in relation to the use and provision of online electronic devices, such as notebooks, used in schools with regard to ensuring that all students have access to such, that costs are not disproportionately placed on parents where such devices are compulsory in schools, to ensure standard quality and to achieve economies of scale by centrally procuring them; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [50785/22]

Educational Disadvantage

Brendan Smith

69. Deputy Brendan Smith asked the Minister for Education the proposal, if any, to extend the DEIS programme; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [49942/22]

Educational Disadvantage

Brendan Smith

139. Deputy Brendan Smith asked the Minister for Education the proposals, if any, to amend the criteria for inclusion in the DEIS programme; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [49943/22]

Passport Services

Brendan Smith

26. Deputy Brendan Smith asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs if a Passport Office will be established in Ulster in view of the substantial increase in passport applications from that area; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [48920/22]

Northern Ireland

Brendan Smith

41. Deputy Brendan Smith asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs the outcome of his most recent discussions with the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland in regard to the need to deal with legacy issues with particular reference to the need to implement agreements made previously; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [48921/22]

Defence Forces

Brendan Smith

83. Deputy Brendan Smith asked the Minister for Defence the number of progression and personal development courses available for Private 3-Star members of the Defence Forces on a yearly basis since 2018; the number who applied for these courses and the numbers offered courses on a yearly basis; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [48937/22]

Defence Forces

Brendan Smith

109. Deputy Brendan Smith asked the Minister for Defence the programme of works to be carried out in 2023 to upgrade residential accommodation in Army barracks; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [48936/22]

Education Costs

Brendan Smith

401. Deputy Brendan Smith asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine when fees for students attending agricultural colleges will be reduced to a level similar to fees for students attending colleges of further education as there is a significant differential at present; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [49242/22]

Cross-Border Co-operation

Brendan Smith

10. Deputy Brendan Smith asked the Taoiseach the status of developments under the shared island initiative. [44814/22]

Passport Services

Brendan Smith

171. Deputy Brendan Smith asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs when a passport office will be established in the province of Ulster; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [48977/22]

Pigmeat Sector

Brendan Smith

371. Deputy Brendan Smith asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if he will ensure that a clear message goes from Government to the multiples that an adequate price needs to be paid, without delay, to pig and poultry primary producers in view of the difficulties facing those sectors at present; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [48958/22]

Taoiseach's Meetings and Engagements

Brendan Smith

18. Deputy Brendan Smith asked the Taoiseach if he will report on his recent attendance at the British Irish Association Conference. [44812/22]

Taoiseach's Meetings and Engagements

Brendan Smith

19. Deputy Brendan Smith asked the Taoiseach if he has spoken with the new British Prime Minister. [44813/22]

Departmental Policies

Brendan Smith

39. Deputy Brendan Smith asked the Taoiseach the status of developments under the shared island initiative. [44814/22]

Flood Risk Management

Brendan Smith

109. Deputy Brendan Smith asked the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform the outcome of the most recent discussions he or his Department have had with their counterparts in Northern Ireland concerning flooding in County Cavan, which is caused by the River Erne; the measures that will be implemented to address these issues; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [48296/22]

EU Funding

Brendan Smith

116. Deputy Brendan Smith asked the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform the total funding available for the PEACE PLUS Programme; when this programme will become operational; when community groups and statutory agencies will be able to submit applications; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [48297/22]

Flood Risk Management

Brendan Smith

253. Deputy Brendan Smith asked the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform if he will ensure consideration will be given to an amendment to the Arterial Drainage Act 1945 to include additional waterways, including the River Erne system in County Cavan; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [48362/22]

Physical Education

Brendan Smith

401. Deputy Brendan Smith asked the Minister for Education the number of second level schools that are providing physical education as an examination subject; the number of students that have already taken physical education as an examination subject; the number of qualified physical education teachers that are currently employed in second level schools; the restrictions that apply to a school for the provision of the examination subject; the facilities that are required by a school in order to be accepted for the provision of the examination subject; the supports that are provided by her Department for a school that wishes to provide physical education as an examination subject; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [48443/22]

Third Level Fees

Brendan Smith

511. Deputy Brendan Smith asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science if he will ensure that the once-off €1,000 reduction in the student contribution fees for higher education students is applied to students studying outside this State, such as Northern Ireland and Britain; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [48383/22]

State Examinations

Brendan Smith

192. Deputy Brendan Smith asked the Minister for Education when the State Examinations Commission will issue the 2022 junior certificate results; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [47813/22]

State Examinations

Brendan Smith

193. Deputy Brendan Smith asked the Minister for Education if she will ensure the results of appeals in respect of the leaving certificate examination 2022 will issue without further delay; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [47834/22]

Invasive Species Policy

Brendan Smith

155. Deputy Brendan Smith asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage if measures will be implemented across Departments and statutory agencies in co-operation with counterparts in Northern Ireland to deal with an emerging ecological problem (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [47561/22]

Local Authorities

Brendan Smith

156. Deputy Brendan Smith asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage if he will ensure allocations to local authorities for 2023 under the Local Government Fund will be increased to deal adequately with increasing costs across all services provided by councils; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [47562/22]

Healthcare Policy

Brendan Smith

548. Deputy Brendan Smith asked the Minister for Health if his attention has been drawn to the growing trend of disposable e-cigarette use among teenagers; the measures that his Department and the HSE will implement to ensure that these products comply with all relevant regulatory requirements; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [47136/22]

Departmental Data

Brendan Smith

549. Deputy Brendan Smith asked the Minister for Health the number of prosecutions and-or fines made against manufacturers or importers of e-cigarette products for breaches of restrictions within SI 271/2016 in the past 12 months (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [47137/22]

Departmental Expenditure

Brendan Smith

11. Deputy Brendan Smith asked the Minister for Transport the total capital funding provided for his Department in 2022; the expenditure profile at the end of August 2022; if there is likely to be an underspend in any particular area, if so, if additional funding will be provided for the non-national road network; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [46316/22]

Departmental Expenditure

Brendan Smith

23. Deputy Brendan Smith asked the Minister for Transport the total funding provided in 2022 for the non-national road network; if he will ensure that increased funding will be provided for this road network in 2023 due to the need for an increased investment in these roads in areas such as counties Cavan and Monaghan; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [46315/22]

Banking Sector

Brendan Smith

102. Deputy Brendan Smith asked the Minister for Finance the discussions that he and his Department have had with the Central Bank in respect of an extension of the timeframe for banks (details supplied) exiting the market here; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [46296/22]

Banking Sector

Brendan Smith

123. Deputy Brendan Smith asked the Minister for Finance the discussions he and his Department have had with the Central Bank in relation to the difficulties that have arisen for some customers of banks (details supplied) in opening new accounts with other financial institutions. [46295/22]

Tax Code

Brendan Smith

216. Deputy Brendan Smith asked the Minister for Finance if he will give urgent consideration to the requests of national organisations (details supplied) in relation to the need to reduce costs for this sector through reduction in taxation; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [46504/22]

Driver Test

Brendan Smith

30. Deputy Brendan Smith asked the Minister for Transport the number of driver testers that have been let-go by the Road Safety Authority; if this is acceptable given the unacceptable delays in applicants having tests at centres such as Cavan; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [46158/22]

Road Projects

Brendan Smith

38. Deputy Brendan Smith asked the Minister for Transport if he will ensure that funding is provided to progress the Clontibret to the border N2 road project; if his attention has been drawn to there being an urgent need to upgrade this section of road due to the high volume of traffic and its importance for a large part of the island of Ireland, north and south; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [46338/22]

Housing Policy

Brendan Smith

292. Deputy Brendan Smith asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage when the income limits for social housing will be increased for counties Cavan and Monaghan given that the present levels are totally unrealistic; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [46040/22]

School Transport

Brendan Smith

342. Deputy Brendan Smith asked the Minister for Education the status of school transport for a family (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [45802/22]

School Transport

Brendan Smith

343. Deputy Brendan Smith asked the Minister for Education the status of an application for school transport for children (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [45803/22]

Health Services

Brendan Smith

579. Deputy Brendan Smith asked the Minister for Health if he will ensure that the necessary preparatory work including planning and design will be progressed, without delay, in relation to the provision of much-needed facilities at a health care centre (details supplied) in view of the present inadequate accommodation; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [46039/22]

Community Welfare Services

Brendan Smith

606. Deputy Brendan Smith asked the Minister for Rural and Community Development if she will give detailed consideration to a pre-budget submission of a national organisation (details supplied) in view of the urgent need to increase funding to ensure the continuation of community services in both urban and rural areas; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [45809/22]

Energy Prices

Brendan Smith

35. Deputy Brendan Smith asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment the measures that will be introduced to support small and medium enterprises, with particular reference to the increasing energy costs and the difficulties arising for such businesses; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [44920/22]

Enterprise Support Services

Brendan Smith

67. Deputy Brendan Smith asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment if specific additional financial supports will be introduced in 2023 to assist in the development of enterprise centres, in view of their importance in providing workspace for start-up businesses and small enterprises; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [44919/22]

Rural Schemes

Brendan Smith

119. Deputy Brendan Smith asked the Minister for Rural and Community Development if she will provide additional funding for the social inclusion and community activation programme in 2023; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [45114/22]

Rural Schemes

Brendan Smith

120. Deputy Brendan Smith asked the Minister for Rural and Community Development when the new Leader programme will be operational; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [45113/22]

School Transport

Brendan Smith

245. Deputy Brendan Smith asked the Minister for Education if she will ensure that additional bus capacity is put in place without delay for the school transport service; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [45339/22]

State Examinations

Brendan Smith

246. Deputy Brendan Smith asked the Minister for Education if she will ensure that Leaving Certificate results appeals will be finalised and issued to students without delay; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [45345/22]

Driver Test

Brendan Smith

144. Deputy Brendan Smith asked the Minister for Transport the number of persons awaiting a driving test in the RSA Cavan driving test centre; the number of weeks that applicants are on waiting lists for a test date; when the huge delays experienced in Cavan for driving tests will be meaningfully addressed; if his attention has been drawn to the long time lag between applicants completing their required driving lessons and being facilitated with a test; if his attention has been further drawn to the fact that many of the applicants are young people who need to travel for education or employment purposes, who do not have access to public transport and are disadvantaged in many ways by not having full driving licences; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [44709/22]

Housing Policy

Brendan Smith

232. Deputy Brendan Smith asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage when the income eligibility limits for local authority housing in areas such as counties Cavan and Monaghan will be increased given that present limits are unrealistic and deny many low-income families the ability to apply for social housing; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [44892/22]

Student Accommodation

Brendan Smith

409. Deputy Brendan Smith asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science if he will ensure that students (details supplied) are enabled to continue their studies as planned at the commencement of their course; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [44370/22]

Departmental Schemes

Brendan Smith

665. Deputy Brendan Smith asked the Minister for Rural and Community Development if she will provide additional funding for the social inclusion and activation programme for 2023; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [44922/22]

Student Accommodation

Brendan Smith

1358. Deputy Brendan Smith asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science if he will ensure that higher education institutions which have on-campus accommodation refund in full deposits for accommodation paid by applicants who subsequently may not be able to take up the offer of accommodation due to a college placement elsewhere or failure to obtain a particular college placement at that time, and also taking into account the delayed leaving certificate results and offers of college places, given the increasing costs of living and rising accommodation costs; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [44170/22]

Third Level Fees

Brendan Smith

1359. Deputy Brendan Smith asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science if he will ensure that additional measures will be introduced to reduce student contributions and other associated costs for the forthcoming academic year given the particular pressures on many families with students attending third-level education; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [44171/22]

Nursing Homes

Brendan Smith

2042. Deputy Brendan Smith asked the Minister for Health if additional supports will be provided without further delay to meet additional costs being incurred by nursing homes, particularly by small-scale providers; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [44151/22]

Nursing Homes

Brendan Smith

2043. Deputy Brendan Smith asked the Minister for Health if he will ensure that there is equal treatment of private nursing homes in relation to subvention payments regardless of their location; if the sizeable divergence in payments at present will be removed without delay; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [44152/22]

Hospital Services

Brendan Smith

2044. Deputy Brendan Smith asked the Minister for Health if he will ensure that adequate funding is provided to ensure that a health service continues; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [44153/22]

Hospital Facilities

Brendan Smith

2047. Deputy Brendan Smith asked the Minister for Health the progress to date in the provision of additional capacity at a healthcare facility; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [44180/22]

Covid-19 Pandemic Supports

Brendan Smith

2048. Deputy Brendan Smith asked the Minister for Health when the €1,000 pandemic bonus payment will be made to healthcare staff, other than those employed directly by the HSE; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [44181/22]

Environmental Policy

Brendan Smith

135. Deputy Brendan Smith asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications if he will give urgent consideration to the issues outlined by a company (details supplied) concerning the circular economy; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [41298/22]

Waste Management

Brendan Smith

140. Deputy Brendan Smith asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications if he is satisfied that existing legislation and regulations are adequate to eliminate the widespread postering throughout the country of political messages by some groups, outside of the legal timeframe associated with elections and referenda for such postering and information regarding public meetings, as in many instances such material is contributing to roadside littering; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [41315/22]

National Broadband Plan

Brendan Smith

154. Deputy Brendan Smith asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications the progress that has been made to date in the roll-out of the National Broadband Plan in County Cavan; the progress that is expected in improving access to broadband in this area in 2022 and 2023; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [41591/22]

National Broadband Plan

Brendan Smith

155. Deputy Brendan Smith asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications the progress that has been made to date in the roll-out of the National Broadband Plan in County Monaghan; the progress that is expected in improving access to broadband in this area in 2022 and 2023; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [41592/22]

Road Projects

Brendan Smith

304. Deputy Brendan Smith asked the Minister for Transport the proposals to progress the N2 Clontibret to the Border road project in County Monaghan; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [41643/22]

Banking Sector

Brendan Smith

454. Deputy Brendan Smith asked the Minister for Finance if he will engage with the Central Bank and with a bank (details supplied) as a matter of urgency in relation to this retail bank's recent decision to reduce substantially its services to customers, causing a further diminution in financial services available to many rural communities; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [41920/22]

Banking Sector

Brendan Smith

455. Deputy Brendan Smith asked the Minister for Finance the timeline for the publication of the Report of the Banking Review; if he will give a clear message to all stakeholders, particularly the financial institutions, that decisions impacting on the availability of banking services should not be made pending the completion of this review; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [41921/22]

Northern Ireland

Brendan Smith

980. Deputy Brendan Smith asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs if it is proposed to have early meetings of the British-Irish Council and the British-Irish Intergovernmental Conference following the appointment of a new British Prime Minister, to discuss issues of immediate concern including the protocol legislation and the totally unacceptable proposals published by the British Government regarding legacy issues; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [41016/22]

Social Welfare Code

Brendan Smith

1228. Deputy Brendan Smith asked the Minister for Social Protection the proposals there are to provide specific social protection measures to persons (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [40343/22]

Third Level Admissions

Brendan Smith

1449. Deputy Brendan Smith asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science the proposals there are to increase the number of pharmacy students in colleges, particularly in view of the shortage of community pharmacists; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [40342/22]

Education and Training Boards

Brendan Smith

1476. Deputy Brendan Smith asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science when approval will issue to an education and training board (details supplied) for a proposed building project to move to the next stage; if he will ensure that this project will progress at an early date in view of the need to provide additional permanent accommodation for this college; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [41338/22]

An Garda Síochána

Brendan Smith

1606. Deputy Brendan Smith asked the Minister for Justice if she will outline the progress to date in re-opening Bawnboy Garda Station, County Cavan which was announced by the Garda Commissioner in November 2017 and subsequently confirmed by the Minister for Justice; if she will outline the timeline for this re-opening and if she will ensure that any further undue delays do not occur; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [41303/22]

General Practitioner Services

Brendan Smith

1938. Deputy Brendan Smith asked the Minister for Health if he will ensure that an existing healthcare service is not reduced (details supplied) in view of its importance to a large area and population; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [41318/22]

General Practitioner Services

Brendan Smith

2055. Deputy Brendan Smith asked the Minister for Health the measures that he will implement at an early date to address the shortage of General Practitioners, particularly in rural communities; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [41919/22]

Agriculture Industry

Brendan Smith

2143. Deputy Brendan Smith asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if he will provide detailed consideration of the issues outlined in correspondence by a national organisation (details supplied) in relation to the need to ensure that farming and the agri-food sector are not adversely impacted by sectoral emissions targets; if he will ensure that the importance of this sector in its very sizeable contribution to the national economy and also its role in food security are taken fully into account in all assessments in relation to emissions reductions; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [41302/22]

Agriculture Schemes

Brendan Smith

2148. Deputy Brendan Smith asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if he will ensure that farmers finishing on an existing environmental scheme in 2022 have the opportunity to participate in the new agri-climate rural environment scheme in 2023; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [41357/22]

Agriculture Schemes

Brendan Smith

2149. Deputy Brendan Smith asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if a farmer in one of the co-operation project zones under the agri-climate rural environment scheme will have the opportunity to access ACRES General; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [41358/22]

Agriculture Schemes

Brendan Smith

2150. Deputy Brendan Smith asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if he is satisfied that there will be adequate capacity in the new agri-climate rural environment scheme to enable all potential applicants' avail of this scheme in 2023; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [41359/22]

Forestry Sector

Brendan Smith

2162. Deputy Brendan Smith asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the number of felling and planting licences issued on a yearly basis since 2018 and to date in 2022; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [41737/22]

Horticulture Sector

Brendan Smith

2163. Deputy Brendan Smith asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the progress to date in resolving the peat supply issues affecting the horticulture and mushroom sectors; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [41738/22]

Animal Diseases

Brendan Smith

8. Deputy Brendan Smith asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if he will ensure that compensation payment levels will be increased without further delay in respect of the depopulation of herds due to TB; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [38353/22]

Animal Diseases

Brendan Smith

51. Deputy Brendan Smith asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine when payment levels will be increased to reflect present market levels for herds that are depopulated due to TB; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [38354/22]

Social Welfare Payments

Brendan Smith

109. Deputy Brendan Smith asked the Minister for Social Protection the proposals to improve the criteria for the free fuel allowance in cases in which a family member may return to live with a parent on a temporary basis, who normally resides on their own and who is in receipt of the free fuel allowance due to housing or domestic difficulties; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [34869/22]

Social Welfare Payments

Brendan Smith

140. Deputy Brendan Smith asked the Minister for Social Protection the proposals there are to improve the criteria for the free fuel allowance; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [34870/22]

Road Projects

Brendan Smith

252. Deputy Brendan Smith asked the Minister for Transport in the event of the reallocation of capital funding within his Department in 2022, if he will ensure that additional funding is provided for the 2022 non-national roadworks programme; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [39294/22]

Northern Ireland

Brendan Smith

421. Deputy Brendan Smith asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs if he will convey again to the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland the widespread and serious concerns in relation to the British Government proposals concerning legacy issues; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [39301/22]

Disadvantaged Status

Brendan Smith

497. Deputy Brendan Smith asked the Minister for Education if consideration will be given at an early date to a further extension of the DEIS Programme in view of the availability of data from the 2022 Census; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [39450/22]

Disadvantaged Status

Brendan Smith

498. Deputy Brendan Smith asked the Minister for Education if consideration is being given to changes to the modelling system for the assessment of schools for inclusion in the DEIS Programme given that there are anomalies resulting in the exclusion of some schools who share catchment areas with schools who are in the DEIS scheme; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [39451/22]

Departmental Programmes

Brendan Smith

671. Deputy Brendan Smith asked the Minister for Justice the number of applications that have been received and the number of approvals issued on an annual basis since 2012 in respect of the Immigrant Investor Programme under each particular investment fund; the total investment under each heading; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [39295/22]

Taoiseach's Meetings and Engagements

Brendan Smith

8. Deputy Brendan Smith asked the Taoiseach if he will report on his recent meeting with members of the United States Congress with reference to discussion of the appointment of a special envoy; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [34568/22]