Parliamentary questions

International Protection

Jackie Cahill

334. Deputy Jackie Cahill asked the Minister for Justice how many international protection applicants were received and how many were approved during all of 2022; how many were processed and how many were approved from the beginning of 2023 to 7 November 2023; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [49483/23]

International Protection

Jackie Cahill

335. Deputy Jackie Cahill asked the Minister for Justice how many staff are working in the international protection Office for the processing of International Protection applications; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [49485/23]

International Protection

Jackie Cahill

336. Deputy Jackie Cahill asked the Minister for Justice if staff in the international protection office who were processing International Protection applications were moved to a different section during Covid-19; if so, whether they were replaced or reinstated since; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [49486/23]

Agriculture Supports

Jackie Cahill

358. Deputy Jackie Cahill asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if the Forest Service of his Department have cross referenced the Ash dieback RUS applications with corresponding road licence applications on a forest-level basis to ensure that forest road approvals will be issued in conjunction with Ash dieback reconstitution approvals to enable the necessary clearance works to take place; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [49314/23]

Agriculture Supports

Jackie Cahill

359. Deputy Jackie Cahill asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine when his Department will publish an implementation plan for the recommendations set out in the Review of Support for Farmers Impacted by Ash Dieback; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [49315/23]

Departmental Appointments

Jackie Cahill

380. Deputy Jackie Cahill asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine when a person (details supplied) will receive further correspondence with regard to a job application they have made to his Department; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [49529/23]

International Protection

Jackie Cahill

420. Deputy Jackie Cahill asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth how many months the current longest international protection applicant has been in direct provision awaiting a decision on their application; if he can provide this response in terms of number of months; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [49484/23]

Departmental Schemes

Jackie Cahill

234. Deputy Jackie Cahill asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage further to Parliamentary Question No. 394 of 20 June 2023, when he expects that affected apartment blocks will be able to apply for funding for remediation works for water ingress on defective builds in County Tipperary; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [49108/23]

Flood Risk Management

Jackie Cahill

235. Deputy Jackie Cahill asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage if funding can be provided to the owners of premises (details supplied) for the installation of flood barriers at the entrances to premises, considering that flooding is a regular occurrence on this street due to the inadequate storm water systems in place in Thurles, that Uisce Éireann has no immediate plans to resolve the mixed sewer system in the town, that these premises will continue to flood until Uisce Éireann carries out the required works and that it is responsible for carrying out these works, and that the State has a responsibility to protect these properties from further flooding; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [49112/23]

Invasive Species Policy

Jackie Cahill

236. Deputy Jackie Cahill asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the amount of funding he secured under Budget 2024 for the culling of mink through the NPWS; when he intends to commence this cull; what bounty he intends to set for mink tails; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [49113/23]

Air and Water Pollution

Jackie Cahill

138. Deputy Jackie Cahill asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications the amount of money that has been ringfenced for local enforcement of the national smokey coal ban, given that one-third of coal sold in this jurisdiction is illegal bituminous coal; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [47271/23]

Driver Test

Jackie Cahill

288. Deputy Jackie Cahill asked the Minister for Transport the percentage of applicants that pass their driving test at the first attempt in the Nenagh test centre, County Tipperary, for B category licences; how this ranks in comparison with all other testing centres in the country for B category licences; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [48818/23]

Company Registration

Jackie Cahill

389. Deputy Jackie Cahill asked the Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment if it is possible for a golf club to submit a simplified set of accounts as part of its annual returns to the Company Registration Office; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [47619/23]

School Funding

Jackie Cahill

513. Deputy Jackie Cahill asked the Minister for Education when a school (details supplied) will receive funding for its ICT grants and ancillary services; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [48214/23]

Schools Building Projects

Jackie Cahill

528. Deputy Jackie Cahill asked the Minister for Education for an update on the funding approval for a school (details supplied) for the building of additional education needs classrooms, considering the design for the project is now complete and the design team is requesting fees for same from the school before the drawings are submitted to her Department; if the school has to pay these fees upfront and seek retrospective funding for same from her Department; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [48415/23]

Social Welfare Eligibility

Jackie Cahill

767. Deputy Jackie Cahill asked the Minister for Social Protection what benefits or social welfare payments an individual who paid class M PRSI contributions can qualify for; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [48416/23]

An Garda Síochána

Jackie Cahill

851. Deputy Jackie Cahill asked the Minister for Justice to detail what swimming and water safety courses are mandatory as part of Garda training in the Garda College, Templemore, County Tipperary; how many Garda recruits who went on to ‘pass out’ as gardaí have completed these courses between in each of the years 2013 and 2023, in tabular form; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [48396/23]

An Garda Síochána

Jackie Cahill

852. Deputy Jackie Cahill asked the Minister for Justice how many Garda recruits who passed through the Garda College, Templemore, County Tipperary, in each of the years 2013 and 2023 successfully achieved Water Safety Ireland’s Rescue Level 2, which relates to contact safety and rescue in water, in tabular form; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [48397/23]

Departmental Schemes

Jackie Cahill

943. Deputy Jackie Cahill asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if farmers who developed riparian zones next to rivers are entitled to ongoing premiums on that land; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [48246/23]

Guardians Ad Litem

Jackie Cahill

1017. Deputy Jackie Cahill asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth to provide a list of the 92 guardians ad litem, their relevant agency, where relevant, and the number of cases assigned to them in 2022 (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [47997/23]

Health Services Staff

Jackie Cahill

1278. Deputy Jackie Cahill asked the Minister for Health if the complement of nursing staff at St. Mary's Health Centre, Thurles, County Tipperary, can be increased if more permanent nursing staff could be employed there, rather than agency staff, considering that many patients with mental health difficulties who avail of the mental health centres such as this often build up a relationship with a nurse on duty and find it very upsetting when such staff members leave; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [48414/23]

Third Level Education

Jackie Cahill

1381. Deputy Jackie Cahill asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science if it is possible for an Irish student with two years of study done in veterinary medicine in a university in Budapest to transfer to University College Dublin to complete their degree; how they might apply for such a transfer; the requirements needed to do so; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [47369/23]

Further and Higher Education

Jackie Cahill

1383. Deputy Jackie Cahill asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science when hourly-paid adult education tutors with the ETB will receive parity with their full-time equivalent colleagues in relation to the terms and conditions for their employment, particularly in relation to a public service contract and access to an incremental salary scheme; what work he is undertaking to avoid further disputes with this sector; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [47461/23]

Cycling Policy

Jackie Cahill

130. Deputy Jackie Cahill asked the Minister for Transport if grants are available for the purchase of e-bikes, particularly for older people who would like to avail of this form of transport but who cannot cycle without an e-bike; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [47093/23]

Flood Risk Management

Jackie Cahill

153. Deputy Jackie Cahill asked the Minister for Public Expenditure, National Development Plan Delivery and Reform if funding can be granted to premises on Friar Street, Thurles, County Tipperary, for the installation of flood gates or barriers at the entrances to the buildings on the street, as this street floods regularly during storms due to the insufficient storm water drainage systems in the town; if the OPW will take action to ensure that further damage is not caused to these buildings, considering this has been raised with the OPW on numerous occasions in the past and the OPW is already aware of this matter; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [47063/23]

Driver Test

Jackie Cahill

56. Deputy Jackie Cahill asked the Minister for Transport how many driving tests, on average, a driving tester carries out on a daily basis in Nenagh test centre, County Tipperary; if the centre operates over the weekend; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [46896/23]

Driver Test

Jackie Cahill

57. Deputy Jackie Cahill asked the Minister for Transport the number of individuals currently awaiting a driving test in Nenagh test centre, County Tipperary, who have either been provided with a test date, who have been invited to book a test date or who are awaiting an invitation to book a test date; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [46897/23]

Driver Test

Jackie Cahill

58. Deputy Jackie Cahill asked the Minister for Transport how many driving testers are employed on either a full- or part-time basis in Nenagh test centre, County Tipperary; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [46898/23]

Driver Test

Jackie Cahill

59. Deputy Jackie Cahill asked the Minister for Transport the reasoning behind an individual not being able to book their driving test on the spot, and instead being required to join a lengthy queue to be invited to book their test; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [46899/23]

Citizens Information Services

Jackie Cahill

55. Deputy Jackie Cahill asked the Minister for Social Protection the reason for the reduction in outreach services previously provided by Citizens' Information branches across the country before the pandemic; what steps, if any, her Department is taking to restore these outreach services; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [46414/23]

State Pensions

Jackie Cahill

64. Deputy Jackie Cahill asked the Minister for Social Protection if her Department is undertaking a review of the criteria for qualification for the State pension; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [46415/23]

Social Welfare Payments

Jackie Cahill

363. Deputy Jackie Cahill asked the Minister for Social Protection if there are supports available for businesses who employ people with a disability as part of their staff; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [46354/23]

Equality Issues

Jackie Cahill

481. Deputy Jackie Cahill asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth is there is an obligation on local authorities to ensure that they meet a minimum statutory obligation for the number of people with disabilities employed within a local authority as public sector staff; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [46352/23]

Equality Issues

Jackie Cahill

482. Deputy Jackie Cahill asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth if there is an obligation on public bodies to ensure they meet a minimum statutory requirement for the number of employees in a particular public body that have a disability; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [46353/23]

Health Services Waiting Lists

Jackie Cahill

512. Deputy Jackie Cahill asked the Minister for Health the current number of patients awaiting cataract surgery in UHL that are currently listed as urgent; how long these urgent patients have been awaiting surgery that is, less than 3, 0-6, 6-12, 12-18, 18-24 and 24+ months in UHL by county, in tabular from; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [46125/23]

Health Services Waiting Lists

Jackie Cahill

513. Deputy Jackie Cahill asked the Minister for Health the current number of patients awaiting cataract surgery in UHL that are currently listed as semi-urgent; how long these semi-urgent patients have been awaiting surgery that is, less than 3, 0-6, 6-12, 12-18, 18-24 and 24+ months in UHL by county, in tabular from; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [46126/23]

Health Services Waiting Lists

Jackie Cahill

514. Deputy Jackie Cahill asked the Minister for Health the current number of patients awaiting cataract surgery in UHL that are currently listed as routine; how long these routine patients have been awaiting surgery that is, less than 3, 0-6, 6-12, 12-18, 18-24 and 24+ months in UHL by county, in tabular from; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [46127/23]

Health Services Waiting Lists

Jackie Cahill

515. Deputy Jackie Cahill asked the Minister for Health the current average waiting times, from referral to procedure, for patients awaiting cataract surgery in UHL; if there is a delivery timeline guideline in place by which the service aims to treat these patients; if so, the timeline; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [46128/23]

Health Services Waiting Lists

Jackie Cahill

516. Deputy Jackie Cahill asked the Minister for Health the number of patients awaiting cataract surgery in UHL that have had their urgency category upgraded within the past 12 months due to prolonged waiting times; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [46129/23]

Food Safety

Jackie Cahill

533. Deputy Jackie Cahill asked the Minister for Health his plans to ensure an appropriate inspection regime commences from the start of 2024, with regard to the contracts between the Food Safety Authority of Ireland and local authority veterinary inspectors, which are to terminate on 31 December 2023; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [46225/23]

Medical Cards

Jackie Cahill

561. Deputy Jackie Cahill asked the Minister for Health if a medical card application by a person (details supplied) can be reopened to allow for up-to-date supporting documents to be submitted in support of this application; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [46454/23]

Departmental Funding

Jackie Cahill

651. Deputy Jackie Cahill asked the Minister for Rural and Community Development when the latest round of Clár announcements will have funding paid out to respective successful groups; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [46278/23]

Budget 2024

Jackie Cahill

653. Deputy Jackie Cahill asked the Minister for Rural and Community Development the funding under Budget 2024 that is being made by her Department for an organisation (details supplied) in rural areas; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [46462/23]

Budget 2024

Jackie Cahill

142. Deputy Jackie Cahill asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science how Budget 2024 will invest in apprenticeships; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [45536/23]

Education and Training Boards

Jackie Cahill

143. Deputy Jackie Cahill asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science if he will provide an update on the total allocation of capital grants (devolved capital grant and the further education capital grants) to the Tipperary Education and Training Board in 2023; the proposed allocation for 2024; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [45535/23]

Housing Schemes

Jackie Cahill

165. Deputy Jackie Cahill asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications if there is a grant available for a person under the age of 60 years for the replacement or upgrade of an oil boiler and copper cylinder, outside of the housing adaptation grants as these are for people over 66 years of age; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [45949/23]

Housing Schemes

Jackie Cahill

166. Deputy Jackie Cahill asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications if there is a grant available for a person under the age of 60 years for the replacement or upgrade of an oil boiler and copper cylinder, outside of the housing adaptation grants provided by the Department of Housing, Local Government and Heritage; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [45950/23]

Grant Payments

Jackie Cahill

373. Deputy Jackie Cahill asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science to reform the SUSI grant programme to better accommodate students who are estranged and or independent from their parents/guardians (details supplied); and if he will review these criteria; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [45807/23]

Tax Code

Jackie Cahill

107. Deputy Jackie Cahill asked the Minister for Finance the reason the Revenue Commissioners plan to prohibit GMS income being mandated to partnerships or employers, and instead each GMS list holder will have to declare such income in their annual income individually as GPs; the rationale behind this decision; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [45441/23]

Energy Conservation

Jackie Cahill

177. Deputy Jackie Cahill asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage when details of the 2023 retrofit scheme will issue to local authorities; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [45720/23]